Michael Green wants to transform an industry that generates almost 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions -- our built environment -- by creating cities made of natural, carbon-sequestering biomaterial structures instead of concrete and steel.

Why you should listen

Architect Michael Green is calling for rapid systemic change in the way we build. To end the global climate and housing crises, he believes we need to lead a revolutionary approach to structural design that unites nature and technology, creating sustainable architecture that has the potential to change the way we build around the world. Rather than invest billions of dollars to make the Industrial Revolution better, Green believes that the world's resources could be spent more wisely on inventions using nature. He proposes we abandon historically emissions-heavy materials such as concrete, steel and masonry in favor of sustainably sourced wood -- and a new, natural material called FIVE.

Michael Green’s TED Talks

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