Green Economy Journal Issue 41

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SPECIAL REPORT be the turning point the African water sector has been hoping for; an opportunity to redirect and prioritise funding to water and sanitation projects as a major safeguard against the spread of infection and wellbeing – which means further attainment of water security deals. According to the Global Risk Register of the World Economic Forum, water has been in the top five risks to the global economy over the past nine consecutive years. Finally, we can advance more rapidly to a greener lower carbon future on the back of groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments like low-energy wastewater treatment and no-sewered-sanitation. With the right choices, in the direction of better water infrastructure and new sanitation, the recovery and stimulus packages being considered by governments worldwide could usher in a greener, more inclusive, healthier world. Jason F. McLennan Architect and Founder of the Living Building Challenge www.mclennan-design.com REFLECTING ON ARCHITECTURE FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE When it comes to Covid-19, it is our policies that need to change more so than architecture. Yet, the mission related to creating living buildings and communities and reducing environmental impact has not changed at all. This year is turning into a ‘pause’ year and we still must get back to the same mission with renewed vigour. About 2020 being forecast as the year of twenty-twenty ‘perfect’ vision, I have been saying that life imitates art sometimes. This is turning out to be an incredible year of reflection where it has become obvious to so many, how society needs to change – and now social justice issues in addition to the issues of health and inequities tied to resources are evident. Hopefully with all of this introspection – plus here in the United States, it’s a pretty important election year – it is a ‘shaking up’ moment: “Do we truly see clearly, or not?” It’s as if the glasses that were fogged have been taken off and we have to rub our eyes and see the world as it truly is – one that needs to change radically if humanity is to persist. Post Covid-19, there will be a transition period, but I do think things will tend to go back to more ‘normal’ in terms of architectural spaces required. Physical distances are not what we need in the long term once we have a vaccine. People need to be with people again! This is turning out to be an incredible year of reflection where it has become obvious to so many, how society needs to change – and now social justice issues in addition to the issues of health and inequities tied to resources are evident. And through this time we can’t forget that the environmental crisis is much larger than the pandemic we are facing now. We have hit pause on dealing with climate, and emissions are temporarily down, but we must act with urgency to continue reducing climate impacts even when things go back to normal. This is the fundamental design assignment for us – to change design relative to environmental impact, bringing people together again in truly regenerative spaces. 10 greeneconomy.media
INFRASTRUCTURE GBCSA and the Green Recovery BY GBSCA South Africa must recover economically, so why not make it a Green Recovery? current crisis compels humanity to reconsider how we connect and interact with each other and with the planet. “The Now, more than ever, we must consider our impact on the world around us. Recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is inevitable, so we have an unprecedented opportunity to drive a green recovery led by sustainability and green solutions,” says GBCSA CEO, Lisa Reynolds. The impact of Covid-19 and the associated risks it poses to business is foremost in the minds of companies. However, the risks of climate change should not fall off their radars. The lack of energy and water security due to climate change will exacerbate the economic and viability of business risks resulting from Covid-19. The solution is to rebuild the economy in a way that mitigates climate change risks. A strategy of simultaneous solutions – a Green Recovery strategy! The International Energy Agency (IEA) published a Sustainable Recovery Plan. According to the analysis conducted in co-operation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the IEA estimates that targeted policies and investment between 2021 and 2023 could boost global economic growth by an average of 1.1% a year. Its Sustainable Recovery Plan would also save or create around 9-million jobs a year and reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5-billion tonnes globally. A Green Recovery could benefit the planet, climate, human health and prosperity. But what does this mean and how comprehensive would a Green Recovery be across sectors? (Thank you to UCL’s Chair in Sustainable Global Resources, Raimund Bleischwitz for these insights). Creation of green jobs “Governments have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reboot their economies and bring a wave of new employment opportunities while accelerating the shift to a more resilient and cleaner energy future,” says IEA executive director, Dr Fatih Birol. Energy efficiency in the manufacturing of construction materials, textiles and food industries could increase employment and minimise resource security risks. Better buildings There is a huge job creation potential in the refurbishment of buildings to improve both energy and water efficiency. Mass retrofitting of buildings with energy efficiency interventions, water-efficient fixtures, water recovery storage and renewable energy sources can be a source of employment for many. Why would businesses be interested in these refurbishments? Because it results in assets that have lower running costs, are resource-efficient, are healthier for its occupants and thus more attractive to potential tenants. The improved “health” of green buildings was always an intangible benefit to going green. At the time where the health and wellness of our spaces are paramount, this benefit becomes very tangible. Another reason for doing these refurbishments is that they reduce resource security risks. Projects where rainwater and/or greywater harvesting storage systems could be shared between buildings, precincts or neighbourhoods will be able to assist water-poor areas in mitigating future water shortage risks. This plays a role in minimising the health risk for communities where there is no easy access to clean, running water. Green cities and neighbourhoods Planning and installing green spaces within cities and neighbourhoods assists with employment, the health and wellbeing of communities, as well as mitigating the impacts of climate. Less hard surfaces within these areas add to the “sponge city” effect. When it rains or when it storms, these areas absorb the rain and there is less stormwater flooding along the streets, pavements and highways. Low carbon transport, e-mobility and infrastructure Once again South Africa is feeling the effect of the exchange rate and our dependence on oil! Throughout the world, oil prices have dropped to historical lows, yet, in South Africa, fuel prices are increasing. Moving to electric vehicles and e-mobility public transport reduces exposure to the cost of fuel. And yes, taxis are included in the e-mobility concepts. Taxi ranks are a perfect place for charging stations and can be part of the e-mobility infrastructure plans. The building of the infrastructure and the moving of public transport to electric will create massive employment possibilities. The added benefit is the higher productivity due to the reduction of traffic. Bonus – South Africa achieves carbon reduction targets. Leaders throughout the world have been asking for strategies and action plans to achieve ambitious carbon reduction targets. The world also needs to move towards Net Zero carbon goals and more circular economies. The Green Recovery assists South Africa to achieve the carbon reduction goals it agreed to in the Paris Accord on climate change. The IEA Sustainable Recovery Plan states that: “Past financial recoveries – for example following the 2008/09 crisis – have been matched with rebounding global carbon dioxide emissions. Along with bringing projected emissions in 2023 significantly below where they currently are, the sustainable recovery plan would also see air pollution improved, reducing health risks around the world. Increased efficiency and lower carbon energy generation, as laid out in the plan, have the potential to make 2019 the ‘definitive peak’ in global emissions, putting us on a path to achieve longer-term climate goals, including the Paris Agreement.” Towards the Green Recovery “As we emerge from lockdown, we know we are in for a tough time for a while, but it is also an ideal time to think innovatively and drive a Green Recovery where we also deal with the persistent threat of climate change. I encourage everyone to embrace a Green Recovery – creating healthier, resource-efficient and meaningful spaces in the built environment that respond to climate-related challenges,” concludes Reynolds. greeneconomy.media 11
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Page 5 and 6: YOU SEE USED BOTTLES. COLLECTORS SE
Page 7 and 8: News & Snippets SUSTAINABLE DEVELOP
Page 9 and 10: SPECIAL REPORT Georgina Smit Head o
Page 11: SPECIAL REPORT Yovka Raytcheva-Scha
Page 16 and 17: GROWTH REFORMS Government plans to
Page 18 and 19: ENERGY Bringing all your resources
Page 20 and 21: PROFILE Continuity of essential ser
Page 22 and 23: WATER WASH on, WASH off The provisi
Page 24 and 25: WATER Effective water resources man
Page 26 and 27: MINING Lessons learned Creating an
Page 28 and 29: PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGANISATIO
Page 30 and 31: AIR REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS NOW NMI
Page 32 and 33: ENERGY Load-shedding sheds light on
Page 34: SECURE SAVE SUSTAIN STYLE environme

Green Economy Journal Issue 41

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