Across the globe, we are witnessing more frequent and intense climate events — from record-breaking rainfall to extreme heatwaves. No city, and no building within it, is immune to the growing challenges of climate change.
According to the UN Environment Programme, the building and construction sector contributes nearly 40 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions. This alone underscores the urgent need to make sustainable construction the norm, not an exception. Yet, progress remains uneven. In several regions, outdated building codes and the perception of sustainability as an added luxury continue to slow the transition toward greener practices.
Encouragingly, positive change is gathering pace. The UAE has made sustainability a cornerstone of its national development agenda, introducing programs such as Abu Dhabi’s Estidama and Dubai’s Al Sa’fat system. Both are designed to steer the construction sector toward environmentally responsible practices. Financial institutions, too, are aligning capital with Environmental, Social, and Governance goals, supporting projects that cut carbon emissions and enhance energy resilience. As someone deeply involved in redevelopment and renovation, I view this transformation not as a compliance burden, but as an opportunity to build better.
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