Climate resilience in the built environment: adapting to a changing climate

13:30 – 16:15 (EET)

In the past 20 years, natural disasters have affected 4.4 billion people, claimed 1.3 million lives, and caused $2 trillion USD in economic losses (World Bank, UN). By 2050, over 970 cities could be subjected to extreme heat, with over 570 cities impacted by sea level rise, to name just two impacts of our changing climate (C40). Far too few cities are prepared for these changes. The extreme heat, floods, droughts and wildfires seen in urban hubs around the world in recent years has shown how unbearable, and unliveable, our cities could become – unless we act to build resilience while mitigating further changes.

Our built environment is continually growing to meet the demands of changing, urban-centric populations. Two-thirds of people will live in cities by 2060, yet half of the urban fabric to accommodate them has not yet been built. It is critical that design and investment decisions taken today consider the scale, scope and severity of climate change impacts that will affect these built assets. 

The built environment sector has the opportunity to lead the resilience agenda, placing adaptation on par with mitigation through how we design, manage and occupy buildings and infrastructure for the worlds’ people. In this session, the World Green Building Council and partners will position the built environment as a priority solution for climate resilience and adaptation, explore key topics including finance and civic participation, and present the massive opportunity to deliver system transformation to improve livelihoods worldwide.

WorldGBC will also be announcing the launch of their dedicated guide to climate resilience in the built environment, and exploring the key principles through the demonstration of solutions for every geography. In addition, the content of WorldGBC’s ‘Sustainable Reconstruction Guidelines’ will be presented as part of a regional deep-dive on resilient rebuilding of disaster hit areas.