Lead organisation(s): One Planet Network/GlobalABC Materials Hub

Partners: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ),Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), Ministry of the Environment of Finland, Yale Center for Ecosystems and Architecture (Yale CEA)

Format: Panel discussion with interactive moment, hybrid

Watch the recording

Description:

The built environment represents 37% of the total global GHG emissions (GlobalABC, 2022), and has an extensive impact on land use and biodiversity: the construction sector consumes almost 50% of the total material footprint across the global economy (SCP-HAT, 2020). By 2025, these emissions are projected to increase, as 50-80% of buildings and infrastructure are yet to be built in the Global South.

In line with the resolution of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA/EA.4/Res.1 and UNEA/EA.5/Res.11), circular economy has been recognised as key to achieving sustainable consumption and production by enhancing resource efficiency and materials reuse within the planetary boundaries. Circular economy policies and solutions (avoid-shift-improve approach) in the construction sector have a key role contributing to increase human well-being and supporting a just transition in a rapidly urbanizing world: stimulating innovation, new business models and a more stable economic growth that will not be hampered by the shortage of raw materials.

Measures to reduce emissions in construction materials and their use in buildings need to be aligned due to complex supply chains of construction. Learnings from countries implementing emissions reduction policies need to be disseminated so poor practice can be leap-frogged.

The objective of the event is to call to action to consider embodied emissions of materials, buildings, and accelerate circularity in support of climate and nature objectives. The objective will be delivered through a panel discussion designed to 1) spotlight tangible solutions that are pushing for circularity and decarbonisation in the built environment, and 2) present the Global Partnerships that are amplifying these transformative efforts.

Speakers: 

• Moderator:  Jonathan Duwyn, GlobalABC
• Dr. Vera Rodenhoff, Deputy Director General for International Climate Action and International Energy Transition in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
• Edgar Hertwich, Professor, NTNU (online) 
• Hind Wildman, Yale CEA
• RIBA: Duncan Baker-Brown 
• Prof Graeme Maidment, DESNZ
• Naila Ahamed Noor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works of Bangladesh
• Robert Spencer, VP sustainable committee, FIDIC / AECOM 
• Dima Zogheib, Associate Director, Cities, Planning and Design team, ARUP
• Anna Dyson, Yale CEA
• Argentina representative: Adriana Garcia
• Indonesia representative: Anandita Laksmi
• Kerstin Stendahl, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Finland

Agenda: