Insights Key outcomes from the United Nations Climate Change Conference
Since the
Paris Agreement of 2015 – a legally binding contract to treat climate change –
countries across the globe have been supporting each other to achieve their
carbon neutrality targets. During the 2021 United Nations Climate Change
Conference, experts
from around the world came together to drive action against climate change.
At AtkinsRéalis ,
we understand the importance of sustainability. That’s why we’re passionate
about overcoming the climate crisis and improving the carbon footprint in
construction. We’re also joined by our brands Atkins and Faithful+Gould and as
a group, we partner with clients globally in various sectors, including construction,
infrastructure and engineering. Below, we outline the key outcomes from the
United Nations Climate Change conference and they will positively impact the construction industry.
Mitigation
One of the
major issues discussed in the conference was mitigation. This revolved around
the actions that all parties must take to reduce global temperatures from
rising more than 1.5 degrees, as well as greater acknowledgement of the
consequences of greenhouse gas emissions on the natural world. Some of the key
outcomes included an agreement between all parties to strengthen and revisit
their 2030 emission targets in 2022 and bring them more in alignment with the
Paris Agreement. Much of the mitigation strategies outlined include reversing
deforestation, switching to electric vehicles and reducing methane emissions.
All of this would have a positive impact on the construction industry. As a
result of these measures, construction businesses would have to focus more on
choosing materials with lower embodied carbon and using waste and recyclable
materials.
Adaptation
Adaptation
was one of the core goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The plan revolved
around strengthening resilience and adapting to the effects of climate change, particularly in developing
countries. There have been concerns regarding the progress of adaptation, but
now 80 countries are covered by adaptation, which is designed to improve
finances for developing countries and drive further action. Climate change
adaptation is a key priority in the construction sector and there’s now a
greater desire to build more resilient buildings. This would mean building new
structures that can adapt to harsher weather conditions and research has shown
that over 1.6 billion urban dwellers will experience extreme
temperatures by 2050. Therefore, adapting structures and urban areas to the
changing climate is hugely important. This could mean creating new buildings
that are surrounded by green spaces and committing funds to support
energy-efficient buildings. The adaptation plan, discussed in the conference,
aims to enhance the understanding of the global goal, so this will be positive
for all industries, including construction.
Loss and damage
Loss and
Damage have been a key issue for several years as climate change has affected
many lives and ecosystems. As explained in the conference, “loss and damage”
refers to the harmful effects of climate change. The conference agreed to take
urgent action to provide funding to tackle the loss and damage caused by
climate change. Therefore, loss and damage strategies will almost certainly
have a positive impact on the construction environment as businesses seek new
ways to reduce climate change damage and build resilience against future
losses.
Collaboration
Collaboration
is focused on everyone working together to achieve greater action. The collaboration
new work plan focuses on continuing the collaboration between businesses, civil
society and governments. As a result, this outcome is very positive for the
construction industry because collaborative practices have been a key topic for
several years. Collaboration in construction is
crucial for economic growth, particularly as demand and cost of materials are rising. With
collaboration strategies being a key outcome at the conference, this could pave
the way for enhancing collaboration in construction to fight against climate
change.
Implementation
There’s no
doubt that the construction sector will play a huge role in the shift toward a
low-carbon future. According to research, the sector contributes to 40% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, with the materials used a major driver of
those emissions. During the conference, an agreement was made to fully
implement the plans that were made under the Paris Agreement. The parties also
agreed on several practical and institutional arrangements. Early action to
decarbonize buildings will likely be a top priority within construction. Implementation
will play a key role in construction as the sector continues to reduce carbon
emissions.
Build new opportunities in construction with AtkinsRéalis
At SNC
Lavalin, we have some of the most talented construction professionals and civil
engineers who are dedicated to delivering outstanding projects and transforming
lives. We believe in continuous growth and development, and building a
high-performance culture. We have lots of growth-oriented roles available, such
as geotechnical engineering jobs, architecture jobs and sustainability
positions. We’re also committed to achieving Net Zero and ensuring those we work with can
build a future in the construction industry.
Browse our construction jobs today and join our talent community for more information, or sign up for job alerts to stay connected.
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