Ahead of Adaptation Day at COP27, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has urged the government to strengthen policies that will support a resilient built environment
The government needs to double down on climate adaption to create and preserve a resilient built environment, the UKGBC has warned.
The statement follows a recent challenge from the UK Green Building Council to the UK government to live up to its self proclaimed ‘global climate leader’ status at COP26 by setting out clear long term policies on how to prevent global temperatures rising above 1.5C degrees.
UKGBC’s policy advisor, Philip Box said:
“The heatwaves and droughts this summer caused widespread harm across the UK, from severe disruptions to transport services, and increased pressure on the NHS, to wildfires causing irreversible damage to homes and communities. And ahead of Adaptation Day at COP27, the Environment Agency has suggested the whole of England is at risk to flooding this winter. Climate change, along with its hazards, is already here – and we are simply ill-prepared for the impacts it will bring.
“The built environment plays a critical role in addressing this; in building our resilience to climate-related risks in the places we live, work and play. It’s essential that we’re able to understand and make our climate risks visible so that effective adaptation plans and actions can be implemented. For example, nature-based solutions such as street trees and green roofs offer an adaptation approach for our cities and built environments to become more resilient – and indeed more biodiverse and healthier places – and should be prioritised.
Small steps have been taken but more action is needed to secure a resilient built environment
“Despite small policy improvements towards climate adaptation, the UK Government is yet to take the necessary steps in regulation and planning legislation to make meaningful progress and fully mitigate the risks we face. There are several upcoming opportunities for the government to address this issue, including as it prepares plans for a Future Homes and Building Standard, reforms the English planning system and through putting together a comprehensive plan to upgrade the UK’s existing building stock.
“More positively, climate adaptation is more firmly on the COP agenda than ever before. Through actions such as the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda being launched, we hope this will spur the UK Government into much needed action to build in climate resilience and reduce the UK’s vulnerability to risk.”
