Matthew Morris
@matthew-morris.bsky.social
Architectural Technologist MCIAT · Circular Economy Built Environment Specialist · Author of the ACAN Circular Economy Design Guide · Committee Member, Drafting Standards at BSI B/558/1 · Low Carbon Manager at Galliford Try
www.dezeen.com/2025/12/17/h...
Designing for long life isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about flexibility, repair and accepting we don’t control what survives.
Designing for long life isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about flexibility, repair and accepting we don’t control what survives.
How long should a building last?
Concerns about embodied carbon are increasing the impetus to design architecture that stands the test of time. But just how long should we expect a building to last? Nat Barker reports.
www.dezeen.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
www.dezeen.com/2025/12/17/h...
Designing for long life isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about flexibility, repair and accepting we don’t control what survives.
Designing for long life isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about flexibility, repair and accepting we don’t control what survives.
The built environment is full of complex, interconnected problems and never fully solved.
That’s where foresight matters. Not prediction, but ways to understand uncertainty, test futures, and make better decisions.
Design needs to think further ahead.
#BuiltEnvironment #FutureCities #Strategy
That’s where foresight matters. Not prediction, but ways to understand uncertainty, test futures, and make better decisions.
Design needs to think further ahead.
#BuiltEnvironment #FutureCities #Strategy
December 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The built environment is full of complex, interconnected problems and never fully solved.
That’s where foresight matters. Not prediction, but ways to understand uncertainty, test futures, and make better decisions.
Design needs to think further ahead.
#BuiltEnvironment #FutureCities #Strategy
That’s where foresight matters. Not prediction, but ways to understand uncertainty, test futures, and make better decisions.
Design needs to think further ahead.
#BuiltEnvironment #FutureCities #Strategy
Ecology rules are an upstream carbon control. Remove them, and emissions rise long before homes are occupied!
UK govt war on bats and newts, part 328
Small building developments will no longer need to worry too much about the damage they cause to nature
Or as London Wildlife Trusts say "We’ve got a flatlining economy, I know what’s to blame: hedgehogs"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Small building developments will no longer need to worry too much about the damage they cause to nature
Or as London Wildlife Trusts say "We’ve got a flatlining economy, I know what’s to blame: hedgehogs"
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Labour weakens nature protections in push for building boom
Rachel Reeves says changes to biodiversity rules will lift block on new housing but conservationists accuse government making wildlife a scapegoat for failure
www.thetimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Ecology rules are an upstream carbon control. Remove them, and emissions rise long before homes are occupied!
Procurement helps, but doesn’t transform on its own!
Circular criteria are increasingly embedded, yet delivery risk, cost and programme certainty still dominate decisions.
#Procurement #Construction #PublicSector #CircularEconomy
Circular criteria are increasingly embedded, yet delivery risk, cost and programme certainty still dominate decisions.
#Procurement #Construction #PublicSector #CircularEconomy
December 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Procurement helps, but doesn’t transform on its own!
Circular criteria are increasingly embedded, yet delivery risk, cost and programme certainty still dominate decisions.
#Procurement #Construction #PublicSector #CircularEconomy
Circular criteria are increasingly embedded, yet delivery risk, cost and programme certainty still dominate decisions.
#Procurement #Construction #PublicSector #CircularEconomy
Reposted by Matthew Morris
The Conservatives are threatening to abandon the phaseout date for petrol and diesel cars should they win the next election
There are so many reasons this is an awful idea you wonder whether any thought has been involved
Let me run through them 🧵🧵 1/7
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
There are so many reasons this is an awful idea you wonder whether any thought has been involved
Let me run through them 🧵🧵 1/7
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Conservatives would end 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
Party would also abolish zero-emission vehicle mandate, cutting legal requirement on carmakers to sell EVs
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The Conservatives are threatening to abandon the phaseout date for petrol and diesel cars should they win the next election
There are so many reasons this is an awful idea you wonder whether any thought has been involved
Let me run through them 🧵🧵 1/7
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
There are so many reasons this is an awful idea you wonder whether any thought has been involved
Let me run through them 🧵🧵 1/7
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#Amsterdam is one of the first cities globally that can even say whether material use is going up or down. Most cities (including UK ones) still can’t.
onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/publicatie/t...
#CircularEconomy #MaterialUse #UrbanPolicy
onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/publicatie/t...
#CircularEconomy #MaterialUse #UrbanPolicy
The Circular Economy Monitor: An Outline | Website Onderzoek en Statistiek
The Circular Economy Monitor shows that material use in Amsterdam is higher than previously thought. Material use is currently still increasing.
onderzoek.amsterdam.nl
December 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
#Amsterdam is one of the first cities globally that can even say whether material use is going up or down. Most cities (including UK ones) still can’t.
onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/publicatie/t...
#CircularEconomy #MaterialUse #UrbanPolicy
onderzoek.amsterdam.nl/publicatie/t...
#CircularEconomy #MaterialUse #UrbanPolicy
The carbon market wrongly separates risk from reward. We don’t insure buildings without fire safety and we shouldn’t insure carbon without transition.
#carbonmarkets #climatefiance
#carbonmarkets #climatefiance
December 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The carbon market wrongly separates risk from reward. We don’t insure buildings without fire safety and we shouldn’t insure carbon without transition.
#carbonmarkets #climatefiance
#carbonmarkets #climatefiance
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
At the end of the day, the cost of action is far lower than the cost of inaction. The UN GEO report lays out staggering figures.
$45tn a year in environmental damage!
#ClimateCrisis #SystemChange
At the end of the day, the cost of action is far lower than the cost of inaction. The UN GEO report lays out staggering figures.
$45tn a year in environmental damage!
#ClimateCrisis #SystemChange
‘Food and fossil fuel production causing $5bn of environmental damage an hour’
UN GEO report says ending this harm key to global transformation required ‘before collapse becomes inevitable’
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
At the end of the day, the cost of action is far lower than the cost of inaction. The UN GEO report lays out staggering figures.
$45tn a year in environmental damage!
#ClimateCrisis #SystemChange
At the end of the day, the cost of action is far lower than the cost of inaction. The UN GEO report lays out staggering figures.
$45tn a year in environmental damage!
#ClimateCrisis #SystemChange
You can see this in energy prices too. When people feel worse off, votes shift and energy bills are one of the most emotionally and economically charged drivers of that. Retrofit is political as much as climate, unfortunately.
#RetrofitFirst #EnergySecurity #CostOfLiving #PoliticalEconomy
#RetrofitFirst #EnergySecurity #CostOfLiving #PoliticalEconomy
Maybe it's just me, but I'm not hearing anything from politicians about the need to retrofit our buildings and change the way we heat them. Is this intentional, because dissatisfied people in precarious circumstances tend to vote for right-wing parties? Why are the 'social' parties complicit here?
December 9, 2025 at 4:18 PM
You can see this in energy prices too. When people feel worse off, votes shift and energy bills are one of the most emotionally and economically charged drivers of that. Retrofit is political as much as climate, unfortunately.
#RetrofitFirst #EnergySecurity #CostOfLiving #PoliticalEconomy
#RetrofitFirst #EnergySecurity #CostOfLiving #PoliticalEconomy
Reposted by Matthew Morris
The heat isn't going away. 2025 on track to tie second warmest year ever
Climate change is generating food-price inflation in Europe, catastrophic flooding in south-east Asia
Likely this warmth will continue into next year with further impacts. It may be permanent
www.ft.com/content/9e0e...
Climate change is generating food-price inflation in Europe, catastrophic flooding in south-east Asia
Likely this warmth will continue into next year with further impacts. It may be permanent
www.ft.com/content/9e0e...
December 9, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The heat isn't going away. 2025 on track to tie second warmest year ever
Climate change is generating food-price inflation in Europe, catastrophic flooding in south-east Asia
Likely this warmth will continue into next year with further impacts. It may be permanent
www.ft.com/content/9e0e...
Climate change is generating food-price inflation in Europe, catastrophic flooding in south-east Asia
Likely this warmth will continue into next year with further impacts. It may be permanent
www.ft.com/content/9e0e...
Reposted by Matthew Morris
#COP30 ended without any of the breakthroughs the planet needs but people power continued to push for real climate action. What happened outside of COP is Belém’s legacy.
More >> act.gp/4iGvica
More >> act.gp/4iGvica
The People’s COP as Belém’s legacy - Greenpeace International
Even though the results of the negotiations fell short, the mobilisation of different groups and peoples placed civil society participation at COP30 on another level.
act.gp
December 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
#COP30 ended without any of the breakthroughs the planet needs but people power continued to push for real climate action. What happened outside of COP is Belém’s legacy.
More >> act.gp/4iGvica
More >> act.gp/4iGvica
1/6 Casting an eye across the sector, it’s clear that emerging trends are becoming usable tools and not concepts. If we want the Circular Economy to scale, we need two structural levers: policy that integrates + finance that aggregates.
This is where momentum is forming
👇
#systemchange
This is where momentum is forming
👇
#systemchange
December 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
1/6 Casting an eye across the sector, it’s clear that emerging trends are becoming usable tools and not concepts. If we want the Circular Economy to scale, we need two structural levers: policy that integrates + finance that aggregates.
This is where momentum is forming
👇
#systemchange
This is where momentum is forming
👇
#systemchange
Reposted by Matthew Morris
▶️ WATCH: Ministers from Colombia and the Netherlands announce their joint Conference for the Phaseout of Fossil Fuels 🔥
November 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
▶️ WATCH: Ministers from Colombia and the Netherlands announce their joint Conference for the Phaseout of Fossil Fuels 🔥
Reposted by Matthew Morris
I couldn't agree more w/ my colleague Johan Rockström here:
amp.theguardian.com/environment/...
amp.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I couldn't agree more w/ my colleague Johan Rockström here:
amp.theguardian.com/environment/...
amp.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matthew Morris
Which countries are banning fossil fuel boilers?
EU governments must plan for a complete phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Many European countries are already well on their way.
Here's our latest overview:
ehpa.org/news-and-res...
EU governments must plan for a complete phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Many European countries are already well on their way.
Here's our latest overview:
ehpa.org/news-and-res...
November 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Which countries are banning fossil fuel boilers?
EU governments must plan for a complete phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Many European countries are already well on their way.
Here's our latest overview:
ehpa.org/news-and-res...
EU governments must plan for a complete phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Many European countries are already well on their way.
Here's our latest overview:
ehpa.org/news-and-res...
Reposted by Matthew Morris
NEW – Analysis: Which countries have sent the most delegates to COP30? | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org Ho Woo Nam
Read here: buff.ly/I5pUBHu
Read here: buff.ly/I5pUBHu
November 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
NEW – Analysis: Which countries have sent the most delegates to COP30? | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org Ho Woo Nam
Read here: buff.ly/I5pUBHu
Read here: buff.ly/I5pUBHu
Reposted by Matthew Morris
New national climate plans have barely moved the needle on limiting global warming. Yet there is hope.
According to UNEP's latest #EmissionsGap Report, accelerated adoption of renewable energy and falling costs mean we have the tools to cut emissions now: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
According to UNEP's latest #EmissionsGap Report, accelerated adoption of renewable energy and falling costs mean we have the tools to cut emissions now: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
November 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
New national climate plans have barely moved the needle on limiting global warming. Yet there is hope.
According to UNEP's latest #EmissionsGap Report, accelerated adoption of renewable energy and falling costs mean we have the tools to cut emissions now: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
According to UNEP's latest #EmissionsGap Report, accelerated adoption of renewable energy and falling costs mean we have the tools to cut emissions now: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
Reposted by Matthew Morris
When Site Waste Management Plans were scrapped in 2013, waste went up — not down.
📊 DEFRA data shows construction & demolition waste rose nearly 20% in just four years.
#CircularEconomy #WastePrevention #NetZero ##CircularEconomyTaskforce
📊 DEFRA data shows construction & demolition waste rose nearly 20% in just four years.
#CircularEconomy #WastePrevention #NetZero ##CircularEconomyTaskforce
October 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
When Site Waste Management Plans were scrapped in 2013, waste went up — not down.
📊 DEFRA data shows construction & demolition waste rose nearly 20% in just four years.
#CircularEconomy #WastePrevention #NetZero ##CircularEconomyTaskforce
📊 DEFRA data shows construction & demolition waste rose nearly 20% in just four years.
#CircularEconomy #WastePrevention #NetZero ##CircularEconomyTaskforce
Reposted by Matthew Morris
Daily Briefing: Renewables overtake coal | Conservatives’ climate fight | World’s heat records
➡️ Read today's full briefing here: buff.ly/Urxlytb
➡️ Sign up to our email briefings: buff.ly/3kFciAO
➡️ Read today's full briefing here: buff.ly/Urxlytb
➡️ Sign up to our email briefings: buff.ly/3kFciAO
October 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Daily Briefing: Renewables overtake coal | Conservatives’ climate fight | World’s heat records
➡️ Read today's full briefing here: buff.ly/Urxlytb
➡️ Sign up to our email briefings: buff.ly/3kFciAO
➡️ Read today's full briefing here: buff.ly/Urxlytb
➡️ Sign up to our email briefings: buff.ly/3kFciAO
A quarter of Europe’s climate losses since 1980 came in the last 3 years.
This summer added €43bn more. Impacts are accelerating faster than our systems — delay just shifts the cost onto people.
Policy and planning need to catch up — the delay just shifts the cost onto people, communities and gov!
This summer added €43bn more. Impacts are accelerating faster than our systems — delay just shifts the cost onto people.
Policy and planning need to catch up — the delay just shifts the cost onto people, communities and gov!
September 29, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A quarter of Europe’s climate losses since 1980 came in the last 3 years.
This summer added €43bn more. Impacts are accelerating faster than our systems — delay just shifts the cost onto people.
Policy and planning need to catch up — the delay just shifts the cost onto people, communities and gov!
This summer added €43bn more. Impacts are accelerating faster than our systems — delay just shifts the cost onto people.
Policy and planning need to catch up — the delay just shifts the cost onto people, communities and gov!
Reposted by Matthew Morris
Planetary Boundaries are being breached, as humanity lives beyond Earth's ability to cope
We're already exceeding Climate Change, Land System Change, Freshwater Use, Novel Entities (chemicals, plastics) & others
To that list we can now add Ocean Acidification
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We're already exceeding Climate Change, Land System Change, Freshwater Use, Novel Entities (chemicals, plastics) & others
To that list we can now add Ocean Acidification
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life
Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Planetary Boundaries are being breached, as humanity lives beyond Earth's ability to cope
We're already exceeding Climate Change, Land System Change, Freshwater Use, Novel Entities (chemicals, plastics) & others
To that list we can now add Ocean Acidification
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
We're already exceeding Climate Change, Land System Change, Freshwater Use, Novel Entities (chemicals, plastics) & others
To that list we can now add Ocean Acidification
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
When considering existing assets, demolition should never be the default. Policy must require justification for taking a building down. From an embodied carbon perspective, keeping buildings in use is almost always the lower-carbon choice.
#CircularEconomy #RetrofitFirst #NetZeroCarbon #policy
#CircularEconomy #RetrofitFirst #NetZeroCarbon #policy
September 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
When considering existing assets, demolition should never be the default. Policy must require justification for taking a building down. From an embodied carbon perspective, keeping buildings in use is almost always the lower-carbon choice.
#CircularEconomy #RetrofitFirst #NetZeroCarbon #policy
#CircularEconomy #RetrofitFirst #NetZeroCarbon #policy
Reposted by Matthew Morris
Without central guidance on planning processes, the circular economy risks becoming "a hodgepodge of postcode lottery.”
Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources, on how inconsistent policies are holding businesses back in the @endsreport.com 👇
Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources, on how inconsistent policies are holding businesses back in the @endsreport.com 👇
Circular economy taskforce ‘fighting some big interests’ says member
A member of the circular economy taskforce has said they have been ‘fighting some big interests’ in the process of developing the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
www.endsreport.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Without central guidance on planning processes, the circular economy risks becoming "a hodgepodge of postcode lottery.”
Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources, on how inconsistent policies are holding businesses back in the @endsreport.com 👇
Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources, on how inconsistent policies are holding businesses back in the @endsreport.com 👇