In 1995 world leaders made a commitment to meet annually at a COP event, to tackle climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) made it clear that every country should be held accountable “to avoid dangerous climate change and find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”. That was until last year, in the context of a global pandemic the event for Glasgow 2020 was postponed.
COP stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’ and is the most significant climate change event. Almost every country in the world is a signatory to the UNFCCC treaty. Each year a host country is appointed to take the lead with negotiating on how to find a fair way to share the problem the climate emergency poses.
Former UN Climate Change Head Christiana Figueres (second left) celebrates the signing of the Paris Agreement with COP21 President Laurent Fabius and former French President Francois Hollande (right) (Image Credit: UN Climate Change/Flickr)
Perhaps the most pivotal turning point was 6 years ago at the COP21 summit when world leaders managed to conclude a deal on climate change; the outcome was the Paris Agreement. It called for action from the 195 signatory countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to counter an impending climate catastrophe.
Furthermore, all countries involved agreed that wealthier countries should provide the necessary technology and financial backing to support LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Country) to take action.
As things stand, COP26 is due to kick-off in Glasgow, between 1st and 12th November 2021. It will unite heads of state and climate experts, who will be expected to report on progress made since COP21 (if any) when the Paris Agreement set out to limit global warming to 1.5⁰c.
Firmly on the agenda at COP26 will be nationally determined contributions or NDCs which are countries’ individual targets for cutting emissions and adapting to climate change. All 195 countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement are set to update their NDCs every five years, but due to the postponing of the event last year, the submissions were disrupted. Former business secretary-turned COP26 President Alok Sharma is spearheading this process to present targets during the event, as outlined in a letter to all signatories last month. Huge investments have been made in fighting COVID-19, so it will also be the UK’s job as hosts of COP26 to ensure all countries continue to invest and make progress on their climate change commitments.
Alok Sharma was appointed full-time President for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, on 8 January 2021 (Image Credit: DUK News)
As hosts, the world focus will be on the UK’s environmental performance and COP26 signifies a critical opportunity to highlight the vital role construction will play in reaching global climate change targets.
The World Green Building Council wrote a letter to Sharma offering to organise a dedicated built environment day in a bid to focus on architecture and construction’s role in a green and inclusive recovery.
“It is essential to have a full day to recognise the building and construction industry at COP26. The sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy and process-related emissions, up to 10% of global employment and around 50% of global wealth. WorldGBC has signed a letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, together with nine fellow international organisations which are working to decarbonise and make more sustainable the built environment across the world.” said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the WGBC.
The figures on emissions clearly represent a huge effect, but solutions could well be outlined for designers, manufacturers, contractors, landlords, and tenants to play a key role in moving the world to a net-zero future if the impact is given attention. Thankfully in his response in December last year, Sharma accepted the offer. He wrote, “The built environment is key to driving a green recovery and the UK is putting this into action.”
The day will firmly place the built environment in the heart of discussions at COP26, bringing together diverse stakeholders from the architecture and construction sector to present solid pathways towards net zero. The UK’s construction industry is seen as fragmented due to the different elements during a building’s life cycle, and therefore it is important to unite all at COP26 towards a common goal of a net-zero built environment. Much work must be done in the UK with the challenge that is embodied carbon. Extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and assembly must be reflected in net-zero built environment goals. At least the issue of tackling embodied carbon will become a more mainstream conversation, no longer a blind spot as it has been for so long.
Embodied carbon is just one of the issues in construction that the Built Environment Day will seek to address at COP26 (Image Credit: Building Green)
To conclude; COP26 like the events before it, is an opportunity to create/update plans and solutions surrounding the troubles facing our planet. It is predicted that in run-up to COP26 many businesses will take more action, reporting on their progress and increasing their confidence in carbon neutral and net-zero goals. It will also throw construction into the spotlight and how we as an industry must respond by pursuing greener methods of working.
The world will be watching….
Former UN Climate Change Head Christiana Figueres (second left) celebrates the signing of the Paris Agreement with COP21 President Laurent Fabius and former French President Francois Hollande (right) (Image Credit: UN Climate Change/Flickr)
Perhaps the most pivotal turning point was 6 years ago at the COP21 summit when world leaders managed to conclude a deal on climate change; the outcome was the Paris Agreement. It called for action from the 195 signatory countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to counter an impending climate catastrophe.
Furthermore, all countries involved agreed that wealthier countries should provide the necessary technology and financial backing to support LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Country) to take action.
As things stand, COP26 is due to kick-off in Glasgow, between 1st and 12th November 2021. It will unite heads of state and climate experts, who will be expected to report on progress made since COP21 (if any) when the Paris Agreement set out to limit global warming to 1.5⁰c.
Firmly on the agenda at COP26 will be nationally determined contributions or NDCs which are countries’ individual targets for cutting emissions and adapting to climate change. All 195 countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement are set to update their NDCs every five years, but due to the postponing of the event last year, the submissions were disrupted. Former business secretary-turned COP26 President Alok Sharma is spearheading this process to present targets during the event, as outlined in a letter to all signatories last month. Huge investments have been made in fighting COVID-19, so it will also be the UK’s job as hosts of COP26 to ensure all countries continue to invest and make progress on their climate change commitments.
Alok Sharma was appointed full-time President for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, on 8 January 2021 (Image Credit: DUK News)
As hosts, the world focus will be on the UK’s environmental performance and COP26 signifies a critical opportunity to highlight the vital role construction will play in reaching global climate change targets.
The World Green Building Council wrote a letter to Sharma offering to organise a dedicated built environment day in a bid to focus on architecture and construction’s role in a green and inclusive recovery.
“It is essential to have a full day to recognise the building and construction industry at COP26. The sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy and process-related emissions, up to 10% of global employment and around 50% of global wealth. WorldGBC has signed a letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, together with nine fellow international organisations which are working to decarbonise and make more sustainable the built environment across the world.” said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the WGBC.
The figures on emissions clearly represent a huge effect, but solutions could well be outlined for designers, manufacturers, contractors, landlords, and tenants to play a key role in moving the world to a net-zero future if the impact is given attention. Thankfully in his response in December last year, Sharma accepted the offer. He wrote, “The built environment is key to driving a green recovery and the UK is putting this into action.”
The day will firmly place the built environment in the heart of discussions at COP26, bringing together diverse stakeholders from the architecture and construction sector to present solid pathways towards net zero. The UK’s construction industry is seen as fragmented due to the different elements during a building’s life cycle, and therefore it is important to unite all at COP26 towards a common goal of a net-zero built environment. Much work must be done in the UK with the challenge that is embodied carbon. Extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and assembly must be reflected in net-zero built environment goals. At least the issue of tackling embodied carbon will become a more mainstream conversation, no longer a blind spot as it has been for so long.
Embodied carbon is just one of the issues in construction that the Built Environment Day will seek to address at COP26 (Image Credit: Building Green)
To conclude; COP26 like the events before it, is an opportunity to create/update plans and solutions surrounding the troubles facing our planet. It is predicted that in run-up to COP26 many businesses will take more action, reporting on their progress and increasing their confidence in carbon neutral and net-zero goals. It will also throw construction into the spotlight and how we as an industry must respond by pursuing greener methods of working.
The world will be watching….- Date
- Category
- The Built Environment