COP29: Aalto University offers new solutions for sustainable construction and calls for better alignment of policy with science

Researchers' appeal at the UN Climate Change Conference COP29

The built environment and related production chains are responsible for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption and production. The need for construction is also continuing to grow globally: the UN's Habitat programme estimates that up to three billion people will need safe and sustainable housing by 2030.

The International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE), and the IEA EBC Annex 89 research network are calling on world political leaders to develop entirely new approaches to better match science and policy. This is the only way to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement targets and legally binding net zero net building requirements by 2030.

A team of more than 100 scientists coordinated by Aalto University will launch their appeal at the UN climate conference COP29, taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the world's most important climate event, where leaders from all countries agree on global action to tackle the climate crisis.

Sign the appeal here.

In the appeal, the researchers stress that at the current rate, emissions reductions by governments, industry and societies are falling far short of what is needed. In order to keep the Earth's systems within safe operating limits, it is vital to strengthen cooperation between scientists and policy makers.

"Scientists around the world are expressing deep concern that progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment is too slow. Urgent, legally binding action is needed to achieve net zero emissions from the use of buildings by 2030 and net zero emissions over their entire life cycle by 2035 worldwide. We need cooperation not only with policy makers, but also with industry and all actors in society, using the latest scientific evidence," says Professor Matti Kuittinen from Aalto University. 

The initiative, launched by Aalto University Finland, the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE), and the IEA EBC Annex 89, is endorsed by the UN Environment Programme UNEP as well as the The Nordic Council of Ministers. Among the research institutions involved are the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

Read more about the initiative and the recent, peer-reviewed research behind it, in the Buildings & Cities journal.

Additional information:
Matti Kuittinen, Professor
Aalto University
[email protected]
Mobile +358 50 594 7990