Countdown to COP26: Are we building with the climate of the future in mind?

By Simon Wyatt2021-06-16T05:00:00

Source: Shutterstock

With fewer than 150 days until world leaders meet in Glasgow for COP26, Simon Wyatt turns his focus to one of the key themes on the agenda – adaptation and resilience

The government’s commitment to achieving a net zero carbon economy by 2050 will require the retrofit and decarbonisation of millions of square feet of commercial, domestic and public sector real estate. The question is, will these net zero carbon buildings be fit for the climate of 2050 and beyond?

We have already seen global mean temperatures rise by 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. So, even if we meet the Paris agreement’s target of limiting the global mean temperature rise to 1.5°C, then the climate in 2050 will differ significantly from that which we are used to. Will our buildings and infrastructure be able to cope with these changes?

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