The rise in urban population worldwide has spurred the widespread construction of high-rise buildings, a trend projected to persist. Urban areas with high population density necessitate creative solutions to accommodate residents within limited space, prompting the construction of taller structures. As urbanization progresses, global competition for the tallest buildings has emerged. Yet, a crucial question lingers: How sustainable are these buildings, and do they contribute to environmental pollution? This study examined the environmental impact and sustainability of high-rise construction by analyzing carbon dioxide emissions throughout their lifecycle. Key objectives included analyzing material usage, cradle-to-grave material emissions, the influence of LEED certifications, and climatic factors. This study used various previous works to compile a comprehensive carbon emissions formula that encompasses the major sources of carbon emissions in a building’s lifecycle, from construction, through operation, and into decommissioning. This formula was then used as a dependent variable in a multiple regression formula with building height and built-up area to produce a simplified estimation model for the lifecycle carbon emissions of a high-rise building. The simplified formula was developed using the data of 30 high-rise buildings from around the world.