Green construction strategies to combat climate change and public-health issues

The construction industry contributes 32% of global energy consumption and 34% of carbon emissions, with the construction process contributing 20%–50% of these emissions and significant particulate matter. As urbanization accelerates, construction-associated emissions exacerbate climate change and public-health risks. This study identifies the main sources of carbon emissions during construction and their pathways of impact on climate change, emphasizing the combined effects of dust, extreme weather, and urban heat islands on health. It also advances green construction strategies from technical, policy, and social perspectives and summarizes existing practice outcomes, showing that integrating green technologies and health-resilience measures can enhance energy efficiency by 40% and reduce carbon emissions by 290–293 kg/m³. Although high-income countries have made progress in emissions reduction, low- and middle-income countries continue to face disproportionate health impacts. The findings provide both theoretical and practical insights for a low-carbon transition in construction and integrated public-health governance. © 2025 The Authors.