At COP27 a number of initiatives as well as progress reports have so far been launched to galvanise the built environment industry towards collective action on climate change.
The built environment finally emerged as a major issue at this years’ conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Here is a summary:
- Breakthrough Agenda announced at COP26 was reaffirmed, aiming to strengthen international collaboration on the decarbonisation of high-emitting sectors, with the rallying cry: “Near zero emissions and resilient buildings are the new normal by 2030”.
- The WorldGBC Guide to Climate Resilience and Adaptation in the Built Environment was launched ahead of the conference in collaboration with the UN High Level Climate Champions and C40 Cities.
- The Roof Over Our Heads campaign was launched to provide resilient, affordable, low carbon housing for vulnerable communities, in partnership between The Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres, Slum Dwellers International, Global Resilience Partnership, and the UN High Level Climate Champions.
- Summary for Urban Policy Makers led by Resilience Rising and IPCC co-authors was launched, with actionable policy guides for city and urban policy makers to decarbonise and build the resilience of urban environments.
- Signatories to the Cities Race to Resilience have more than doubled since 2021.
- The 2030 Built Environment Breakthrough Outcome was launched by the UN High Level Climate Champions.
- The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction was launched by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.
- The percentage of construction companies that have joined the Race to Zero has doubled to over US$245 billion (A$364b) in revenue since COP26.
- The Business of Climate Recovery: Accelerating Accountability, Ambition and Action was released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development with roadmaps to address energy performance and whole lifecycle emissions for new and old buildings.
- Clean Construction Accelerator was announced in the lead-up with specific actions to support the global built environment sector in halving embodied emissions by 2030 and generating green jobs.
- The Paris Aligned Asset Owners initiative released its first progress report showcasing best practice.
- Asset Managers in the Race to Zero, launched two years ago, has garnered 291 asset managers, representing US$66 trillion (A$98tr).
- First Movers Coalition expanded its coalition of companies to commit US$12 billion (A$18b) in 2030 green technologies to decarbonise the cement and concrete industry and other hard-to-abate sectors.
- Beat the Heat: Nature for Cool Cities Challenge was launched to mitigate the urban heat island effect through nature-based solutions.