This weekend marked the start of 2022’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, most commonly referred to as COP27. During the event, 198 countries will discuss infrastructural innovations that will enable a switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy and make humanity more resilient to the threats of climate change.

World leaders aren’t the only attendees tasked with tackling the climate crisis. Businesses across the planet have been asked to put forward proposals and policy ideas to inform the adoption of greener industrial practices.

The Prime Minister’s pledge

At COP27, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated the country’s commitment to the green revolution by promising to turn the nation into a clean energy superpower. The Prime Minister’s strategy outlined a new target of up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050, and up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030. It additionally highlighted that solar could grow five-fold by 2035.

This follows on the recent action that has enabled Britain to cut carbon emissions faster than any G7 country. Renewables like wind and solar already make up more than 40% of the country’s energy supply – a four-fold increase since 2010.

Property

Real estate contributes to 40% of carbon emissions globally, a concerning statistic for everyone driving the sustainability agenda in the industry. Measures to reduce consumption and energy waste in buildings offer the fastest way to unlock carbon savings, but they are often overlooked and deprioritised. Net zero buildings can benefit people, economies and the planet and must form a part of the bold and decisive action necessary to tackle the climate emergency.

Net Zero Carbon Construction Methods

Net zero carbon isn’t just limited to the way a building operates – it’s also important when it comes to constructing new ones too. Some of the best net zero carbon construction methods include:

  • Using recycled, rather than virgin materials
  • Reducing the use of fossil energy during construction
  • Investing in long-lasting materials to reduce the need for replacements later down the line
  • Using materials with lower carbon properties, such as structural timber in place of concrete or steel
  • Designing highly-efficient structural elements to help reduce the materials required during construction

All these considerations create an array of opportunities for investors – the whole project of decarbonising is the largest intentional reshaping of the global economy. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has focused attention on the need for energy efficiency and has sent a powerful signal to everybody to save energy. There are now more opportunities for energy efficiency than ever before.

Targetfollow

At Targetfollow, we consider COP27 to be a necessary platform for discussing climate challenges, proposed solutions, and leverage on how increased consideration for environmental and social returns will affect prices positively in the long term. Since the company’s inception in 1992; we have been able to acclimatise to the ever-changing landscape – we have retained the agility intrinsic to our years of success and are carefully examining new ways to operate in cohesion with our environment. We approach all of our development projects and ensure that they are developed with sensitivity and consideration for local communities, natural habitats and the environment.

For all the latest updates regarding Targetfollow’s 2022 projects, visit our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.