Sustainable Building and Construction - International Environmental ...

Sustainable Building and Construction
Illustration 7: World
population
Upon current development patterns (2002) the energy consumption and waste
production will increase by at least 30%. The Global Carbon Dioxide increase until
2025 will be the fastest ever recorded and at least 25% above current levels. If this
scenario manifests, a sustainable future will not only be more difficult to achieve but
increasingly less likely to be achieved at all. Therefore the reduction of energy
demand and GHG emissions, which are maybe critical for the survival of mankind,
are high on the global environmental agenda.
According to the report “Poverty and Climate Change: Reducing The Vulnerability of
the Poor Through Adaptation”, which was released by 10 governments and
institutions, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Asian Development
Bank, the African Development Bank, the U.N. Development Program and the U.N.
Environment Program on 10th of June 2003 at the annual meetings of the U.N.
Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, climate change could jeopardize
the Millennium Development Goals of halving global poverty by 2015. It is
reportedly the first joint statement of development agencies on the risks of climate
variability and change for development. According to the report, rising temperatures
will "reduce access to drinking water, and negatively affect the health and food
security of poor people in many countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America."
…"Unless remedial measures are taken, the livelihoods of poor people and the
development prospects of many developing countries are threatened," the report says,
urging developed countries to be leaders in "combating climate change and its adverse
effects." (Available at:
http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/util/display_stories.asp?objid=34174)
1.3 The building and construction sector
About 40% of the raw materials and energy produced worldwide are used in the
building sector (ASMI, "The Environmental Challenge in the Building Sector”,
1999). In 1999, construction activities contributed over 35% of total CO2 emissions,
which is more than any other industrial activity. In average the construction industry
accounts for 37% of Global CO2 emissions. Of those, building and business operation
accounts for 52.4% (19.4 % of global emissions) materials production for 29.5%
(10.9% of global e.), transport for 13.5% (5% of global e.) and construction work for
3.5% (1.3% of global e.). Hence there is an urgent need for sustainable and energy
efficient urban planning, architectural design and building construction.
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