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China Code Updates for Reduction of Embodied Carbon

The project explores how China’s structural building codes could evolve to better support low-carbon construction.

China Code Updates for Embodied Carbon Reduction (C-CURE), led by the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) with support from the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Charles Pankow Foundation, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the MKA Foundation, is focused on exploring how China’s structural building codes could evolve to better support low-carbon construction.

 

Throughout the research period, existing codes issued by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development (MOHURD) will be examined and evaluated. The goal is to identify practical opportunities to reduce embodied carbon in future buildings by recommending targeted updates to current code requirements.

 

Structural engineers and technical practitioners (including auditors, project leads, ESG consultants) with practical experience designing or auditing projects under Chinese National Standards (GB/JGJ) are asked to complete our anonymous survey to help categorize key technical issues for a more detailed follow-up study. Please find the 5-minute survey here

 

The results of the work will be communicated via a public document at the conclusion of the project in late 2026.

Guoqiang Li

Tongji University

Zhaofan Li

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Peng Liu

Arup

Congzhen Xiao

China Academy of Building Research

Xiangdong Du

RWDI

Ron Klemencic

Magnusson Klemencic Associates

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ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet. We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to create and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working alongside 80 funders.

 

climateworks.org

Charles Pankow Foundation Logo

Charles Pankow Foundation

The Charles Pankow Foundation combines a rich heritage with focused leadership to catalyze and drive sustainable programs for innovation. A private and independent public benefit foundation, the Charles Pankow Foundation serves a unique role in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. The Foundation provides leadership and catalytic funding to support game-changing research and industry collaborations to transform the industry.

 

pankowfoundation.org

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University of Colorado at Boulder

The University of Colorado Boulder is Colorado’s leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876. As the state’s flagship university and one of only 38 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder has proudly served Coloradans since the state’s founding. Home to five Nobel Laureates since 1989 and the only university to send space instruments to every planet in the solar system, CU Boulder provides a strong return on investment by aligning efforts to achieve research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact and the success of all students, faculty and staff.

 

colorado.edu

MKA Foundation Logo

MKA Foundation

The MKA Foundation was formally established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) organization, building upon a legacy of collaboration and in-kind support of leading research for the advancement of structural and civil engineering. As champions for the industry, the MKA Foundation and its Industry Partners seek to advance state-of-the-art innovative designs, to give back in a targeted way that makes our profession stronger for the long term, and to help to fill the gap in available resources for research funding. Funded by Magnusson Klemencic Associates and external contributors, the MKA Foundation establishes a platform to promote industry-leading research—research that remains open-source and non-proprietary.

 

mkafoundation.org

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Take our 5-minute survey to help identify excess carbon in Chinese structural codes.

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