This explainer introduces embodied carbon as the often-hidden climate impact of building materials—capturing all emissions from extraction to manufacturing, construction, maintenance, and end-of-life. It contrasts this with operational carbon and underscores why embodied emissions now play an outsized role in a building’s overall footprint. Through clear examples, the piece highlights how early design decisions, thoughtful material selection, reuse, and designing for future adaptability can dramatically cut these emissions. Ultimately, it positions embodied carbon awareness as essential to creating buildings that support a more sustainable, climate-responsible future.