Uncovering the hidden climate costs of everyday materials

What if the everyday materials people use have a hidden price? A price that isn't measured in dollars and cents, but has invisible environmental impacts? From steel in buildings to plastic in water bottles, the building materials that shape our world carry incalculable climate costs.

A recent study by a team of engineers and economists from the University of California, Davis, offers a new perspective.

Carbon footprint of everyday materials

The study revealed an eye-opening figure. The production of materials such as steel, plastic, and cement is associated with $79 billion in climate damage in the United States each year.

Many argue that including these hidden costs in the market prices of goods would encourage the exploration and implementation of greener alternatives. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)