Melbourne, Jun 30 (The Conversation) Cities are pivotal in the fight against climate change, contributing between 67–72% of the global greenhouse gas emissions driving our planet's warming. Yet, these urban centers are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related threats. Floods, fires, and droughts affect everything from property insurance costs to public health and safety. Given that 90% of Australians reside in urban areas—and cities worldwide house over four billion people—the stakes are high. Our recent research highlights 16 crucial actions to combat climate change in urban construction and management.
Building Smarter Climate change considerations must be integrated at every stage of urban development. Current emissions must be minimized and eventually eliminated, even as cities are built to reduce climate risks. Unfortunately, existing policies often fall short in these areas. A study of three local government areas found limited adaptation and mitigation efforts. Similarly, other research indicates that few urban development policies set carbon reduction goals aligned with international targets. The National Housing Accord, which plans for over a million new homes by 2029, must address this climate challenge effectively.
16 Areas for Priority Action Our study, informed by interviews with over 150 stakeholders—including urban planners, architects, and sustainability experts—outlines a comprehensive action plan covering the entire lifecycle of the built environment. The first obstacle is the perceived lack of agency among industry professionals to initiate climate action, as they often believe others hold more sway. Identifying climate risks early in the development process is crucial and should be supported by tools that ease risk identification and management.
For instance, early-stage climate assessments should be prioritized, with policies mandating such actions: "Everyone has good intentions but without stringent legislation, everyone's navigating in the dark." Improving the climate literacy and cross-disciplinary skills of the workforce and using low-impact materials can lead to more climate-responsive designs.
Financial and regulatory barriers, particularly during costing and approval stages, are significant. The competitive nature of the building industry means early-stage climate initiatives are often axed if not legally mandated. An urban planner noted, "Unless there's a return on investment, getting them to act is tough, unless required by law."
In the construction phase, using environmentally harmful materials should be avoided, and innovation in using recycled materials should be encouraged. Post-construction, a comprehensive evaluation involving building users is necessary to maintain optimal climate outcomes.
Regarding site upgrades or renewals, promoting reuse and circularity of materials is vital, though shifting away from demolishing existing structures is challenging: "Reusing existing buildings generates less waste and involves fewer materials," emphasizing strategic design choices.
Working Together These actions represent a significant shift for urban areas. Embedding climate action at every decision-making stage may lead to more efficient utilization and reuse of existing structures, demanding overhauls of retrofit policies and mindset shifts.
Implementing these priority actions requires coordination at multiple levels: individual professionals updating their climate skills, professional practices mainstreaming climate action, universities embedding climate competencies in curricula, and all government levels reviewing policy settings to mandate mitigation and adaptation. By addressing these areas collectively, we can progress toward emission reduction targets and minimize climate risks in our cities.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
