Carbon sequestration
BRE's Environmental impact of biomaterials and biomass defines carbon sequestration as; '...the removal and long term storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in biomaterials such as timber and agricultural products.'
‘Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change’, published by The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) in January 2020, defines carbon sequestration as: 'A natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form, e.g. reforestation or, in the built environment through using timber.'
See also: Carbon capture.
NB Global Warming of 1.5 ºC, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, defines soil carbon sequestration (SCS) as: ‘Land management changes which increase the soil organic carbon content, resulting in a net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Biomass.
- Biologic carbon sequestration
- Biomaterials.
- Can carbon sequestration in urban landscapes form part of a net-zero carbon approach to development?
- Embodied energy in construction
- Environmental impact of biomaterials and biomass.
- Geologic carbon sequestration.
- Oil - a global perspective
- Timber
- Whole life carbon assessment of timber
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.























