Legislative, policy and planning drivers

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report states that a limited global temperature rise of 2°C above pre-industrial levels is required to avoid irreversible changes to the climate. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) took place on 12th December 2015 where governments from nearly 200 countries agreed to limit global warming to ‘well below 2°C and to pursue temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’. This was formally ratified in November 2016 as the Paris Agreement and is due to come into force in 2020.

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) from governments (pledges to curb or cut emissions) are a significant aspect recognised by the agreement, but are not legally binding in themselves and would still result in between 2.7 and 3°C rise in temperature. That said, the INDCs helped create a transparent framework for action and policy certainty which has the potential to give further confidence in the shift towards a low carbon economy. Governments are required to review their NDCs every five years with a view to creating more ambitious targets as required by science to reach the 2°C limit; national level policy should then be developed to meet these targets.

In parallel with the policy drivers needed for mitigation, the private sector has also responded to the Paris deal. The buildings and construction sector is responsible for about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which has the potential to proportionally rise given how the long lifespans of buildings locks in energy performance. Approximately half of the government signatories of the Paris Agreement included contributions directly relating to buildings in their INDCs. The industry itself showed intent to support the outcome of COP21, as an initiative set up by the UK Green Building Council saw more than 50 UK buildings and construction businesses put forward climate pledges in the run up. Many businesses are also taking action to meet the long-term goal, for example by setting their own carbon targets and developing sustainability strategies. Over 300 companies have done this formally through the Science Based Targets initiative that helps businesses set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the level of decarbonisation required to meet the 2°C temperature rise.

The C40 international network of megacities has launched 11 good practice guides on climate solutions that can be implemented worldwide. The guides include 100 successful case studies on improving climate change adaptation and mitigation that can be replicated to boost cities’ resilience to a changing climate. The guides are intended to provide roadmaps for mayors and urban policymakers as cities around the world explore ways to implement national climate targets under the global Paris Agreement.