Beyond COP26: making the most of the legacy

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow was the first COP that dedicated a full day to the built environment. Alongside this, commitments from governments, cities, business, and finance at the conference signified a sea-change in the approach to tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis. But as we come together in the wake of COP26, how can the design and construction industry make the most of this legacy?

Harnessing commitments

One of the most welcome outcomes from the negotiations, published in The Glasgow Climate Pact, was the request for more frequent reporting on National Determined Contributions (NDCs). This make-or-break move creates more accountability across governments to ensure that our carbon emissions over the next 10 years dramatically reduce. Also engendering public, private and third sector collaboration, there were several other agreements announced: the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use; over 1,000 cities and governments making commitments to reach net zero carbon by 2030; and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero announcing $130 trillion of private finance aligning with the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement.

In the built environment sector, C40 Cities launched a new Clean Construction Coalition, and over 40 countries (including the UK, US and China) joined the Glasgow Breakthrough, agreeing to collaborate on standards and policies to accelerate the market growth of clean technologies. And with Race to Zero (with over 44 leading businesses signing up accounting for $1.2 trillion real estate assets under management), and the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment (signed by developers, designers and asset managers representing $85 billion annual turnover), the stage is set to deliver on climate action.

Climate action needs collaboration 

At the heart of the design and construction industry, climate action represents collaboration: creating connections across the construction value chain to accelerate innovation and change. Grimshaw’s collaborative approach ― through our net zero carbon pathways ― prompts this by bringing together clients, design teams and contractors throughout project life cycles, detailed design considerations and strategies to meet specific outcomes.

Using this holistic approach, we are already delivering significant carbon and cost savings across our projects: from net zero carbon to regenerative design. This includes considering reuse as a viable option through our re-purposing of the Grimshaw-designed Herman Miller factory into the Bath Schools of Art and Design in the UK; delivering the southern hemisphere’s largest Passive House building at The Woodside Building for Monash University in Melbourne, Australia; taking inspiration from nature to design the net zero water and energy Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion for Dubai Expo; and prioritising health and wellness with the WELL-certified Olderfleet tower in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD in Australia.

Working with the UK government’s Construction Industry Hub and on the EU Circuit programme, Grimshaw is also engaged with like-minded consultants, manufacturers, clients and researchers to share knowledge, implement circular construction solutions and initiate system changes to deliver sustainable design.

Leadership in only one future 

As COP26 closed, experts stated that the Glasgow Climate Pact made little headway and would be insufficient to meet global climate targets. Some revealed that even if 2030 targets are met, temperatures would still rise way above the 1.5°C limit by 2100. However, COP26 has changed things: political will and clear project finance requirements have emerged since, tied to a net zero future. This leadership ― from like-minded developers, asset owners and an industry ready to knowledge-share, innovate and deliver on ambitions ― is the link we need. There is only one future worth contemplating, which must be beyond net zero. And we all need to be ready to play our part.

Notes

Grimshaw is a signatory of the WGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign.