On average, 41% of global energy consumption (消耗) can be due to buildings and structures, notes the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA). With EEBA also highlighting the fact that buildings produce dangerous emissions that pollute the air and that the construction industry produces more than 170 tons of debris (残骸) annually, there’s no question that the way that buildings are created needs to change.

By putting the environment first in architectural design, there are a variety of ways that the carbon footprint associated with buildings can be reduced, from the value in popular design trends like biophilia to how architects can work various eco-friendly materials into the job. The implementation (安装) of solar power is just one common design trend in eco-first buildings.

When looking for ways to meet eco-friendly design, biophilia—defined as “a love of life or living things,” has been used in architectural design to combine nature with the environment. In regard to the subject, ArchDaily notes “The guiding principle is quite simple: connect people with nature to improve their well-being and quality of life.” With common elements of biophilic design in buildings including indoor trees and plants, skylights, and living walls occupants can enjoy the various benefits associated with the presence of nature indoors. For example, indoor plants may work to lower stress and reduce anxiety, and may even provide motivational boost. The plants can also help absorb sound, provide privacy, and can even serve as a source of food (depending on the plants used, of course).

One green building design can be found in Milan, Italy, in which a residential development that consists of two towers can be found. Known as the ‘Bosco Verticale’, the towers stand 80 and 112 meters high, and their outer parts are covered in plants and trees. In addition to attracting wildlife, Boeri’s practice, Stefano Boeri Architetti, notes that the “green curtain” works to generate oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

Greta Thunberg may be the voice of a generation alarmed about climate change but she is also the voice of a generation failing to do much about it. A new study shows that young people, are taking less action to lower their carbon footprint than older Britons and are much worse at taking simple steps to help the environment, such as recycling.

The YouGov survey of 1,008 Britons found that more than 80 per cent of 18-to 24-year-old say they are worried about global warming compared with nearly 70 per cent of the over -65s. A higher proportion (比例) of young people also believe that urgent action is required to deal, with climate change. However, nearly 90 per cent of the over-65s say they recycle as much as possible compared with only half of young people. The over-65s are also more likely to have reduced the number of flights they take, to take steps to save water and to repair items. They are also more likely to turn the heating down and switch off lights in rooms they are not using.

Overall, the study found that 74 per cent of Britons are concerned about climate change and 70 per cent believe urgent action is required. However, the data suggests that the economic climate is affecting people’s willingness to act. Over half of the people questioned said that dealing with, the cost of living is a greater priority than making changes to lower their environmental impact.

Claudine Blamey, group sustainability director at Aviva, said, “The majority of UK residents believe urgent action is required to tackle environmental change. It’s heartening to see that older generations are leading the way through their climate-conscious behaviors and younger people are committing to doing more.” “It is vital that people realize making a difference is within their gift, helping their families, communities and country to get ready,” he added.

Now Sea World on the Gold Coast is the only dolphin park in Australia to continue keeping dolphins in captivity. This wouldn't have been possible without thousands of warm-hearted supporters being a voice for dolphins protection over many years.

In August last year, Ben Pearson, our head of campaigns in Australia and New Zealand, appeared before the NSW upper house inquiry into the use wild animals for entertainment to put forward our case for ban on captive Dolphin breeding in the state. “If a dolphin were bred today, it may still be alive in 2070. This regulation frees future dolphins from being kept in lockdown at a time when the public acceptability of keeping dolphins in captivity for entertainment is declining. As the tide turns against using marine mammals in captivity for entertainment, conversation about what will happen to the dolphins at Sea World needs to start now. First step is a ban on further breeding,” Ben Pearson said.

Major travel brands including Tripadvisor and Booking. com have already committed to stop selling tickets to dolphin shows and encounters. As well as these great changes for dolphins from the travel industry, Canada recently passed a ban on keeping dolphins and whales for entertainment. This is part of a global movement towards better treatment of these wild animals, which includes the nations of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.

Dolphins are magnificent, intelligent animals. They belong in the wild and should not be bred in captivity for entertainment. In their natural environment, dolphins swim freely in 100 square kilometres of ocean, sometimes more, but the average dolphin in captivity has a fraction of that space. Together, we can make this the last generation of dolphins in captivity.