The signing of the Paris Agreement in December 2015 was rightly hailed as a truly historic moment in the fight against climate change. It marked the start of the most important race in our existence – the race to curb global greenhouse gas emissions so that temperature rise remains below 2 degrees Celsius and, ideally, below 1.5 degrees Celsius – and it set a clear timeline for how quickly the world must change its course so that by 2050, all major business sectors are operating in a state of zero carbon emissions. Since the building and construction sector is responsible for around 30% of global energy consumption and the associated emissions, this sector will play a significant role in finding the solutions. In From Thousands to Billions - Coordinated Action towards 100% Net Zero Carbon Buildings By 2050, WorldGBC calls for a dramatic and ambitious transformation towards a completely zero carbon built environment, through the dual goals of: All new buildings must operate at net zero carbon from 2030; 100% of buildings must operate at net zero carbon by 2050. The report outlines how the above goals can be achieved through concerted action of three core groups of actors; Business, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations. Achieving these targets would help to ensure that the worst impacts of climate change are avoided, and bring about a number of other political and economic benefits.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/reports-documents/thousands-billions-coordinated-action-towards-100-net-zero-carbon-buildings-2050
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/jonathan-laski
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/victoria-burrows
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/publisher/world-green-building-council
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/green-buildings
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/buildings
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/green-house-gases
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/india
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/global
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/construction-industry
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ngos
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/climate-change
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/energy-efficiency
[14] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/renewable-energy