13th Green Building Convention 2020
In 2019, we went Beyond.
We dreamed what the future could look like.
We imagined how we would build it. We explored the possibilities of tomorrow. And we envisioned sustainable future cities that are greener, healthier and happier spaces for our people to work, learn, live and play.
In 2020, we’re turning vision into action…
By committing to a clear plan. By taking responsibility for the future we want. And by forging formidable partnerships between those who have the power to effect change. In 2020, we call on you to join the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) on a journey to Near Possible by mapping the way to a Sustainable Future.
Action can’t wait
The impacts of climate change are now felt by all sectors of the global economy with far reaching developmental consequences. Developing countries, like South Africa, are most at risk: where a large portion of the population live in geographically vulnerable areas and are hardest hit by extreme weather events.
Climate Change continues to negatively disrupt economic performance, but there is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions will accelerate a transition to a more resilient economy aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2019 UN Climate Summit warned of the bleak future we face and the warning is clear: we need to take action now. During the summit, governments, the private sector, civil society, local authorities and international organisations, including the World Green Building Council, committed actions to develop ambitious solutions in six areas:
- a global transition to renewable energy;
- sustainable and resilient infrastructures and cities;
- sustainable agriculture and management of forests and oceans;
- resilience and adaptation to climate impacts; and
- alignment of public and private finance with a net zero economy.
GBCSA has unpacked the building blocks and now it is time to develop a clear roadmap and action plan for all stakeholders to implement. While many strategies exist, it is time to consolidate our plans and develop a common path to achieve our shared goals. It is time to clearly articulate green building outcomes, actions, targets and policy that will transition us to a built environment in which people and planet thrive.
So, in 2020, GBCSA is committing to facilitating this collaboration and plan of action, across the public and private sector, to reach a sustainable future – that will endure for generations to come.
Mapping the path to a sustainable future
The global Green Building movement, through the World Green Building Council, responded by releasing the Embodied Carbon Report: outlining how ambitious actions within the built environment can reduce 40% of embodied carbon emissions by 2030, and achieve 100% net zero emissions buildings by 2050.
GBCSA launched the NetZero (carbon, water, waste and ecology) certification programme in 2017 in response to COP21 (2015). GBCSA’s 2018 Convention committed to explore what a Net Zero built environment could look like. In 2019 we focused on integrated sustainability beyond buildings.
“The world depends on the leadership of business. Without business leadership it will be very hard to get where we need to be.”
“My hope is that the building profession and architects understand that if they are not designing the world to reverse global warming, then what are we doing?”
“We must align developmental goals with the goals of saving our planet…. if we come together we will be able to save our planet.”
“We have to sit with both the truth + pain of where we are…We need to do everything we can to transform our communities and if we succeed we will have become homo-regenesis, the guardians of life on this planet”
13th GREEN BUILDING CONVENTION