This week, the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow has kicked off. The summit aims to unite the world to tackle climate change. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the info? Don’t worry, we’ve selected 10 of the most interesting articles and reports around this event for you to go over.
1. COP26 AND REAL ESTATE – TACKLING ‘GREAT INERTIA’
Herbert Smith Freehills discusses the complexity of the built world due to its fragmented value chain and the need for radical collaboration across all stakeholders to accomplish a radical transformation in real estate. It includes lots of data on the valuation of net-zero of both newly developed buildings as well as retrofitted assets.
2. THE WORLD GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL – BEYOND BUILDINGS REPORT
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) report talks about opportunities for an integrated approach to the whole built environment. Their guide offers clear pathways for future improvements. “The relationship and interconnection between buildings and infrastructure is clear. Buildings cannot decarbonise without infrastructure, and the purpose of much infrastructure is to create and support places for people.”
3. NEW RESEARCH REVEALS POSITIVE RESPONSE TO COP26 FROM UK COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SECTOR
New research with UK institutional real estate investors and property professionals conducted by Deepki, a real estate ESG data intelligence firm, has revealed a positive response from the sector to meeting climate change challenges. Over half (52 per cent) of respondents said that COP26 will mean an even greater focus on ESG across the property life cycle, from design to occupancy, and for 48 per cent, retrofitting, or addressing the carbon footprint of older buildings, is a priority. Some 44 per cent think that it will encourage even more real estate asset owners to address the poor performance and carbon footprint of their buildings with comprehensive environmental strategies.
4. THE ECONOMIST – SEE WHAT THREE DEGREES OF GLOBAL WARMING LOOKS LIKE
If you are more of a visual learner, The Economist has made a compelling (but scary) video on the catastrophic results, should the global temperatures rise to three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It’s an entirely plausible scenario, and this film shows you what it would look like.
5. ECIU – COP26: A VISUAL GUIDE
It’s the most important UN climate summit since Paris, 2015. But why? ECIU made a very elaborate visual guide to answer the main challenges facing us.
6. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM – IF THE WORLD IS SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, IT MUST EMBARK ON A NEW ERA OF GLOBAL LAW
According to the WEF, we are entering the ‘Anthropocene era’. The bad news? It has an outdated international governance framework. This calls for a new global law system that can be broken down into 6 key elements.
7. JLL – INFOGRAPHIC ‘WHY REAL ESTATE MATTERS’
Decarbonising our world is a top priority. Real estate is key to both making net-zero goals a reality and driving economic and social equality. Find out more about real estate’s critical role in a more sustainable future in this infographic from JLL.
8. FORBES: THE SUSTAINABLE HEROES TO NET ZERO
A recent study from the University of Bath has found young people around the world are suffering “profound psychological distress” due to climate change and government inaction on the crisis. 45% of the 10,000 young people surveyed across 10 countries for the study, said anxiety and distress over the climate crisis were affecting their daily life and ability to function. This article by Forbes examines the players making the most impact on the sustainability practices.
9. LINKEDIN TOP GREEN VOICES
To help you make sense of all the information on climate and related topics that you’ll see, hear and read in the next weeks and beyond, LinkedIn News Europe has compiled a list of Top Voices in the field, from various different countries across the continent, publishing in English regularly. Follow for their views on COP26.
10. THE BUILD BETTER NOW VIRTUAL PAVILLION AT COP26 SHOWCASES PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS
The Build Better Now virtual pavilion opened to the public during COP26, showcasing seventeen sustainable projects that demonstrate the built environment’s opportunities for addressing the climate crisis.
hello energy’s building heroes
This quest for net-zero is taking place all around the world. Buildings are getting smarter, people are changing the way they think, and things are moving in the right direction. hello energy’s building heroes is a series where we celebrate the people in real estate that help realise truly sustainable buildings. We talk to them about the process of creating these projects and how they contribute to the people and the(ir) environment.
Take a look at our latest building heroes featured on our LinkedIn page.