We are now in a climate emergency. The landmark 2018 special report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2018 report), Global Warming of 1.5ºC, presented a stark picture of the dramatically different world we will inhabit if global
average temperatures rise by 2ºC compared to a 1.5ºC scenario.
And the negative economic impact globally of additional heating and cooling demand is expected to increase fourfold by the end of the century. The consequences will be long lasting and, in some cases, irreversible. This emergency calls for urgent action now to radically transform current unsustainable models of consumption.
The built environment sector has a vital role to play in responding to the climate emergency. With buildings currently responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions, decarbonising the sector is one
of the most cost effective ways to mitigate the worst effects of climate breakdown.
