Resilient real estate: how firms can fight climate change through design
In the aftermath of COP26, companies must now take the steps to actively manage the challenges of climate change and take responsibility for their carbon emissions
According to the United Nations, climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The impacts of climate change range from changing weather patterns to rising sea levels, which increases the risk of floods, heat waves, and fires, among others. The effects of this phenomenon are global in scope and involve all of us: society, companies, and people.
In this context, both the construction and operation of buildings play a significant role in the adoption of the necessary initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, considering that the sector is responsible for around 40 per cent of global emissions. The factors that contribute the most are: energy efficiency, materials used, air conditioning, lighting and building infrastructure (1).
During restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CO2 emissions were reduced by as much as 26 per cent and air quality improved, largely due to decreased transportation and industrial activity (2). However, nowadays emissions are recovering as businesses and the economy resume their activity.
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Written by Contract Workplaces.