The latest IPCC synthesis report makes for bleak reading, but there remains a few rays of hope. As the authors say, ‘if we act now, we can still secure a livable sustainable future for all.”
As the clock ticks, the urgency with which we act must ramp up. The science is absolute and has been for some time, but so far the urgency which should be prompting decisive action has failed to do so. We need ambitious policy to decarbonise quickly. We need rapid adaptation to low carbon ways of doing things, and to adapt to the threats of our changing climate. As the report says, we’re heading towards 3.2 °C of warming by 2100 – a level with irreversible, disastrous implications.
Another thing the report reinforces is that action works. Globally we have moved our future away from 4 degrees of warming. It’s not nearly enough, but it demonstrates with concerted action we can bring about change.
You can read a great summary of the report here
As part of the Green Building Council community, you are supporting our vision for the construction and property sector to play its part in slashing emissions and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future. There’s a lot we can do.
Here are five steps we should take right now:
- Measure: Take stock of your embodied carbon, your energy use. Energy labels on existing buildings provide transparency on which buildings are more energy efficient and lower carbon. What isn’t measured, isn’t managed. As a country we’re lagging behind in our awareness of where our emissions reductions can come from.
- Improve standards: We must speed up delivery of the Building for Climate Change programme. The latest timeline from MBIE shows a significant delay in getting cracking. Let’s get on with it.
- Incentivise: There are plenty of ways we can make sustainable building more attractive. Faster consenting and basic financial measures are an easy win. Why not introduce a subsidy for lower-carbon, healthier homes similar to the clean car discount? All banks should be making significantly lower interest mortgage rates for certified lower-carbon homes and buildings.
- Improve our existing homes: We need a deep retrofit programme to improve the health and resilience of 200,000 homes. There is huge support for this with now over 150 voices backing The Homes We Deserve
- Use your influence: If you are involved in commissioning, designing or building you should be asking the question "What legacy am I leaving. Do you want to be part of the change and a lower carbon healthier future?". Push for green certification, engage and encourage your project teams, suppliers, customers, friends, family, and community leaders.
The most exciting thing about the construction and property sector is that we can deliver better places for people, lower living costs and a lower carbon future.
There are plenty of lessons to share and inspiration to be had at the upcoming Green Property Summit in May. If you haven’t already, be sure to get your tickets. We’ve also got a key Embodied Carbon Masterclass the following day, as well as a session on Climate Related Disclosures and our work to identify the climate scenarios for our sector.
Reports like the latest from the IPCC reiterate why we do what we do, and push us to go further, faster. Let’s get going.
Ngā mihi nui,
Andrew