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

More news and ideas from Michael Green

News

Open: The talks of TED@DestinationCanada

March 13, 2023

When we come together with open hearts and open minds, anything is possible. It was in this spirit that TED partnered with Destination Canada for a day of talks and performances featuring new ideas on living, seeing the world and reimagining our shared future. The event: TED@DestinationCanada: Open is the first event TED and Destination […]

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Live from TED

A portable feast: TED’s wooden pavilion

March 17, 2015

To build a 20-story building out of cement and concrete, 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide gets released; to construct the same building from wood, 3,100 tons are saved, a difference of about 900 cars taken off the road in a year. Michael Green (TED Talk: Why we should build wooden skyscrapers) builds with wood because […]

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