Commentaries

COP28: Set GHG Budgets for the Built Environment

By Alexander Passer, Thomas Lützkendorf, Rolf Frischknecht (representing IEA EBC Annex 89)

The built environment contributes 40% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is massively affected by the consequences of climate change and can itself be part of the solution. It is a cause, a victim and a solution at the same time and therefore urgently requires actions by COP28 and national governments. A specific GHG budget for national building stocks including a clearly defined reduction pathway towards net zero GHG emissions is needed, in parallel with a legal binding requirement to limit GHG emissions in the life cycle of individual buildings.

From COP28 to SDGs: Bridging the Gender Gaps

By Rihab Khalid (University of Cambridge)

COP28 must create transformative change to ensure gender equality and align with the framework of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality, a cornerstone of this agenda, holds a critical lens to examine and address the intersecting crises of climate change and social inequity. Climate change has differential impacts on men and women, with the latter often bearing the disproportionate burden of climate-related impacts and vulnerabilities. Although women play a critical and transformative role in both climate adaptation and mitigation, they continue to face substantial challenges and disparities in terms of sustainable development.

Planning Toolkits for Gender-Sensitive Cities

Specialist toolkits can help the built environment professions to design urban spaces with gender equality

In the past, planning and design decisions have resulted in creating places that make the lives of women harder than men. Karen Horwood and Charlotte Morphet (Leeds Beckett University) discuss the use of toolkits that address gender equality in town planning.  They propose that toolkits could help to achieve change and inclusivity in processes across all the built environment professions.

Towards a Gender-Inclusive Urban Future

Cities are beginning to address gender inequality and successful examples show what can be achieved

Jua Cilliers (University of Technology Sydney & the Commonwealth Association of Planners) explores how addressing gender disparities can create cities that are inclusive, safe and functional for all their inhabitants. Gender inequity intersects with access, mobility, safety, health, climate resilience and security of tenure. Women and other marginalized gender groups face barriers in accessing public services, navigating through cities and staying safe.

Can Modern Cities Learn from the Collapse of Pre-Modern Cities?

Is managed retreat or abandonment an appropriate alternative if investment in building resilience is no longer possible?

When thinking about the future of our cities in the context of the ongoing climate crisis, what insights arise from the collapse and abandonment of pre-modern cities?  Dan Penny (University of Sydney) considers what lessons these historical events have for modern societies, for our policies and planning.

Building Lessons from the Vernacular Past

Why lessons from vernacular buildings need to be rediscovered and transferred into better practice.

Robyn Pender (Whethergauge Ltd) argues that to reduce our dependence on energy to deliver resilient, comfortable and healthy buildings, we must recover vernacular knowledge of 'pre-carbon' buildings, i.e. buildings that existed before widespread fossil fuel exploitation.

Designing Cities with and for Girls

Involving women in urban development processes and decisions will make cities better for everyone.

Elin Andersdotter Fabre (UN Habitat) and Tove Levonen (Shared City Foundation) explain why cities need to be more inclusive for women. The UN Habitat 'Her City' project provides a participatory toolkit and process to include women in urban planning, design and development.

Disrupting Narratives to Challenge Inequalities in Climate Adaptation

A forthcoming Buildings & Cities special issue will examine ways to identify and disrupt ill-suited approaches to urban adaptation. Societies need a more pluralistic, inclusive approach to make adaptation work.

Urgent climate adaptation action is needed in cities all around the world, but progress is slow, and responses tend to be technocratic. Vanesa Castán Broto (University of Sheffield), Marta Olazabal (Basque Centre for Climate Change & Ikerbasque) & Gina Ziervogel (University of Cape Town) explain why disruptive adaptation narratives are needed to align the interests of multiple actors and achieve meaningful change.

Using Procurement to Promote Workforce Diversity

Government legislation and procurement are being used to influence the private sector's diversity and equality practices.

Tessa Wright (Queen Mary University of London) describes how public procurement can be used to create a more diverse construction workforce. Initial findings from a Buying Social Justice research project help explain how countries can improve the diversity of their construction industries.

Governments' Role in Providing Thermal Adequacy

How can governments advance adaptive solutions for keeping cool during hot weather?

Brian Dean and Elizabeth Wangeci Chege (Sustainable Energy for All) respond to the Buildings & Cities special issue Alternatives to Air Conditioning and explain why thermal comfort is not only a construction industry problem to solve but needs to be placed in the policy agenda on global warming. Thermal adequacy is still not understood as an essential need for human survival and that governments have an essential role.

Developing an Intersectional Approach to Emerging Energy Technologies in Homes

What would an energy transition research agenda embracing intersectionality, equality and equity look like?

Tom Hargreaves and Nickhil Sharma (University of East Anglia) comment on contributions of the Buildings & Cities special issue Energy, Emerging Technology and Gender in Homes on the role of gender in technology development and the energy transition. This must be broadened further to social justice issues. A failure to do so risks fuelling resistance and pushback to new and emerging energy technologies. Three key avenues for future research and practices for a just energy transition and emerging technologies are set out.

Practical Approaches to Cooling: A UK Perspective

Reducing the need for air conditioning is necessary and feasible. Passive measures for cooling are advantageous.

Julie Godefroy (CIBSE and Julie Godefroy Sustainability) and Anastasia Mylona (CIBSE) respond to the Buildings & Cities special issue 'Alternatives to Air Conditioning: Policies, Design, Technologies, Behaviours'. Proactive options already exist to adapt buildings to hotter summers and extreme events. A balanced approach to risk, complexity and detail is called for.

Collapse and Catastrophe: The Need to Protect Inhabitants

Radical changes are needed in how the construction industry operates and is regulated in order to create safe, healthy homes.

In light of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, David Oswald and Trivess Moore (RMIT University) reflect on the rights that inhabitants have for buildings to be safe, healthy, comfortable and robust. However, serial and various failings in the construction supply side and its oversight by governments mean greater accountability is needed.

Blind Spots in Energy Policy

Why emerging (smart) technologies are hindering energy outcomes

As a policy practitioner who leads a national organisation representing households and small businesses in shaping the future of Australia's energy system, Lynne Gallagher (Energy Consumers Australia) responds to the Buildings & Cities special issue, Energy, Emerging Technologies and Gender in Homes.  Insights from lived experience reveal blind spots in the design, provision and use of smart tech that adversely affect energy outcomes.

Providing Adequate Thermal Comfort in a Hotter World

Reducing the need for air conditioning is necessary and feasible.

Edith Blennerhassett (Arup) responds to the Buildings & Cities special issue 'Alternatives to Air Conditioning: Policies, Design, Technologies, Behaviours' . As humane societies, a key aim should be to see the end of deaths due to either heat or cold and to achieve this in a way that minimises the impact on people and planetary health. Actions are highlighted to minimise the need for mechanical cooling.

The Need for a 'Critical Turn' in Construction Management Research

The drivers for construction management research are too narrow and need to be broadened. A more critical voice would be beneficial.

Roine Leiringer (University of Hong Kong) and Andy Dainty (Manchester Metropolitan University) find the recent B&C special issue, Modern Methods of Construction: Beyond Productivity Improvement, has a worthy (and much needed) aim of providing a critical approach to policy and practice.

Dismantling Power and Bringing Reflexivity into the Eco-modern Home

Why accomodating gender & diversity is vital for the widespread adoption of smart energy technologies.

Can renewable and smart energy technologies in the home avoid negative consequences for gender, power, and nature-society relations within the domestic sphere? Olufolahan Osunmuyiwa, Helene Ahlborg, Martin Hultman, Kavya Michael and Anna Åberg comment on 'Masculine roles and practices in homes with photovoltaic systems' (Mechlenborg & Gram-Hanssen, 2022) - published in a recent Buildings & Cities special issue 'Energy, Emerging Tech and Gender in Homes'.

The Launch of SURGe at COP27: Breakthrough or Déjà Vu?

By Jeroen van der Heijden (Victoria University of Wellington)

The overall outcomes of COP27 (held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt) have been reported by some as disappointing. However, leading city networks such as C40 and ICLEI claim that subnational governments and cities have made a significant breakthrough with the launch of the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation initiative (SURGe). This commentary explores how much of a breakthrough this really is.

What is the Problem that Smart Home Technologies Solve?

Why co-creation is needed for SHT: to address diverse household needs & practices

Sylvia Breukers (Duneworks) comments on the Buildings & Cities special issue 'Energy, Emerging Technologies and Gender in Homes'. Who (and what) needs Smart Home Technology (SHT) and for what purposes? What are the ideas, expectations and promises behind SHT and how do these correspond to actual (gendered) experiences?

Gender and Ethics of Care in Energy Systems

How can the energy transition and smart technologies become more inclusive?

Sarah Darby (University of Oxford) responds to the Buildings & Cities special issue 'Energy, Emerging Technologies and Gender in Homes'. If the adoption and use of smart home technologies and decarbonised energy systems are to be realised, then the principles of fairness, caring and caring ethics need to be embedded within regulatory, industry and domestic decisions and practices.