The world is coming together to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, and all industries and sectors will need to contribute. …Our analysis shows that over the life cycle of a typical building, 76 percent of emissions come from operations and the remaining 24 percent from the processing of raw materials used for and construction of new builds. …There are several possible decarbonization pathways across materials, design, and technology that collectively could help mitigate a significant portion of overall emissions. …To make the transition to net-zero emissions, upstream aspects of low-carbon-intensive construction materials could also be maximized for tackling embodied emissions during the construction process. The cement industry is responsible for about a quarter of all industry CO₂ emissions, and it also generates the most CO₂ emissions per dollar of revenue. …Wood construction materials emit anywhere from 20 to 60 percent less carbon than steel and concrete in a typical building.