Topic– Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,
6) Building standards need to evolve to reflect the urgency for more resilient buildings in the face of climate change and extreme weather events. Comment.(250 words)
Why this question
Building sector is one of the major, rapidly growing and largely neglected sectors responsible for climate change and environmental degradation. It is essential to underline its importance in our efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
Directive word
Comment- here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to express our knowledge and understanding about the importance of building standards in the face of climate change and extreme weather events. We have to express our opinion, with sufficient arguments in support of our opinion, as to why/ why not there is a need to evolve building standards in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.
Structure of the Answer
Introduction– mention that the 2018 Global Status Report – Towards a Zero-Emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector, highlights that emissions from buildings and construction may have peaked in the past few years.
Body
Discuss the role of buildings in climate change and environmental degradation. E.g Buildings are a key driver of energy demand, and developments within the sector such as the growing uptake of air conditioners are having a big impact on energy and environmental trends at the global level; If we don’t make buildings more efficient, their rising energy use will impact us all, whether it be through access to affordable energy services, poor air quality or higher energy bills; The number of new buildings is likely to grow rapidly in the coming years, especially in Africa and Asia. This rapid growth will challenge the target of a 30 percent energy intensity improvement in buildings by 2030, needed to put the sector on track to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement; Energy use for ‘space cooling’ has already increased 25 per cent since 2010 and there are now more than 1.6 billion air conditioning units in buildings globally etc.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue. E.g building standards need to evolve to reflect the urgency for more resilient buildings in the face of climate change and extreme events like storms, floods, high wind speeds and soaring temperatures.
