The Australian Institute of Architects has urged the Australian government to follow in the footsteps of the 27 nations, who, at the 2023 international climate forum, committed to supporting a new initiative focused on decarbonizing the built environment, called ‘Buildings Breakthrough.’
World leaders have gathered in Dubai to discuss global strategies for tackling climate change at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), taking place between 30 November and 12 December.
During the conference, two new initiatives were unveiled – the “Buildings Breakthrough” and the “Concrete and Cement Breakthrough,” both of which have an objective of reducing the carbon footprint of the building and construction sectors.
Twenty-seven nations have pledged their support for the Buildings Breakthrough, which aims to have near-zero and resilient buildings as the standard by 2030. Australia is not currently among the supporting nations. The Concrete and Cement Breakthrough also set the objective of achieving near-zero cement emissions by 2030.
According to information presented at COP28, building and construction industries account for nearly 40 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions, 50 percent of extracted materials, and one-third of global waste.
Institute national president Stuart Tanner called on the Australian Government to join the global battle, which could support sustainable decarbonization of the industry.
“The launch of these frameworks is a vital step to the transformation of the built environment through coordinated responses from national governments and international cooperation,” he said. “As one of the most urbanized nations in the world, cities are critical to Australia’s decarbonization journey. Australia should step up and accelerate the net-zero transition of our built environment.”
This year, COP28 featured a dedicated day for the built environment. Other declarations at the conference included a commitment from Australia to reduce the use of energy for cooling through the Global Cooling Pledge – an announcement that the Institute welcomed.
The Institute said it will continue to advocate for urgent climate action through partnerships with other industry bodies including the Green Building Council of Australia and ASBEC to develop practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and create a more sustainable future. The Institute is currently pushing for a national climate and energy plan to support global efforts in limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as well as a new national policy for the built environment to expand the scope of the National Construction Code.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
