Buildings responsible for 40 percent of carbon emissions globally

Otautahi - Buildings are responsible for roughly 40 percent of emissions globally, when considering building materials and operating emissions.

Advancing the net-zero agenda is just one issue that could shape real-estate decisions in the future.

With the technologies and strategies to support resilience and sustainable buildings proliferating, the ability to prove your strategies are working is critical.

Christchurch’s new $533 million 30,000-seater stadium Te Kaha has been slammed for having a lack of environmental sustainability in a time of climate change efforts. The stadium will not be finished at least until mid-2025.

The role of buildings in addressing climate change cannot be understated. They’re responsible for roughly 40 percent of emissions globally, taking into account building materials and operating emissions.

Net zero has emerged as the term of choice for organisations serious about climate. It has also come under criticism, as some organisations set net-zero goals without a clear path to make it a reality.

Net zero is quickly moving from ambition to action, with businesses adopting realistic net-zero ambitions with pragmatic frameworks and action plans.

It's nothing like greenwashing. More people globally are serious about it, they're planning for it, they're expanding their scope and boundary of what net zero even means.

In the future, people will not be able to talk about sustainability without talking about resilience.

Increasingly businesses and organisations are recognising the massive opportunity in decarbonising supply chains where the lion’s share of emissions are usually buried.

Last year, major corporations including IKEA, Microsoft and Nestle signed onto the 1.5 degree supply chain leaders pledge, which strives to halve emissions from supply chains by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

With the spectre of extreme weather looming in every region of the globe, the imperative to harden facilities is no longer optional. The mounting risks associated with climate change means resilience must be overlaid across all parts of an organisation.

To date many companies and councils  have put sustainability and resilience in different boxes. From now on, they won’t be able to talk about sustainability without talking about resilience.

The physical risk associated with buildings be it from flooding, fires or storms puts real estate professionals on the forefront of climate calamities.