Implementation Lab: achieving the built environment 2030 breakthrough and the role of civil society – COP27

The 2030 Breakthrough outcomes were released last year to help catalyse action by pinpointing specific tipping points for every sector. Collectively, they articulate what key actors must do, and by when, to deliver the systems change we need to achieve a resilient, zero-carbon world in time. This creates a shared vision for all the different players in a system, helping to spur action. The built environment breakthrough is: “All new projects completed from 2030, are net-zero carbon in operation, with > 40% reduction in embodied carbon. 

This implementation lab at COP27, organised by the Marrakech Partnership with support from the High-Level Climate Champions, brought together representatives from 6 levers for change to achieve the built environment breakthrough by 2030. These were: 

• SUPPLY: Sustainability & Climate Leadership Director at JLL, Nidhi Baiswar 
• DEMAND (PUBLIC SECTOR): Director of Sustainability and Physics at Buro Happold, Smith Mordak 
• DEMAND (PRIVATE SECTOR): Head of Buildings Sustainability at Dar Al-Handasah, Balsam Nehme 
• POLICY: Managing Director of Regions and Mayoral Engagement & Regional Director for Africa at C40, Hastings Chikoko 
• FINANCE: Policy & External Affairs Director at REALL, Lucy Livesley 
• CIVIL SOCIETY: Global Programme Manager, Built Environment at IHRB, Alejandra Rivera 

The discussion highlighted the importance of each of the 6 levers in order to scale environmental and social change at the pace we need.  

Alejandra Rivera from IHRB, brought the voice of civil society to the table, specifically of those directly or indirectly impacted by built environment processes such as workers in the construction industry and down the supply chain, tenants, local and coastal communities, indigenous people, etc. hence contributed with a human-rights lens to the discussion. 

Alejandra’s main points were: 

• Leverage of civil society to scale solutions: Citizens have a key role through behavior change, which when done massively has a tremendous impact. However the scale of such impact depends on a conducive environment that allows the voices of civil society to be heard, hence the importance of collaboration and coordination with the public and private levers 
• Civil society is the enabler for the other levers: citizens vote on elections and hold government accountable, are also the consumers of the built environment by buying and renting houses, paying energy bills, and consuming the products and services that allow businesses to exist. People are also the workers that sustain the whole value chain, and also the local communities that have realised the power of unions and collective action.  
• Policy and regulation was voted, during the session, as the most impactful lever. Its relationship with civil society is twofold: (1) to harness community engagement and local knowledge to ensure community support and project uptake, and (2) to create social benefits and protect human rights of workers, tenants and communities.