WLC

Whole Life Carbon (WLC) refers to the total carbon emissions associated with a building or infrastructure asset over its entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction and construction to operation, maintenance, and eventual demolition or reuse. It’s a comprehensive metric used to assess and reduce the climate impact of the built environment.

📊 Why WLC Matters

• Buildings account for ~40% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually

• WLC assessments help identify hotspots and guide low-carbon design choices

• They’re essential for meeting net-zero targets and complying with EU regulations like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

🧮 Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA)

A WLCA is a standardized method to:

• Measure total carbon emissions across all lifecycle stages

• Compare design options and materials

• Inform sustainable procurement and investment decisions

The RICS WLCA standard is widely adopted in Europe and globally for consistent carbon accounting.

🌍 Global Vision

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) promotes a Whole Life Carbon Vision to drive total sector decarbonization. It sets definitions and target dates for net-zero operational and whole life carbon buildings.