Architect Jonathan Yeung Questions Sustainability Standards Across Borders

On September 17, 2026, architect Jonathan Yeung published an essay discussing the perception of sustainability in architecture as a one-size-fits-all concept, despite the fact that local regulations dictate actual construction practices. Current evaluations of buildings consider factors such as energy efficiency, embodied carbon, certification frameworks, material use, biodiversity, and overall life cycle impact. However, projects in cities like London, New York, or Copenhagen may be subject to strict energy regulations, environmental assessments, and ambitious carbon goals, while similar projects in other regions face vastly different rules. Yeung poses a challenging question for global architecture: what standards should architects adopt when sustainability laws vary? The essay features an image of outdated structures by Matt Van der Velde and appears on ArchDaily.