Accelerating a Transition of the Global Fossil Fuel Industry Toward a Sustainable Built Environment

Material flows of the fossil fuel industry, from exploration and extraction to distribution and combustion, are massive on a global scale. Today, the world produces approximately 100 million barrels of crude oil per day, with most being used as a feedstock for combustible fuels. The oil and gas sector is also a major part of our global economy, comprised of approximately 1,500 oil and gas firms listed on stock exchanges around the world, worth over a combined US$7 trillion. These firms, and the supply chains they support, form the economic foundation and largest employment sector for numerous countries.

This session discusses the fundamental research underpinning a possible transition of global hydrocarbon output and products from fuels to construction materials. Research presented will include microscale design and tailoring of fiber reinforced polymer composites, modeling of composite behavior at the component-scale and building-scale, and design of urban spaces and communities that make use of hydrocarbon resources to accelerate development. An overarching framework for the multi-scale design and operation of such built environments is also presented.