The year 2022 has seen a series of climate disasters worldwide, claiming thousands of people’s lives. Experts believe these events are primarily due to the rising surface temperature of the planet, triggering extreme weather events. Record-breaking heatwaves were followed by monsoon flooding in Pakistan, which left circa 30 percent of the country submerged, affecting 33 million people. Prolonged heatwaves and drought in China saturated parts of the Yangtze River.
Current records indicate the Earth’s surface temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial era. The current aim is to try and contain the rise in temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. However, experts believe the current trajectory will likely land us closer to the 2 degrees Celsius mark. Failure to contain temperatures below 3 degrees Celsius would be catastrophic for the region.
Wet-bulb temperatures (theoretical measurement combining temperature and humidity into one value) in the Gulf region would approach dangerous new highs, making the climate unliveable for humans. The Middle East is among the most vulnerable places in the world to climate change.
The importance of community and the consequences of human impact on the world we live in is evident now more than ever. The United Nations has highlighted the devastating toll climate change will have on the region’s water supplies and food production systems. The affluent Gulf nations face depleted freshwater resources within the next 50 years. In addition, sea levels rise dramatically, changing our coastlines.
In light of World Green Building Week and COP27, it’s evident that the industry needs to accelerate the delivery of a sustainable built environment. As an industry, we need to look at fast-tracking sustainable practices and stimulating economic equity and environmental sustainability that will positively impact the region’s communities. The adoption of a circular economy can potentially reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 39 percent and create a pollution-free Middle East.
Sustainable construction in the face of climate change in the Middle East:
Climate change is more relevant than ever in the Middle East, as highlighted by the UN, due to the potentially devastating impact on the region’s water supply and an increase in already high temperatures. The latter would create an intolerable environment for humans and in the worst-case scenario mass displacement in the region. The built environment accounts for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the industry is part of the problem and the solution.
The industry has seen a gradual uptake in sustainable construction however, to tackle the worst climate disasters, governments and industry alike must put sustainability at the top of the agenda. To be effective, sustainability needs to be considered from the concept stage of a project and strategically implemented throughout, and it can no longer be an afterthought. By engaging consultants early in the project, a holistic approach can be executed, giving way to innovation and creating synergy throughout the supply chain.
Building better communities in the Middle East
March 2022 saw the first Middle East and North Africa Regional Climate Week demonstrating the regional government’s commitment to climate action. Sustainable buildings are synonymous with improving the quality of life for the community that uses them. By harnessing the power of intelligent buildings and clean energy, such as solar power, in turn reducing carbon emissions, we decrease the pollution and toxicity of the cities we live and work in.
When we build sustainably, we create a built environment that works for the community instead of at the expense of the community. The UAE is already home to some 869 green-rated buildings, the 14th highest national concentration globally. The first step to building better communities in our region is committing to ensuring all our buildings, new and old, are green certified through the likes of GSAS, BREEAM, and LEED. Green certifications assess aspects such as usability, natural sunlight, air quality, and green spaces while reducing embodied carbon, and creating a better environment for future generations.
Accelerating the Middle East circular economy
To ensure the region’s future, home to 411 million people, the pace of the circular economy needs to accelerate to achieve sustainable development. In Qatar, for example, it is estimated that 80% of existing buildings will still be in use in 2050. A regional shift has commenced, taking stock of the existing assets and retrofitting with sustainable technologies driven by clean energy to move to an economy free of waste and pollution, prolonging the lifespan of buildings.
A building does not have to be new to be sustainable; retrofitting existing building stock is critical in driving the circular economy, which focuses on keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. Retrofitting is an economical and sustainable way of futureproofing our cities and economy and adding value.
The market is shifting towards recognising the tangible value of sustainable construction. A lack of action to align existing market stock with the local sustainable agenda will result in the depreciation of assets. Governmental legislation is the only way to increase the pressure on developers to repurpose the built environment to meet a sustainable future.
As the World Green Building Week 2022 indicated, it’s time to adopt a more holistic and collaborative approach to tackling climate change, driven by legislation and scaling up affordable low-carbon solutions in the industry.
As a region, we will have to accelerate our adoption of a more circular and regenerative economy. 2023 will be a big year for the region as we brace for the world stage on climate action. COP28 will produce the region’s unprecedented business case for climate ambition and provide the private sector with clear net-zero objectives.
By : Sara Owen, Senior Project Manager, Turner & Townsend