COP28 To Have Significant Impact On the Environment In The Region – says Stephan Degenhart

"The regional built environment still has a ways to go before sustainable practises " says Managing Director of Middle East & Asia Pacific

 According to the report, buildings currently account for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions, which include the energy required to heat, cool, and power buildings, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction.

"Over the past year, I've seen a greater focus on sustainable development and practises in building projects," says the author.

"Many governments internationally have implemented regulations that require projects to use renewable materials and adhere to green building standards." Additionally, I have seen a growing trend towards making construction projects more energy efficient, which includes the use of solar panels, efficient lighting, and other technologies," said Stephan Degenhart, Associate Partner of Drees & Sommer and Managing Director of Middle East & Asia Pacific, in conversation with Middle East Construction News (MECN).

According to him, projects are increasingly taking into account the impact of their construction on the environment and local communities, with an emphasis on reducing pollution and preserving natural resources.

"Overall, I believe sustainable development practises are much more front of mind than in previous years; however, we have some way to go before these practises become the norm rather than exceptions,"  he added.

In its October 2022 report, the UNEP emphasised the lack of progress that has the world on track to exceed the Paris Agreement goal of well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius.

It added that in late November 2022, following the conclusion of COP27, which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the UAE would host COP28 at EXPO City Dubai.

He also stated that the event would be the most important event hosted by the nation in 2023.

When asked what effect COP28 could have on the built environment in the UAE and the wider GCC region, Degenhart said, "COP28 could have a big effect on the built environment in the region because it brings together world leaders to talk about climate change and make global policies."

"It's likely that the region will pay more attention to building and infrastructure that are sustainable and resilient, and people will become more aware of the need to cut carbon emissions and protect the environment."

Discussing his firm’s own sustainability goals and plans for the year, Degenhart is quick to point out that his firm has set ambitious sustainability goals for 2023 and beyond.

In early November 2022, Abu Dhabi environment and energy agencies unveiled a 60% clean electricity plan for the emirate by 2035, and, in early December 2022, JLL’s Louise Collins shared her COP27 takeaways and thoughts exclusively with MECN, according to the report.

"Our plans include developing energy-efficient and green building solutions, promoting resource efficiency and circular economy principles, and contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals." "In addition, we are committed to reducing our own carbon emissions and our environmental footprint through green practices," Sharm El-Sheikh commented.

He ends by saying, "We also want to get more involved in the digital transformation of the built environment, like the creation of smart cities and the use of digital technologies to cut down on energy use."

In mid-January 2023, the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s (C3S) 2022 Global Climate Highlights report warned that several high-temperature records were broken in Europe and across the world, while extreme events such as drought and flooding affected large regions of the world in 2022.

By Sumita Pawar