Don Ward joined more than 30 international structures and sustainability experts at the GLOBE Consensus Workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland from 25 to 26 April 2022. Hosted by EPFL (École Polytechnique de Lausanne), the event sought to address high-level decision makers and change drivers towards sustainability in the built environment by starting development of a GLOBE Consensus Policy Note to be published before the UN Climate Change Conference in 2022 (UNFCCC COP 27) in Egypt in November 2022.
Some conclusions included:
- Since no one-fit-all solution can be identified, sustainable solutions need to consider regional specifications, yet have to be coordinated, discussed and empowered on a global scale.
- Data and best practice solutions need to be accessible, which can be in conflict with business models.
- As climate actions need to be taken immediately, it is relevant to identify where and how the greatest leverage can be achieved. While no region can be ignored, a certain focus has to be put on emerging markets and developing economies (such as most countries in Africa), because the major construction demand is just on the verge of kick-off and the degrees of freedom to implement novel approaches are greater than elsewhere in the world. In return these potentials are limited by lack of funding. Therefore, a global effort and information transfer is required to find best regional and knowledge-based solutions within each specific boundary condition.
- For the objective to highlight ways forward that can achieve positive climate effects on global scale it is important to focus on the big numbers. Therefore, for this very first policy note that is aimed at, certain emphasis will be put on cement and concrete due to the great global demand and the tremendous climate effect and leverage. This does not exclude future similar activities on specific construction technologies, designs and other materials
- The information obtained in the workshop is by far more than the targeted policy note and must be used for further activities
- Great consensus was found on the fact that meetings like the Lausanne workshop are urgently required and follow up activities would be important. While online events can be a solution for future communication, in-person meetings will be required occasionally as well.
Anyone interested in reading the report of the workshop or getting involved in the work of the GLOBE Consensus should contact the CIB secretariat, especially members from outside Europe as the work to date has been Euro-centric.
