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Learning from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence offers valuable insights into disaster recovery. Carmine Galasso and Eyitayo Opabola delve into the intricacies of the “Build Back Better” (BBB) concept, underscoring the importance of recovery and reconstruction efforts toward a future that is not only more resilient but also more sustainable and equitable.

Recent high-profile concrete material failures, including the collapse of parts of public buildings in the UK, have highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the durability of concrete. Here, John Provis explores the need to recognise the complexity of concrete when planning both the research and application of this key construction material.

Nanomaterial solutions to sustainable development goals are hindered in their path to commercialisation by an early-stage reliance on single metric optimisation. Here we formulate the PSEC challenge (Performance, Scalability, Environment and Cost) to integrate broader sustainability thinking with precise technical solutions and so enable successful commercialisation of these advanced materials.

Cement-based construction 3D printing (C3DP) has the potential to be a climate solution by promoting cement decarbonization. Here we propose five policy actions that can guide C3DP toward becoming an emission abating tool.

Building retrofit is essential to deliver decarbonisation. But its implementation could leave a legacy of waste if end of life is not considered now. Danielle Densley Tingley considers the challenges and implications of embedding circularity into building retrofit.