Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainable Development Goals (all 17)

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced energy consumption by more than 86% in Powerhouse Kjørbo renovation.
• 100% water demand for SFPUC headquarters met through onsite wastewater treatment.
• Significant savings in freshwater use (70-85%) in Impact Farm through hydroponic system.
• Reduced CO2 emissions through upcycled materials in Upcycle Studios.

Social Achievements

• Volontariat Home for Homeless Children in Pondicherry, India provides housing for 15 children and 5 foster parents.
• Dortheavej Residency in Copenhagen provides 66 new homes to low-income citizens.
• Avasara Academy empowers young women in India through education and leadership development.
• Kachumbala Maternity Unit in Uganda improves maternal and infant health.
• Orkidstudio's Buildher program equips disadvantaged young women in Kenya with construction skills.
• Moving Schools provides mobile classrooms for children of migrant workers in India.
• The Community Dome in Zaatari Village, Jordan provides a classroom for refugee children.

Governance Achievements

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague demonstrates inclusive and secure design for a public institution.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Poverty and lack of access to affordable housing.
• Hunger and food insecurity.
• Lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
• Lack of access to quality education.
• Gender inequality.
• Climate change impacts.
• Inequality within and among countries.
• Lack of resilient infrastructure.
• Unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
• Lack of peaceful and inclusive societies.
• Need for stronger global partnerships.

Mitigation Strategies

• Designing affordable and sustainable housing.
• Promoting urban farming and sustainable agriculture.
• Developing innovative water harvesting and sanitation solutions.
• Creating inclusive and accessible educational spaces.
• Designing buildings and public spaces that promote gender equality.
• Implementing climate adaptation measures in buildings and urban areas.
• Promoting universal design and accessibility.
• Developing sustainable industrial practices and infrastructure.
• Promoting circular economy principles in the building industry.
• Creating inclusive and secure public spaces and institutions.
• Fostering partnerships between governments, private sector, and civil society.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Sustainable Development Goals

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17

The guidebook showcases architectural projects that contribute to each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• SiteCover
• Warka Tower
• Climate Tile
• Upcycled materials in Upcycle Studios
• August lamp from recycled fishing nets

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Poverty
• Hunger
• Health
• Education
• Gender Equality
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Affordable and Clean Energy
• Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Reduced Inequalities
• Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Climate Action
• Life Below Water
• Life On Land
• Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Partnerships for the Goals

Environmental Achievements

• Increased share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption to 17.3% in 2017
• Increased coverage of waters under national jurisdiction by protected areas to over 17% in 2019

Social Achievements

• Decline in child marriage and female genital mutilation
• Increased women's representation in national parliaments and local government
• Increased access to electricity globally

Governance Achievements

• Increased number of countries with freedom-of-information laws
• Progress in implementing the Agreement on Port State Measures to combat illegal fishing

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Uneven progress towards SDGs before COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating existing inequalities and disrupting progress
• Data gaps limiting understanding and response to the pandemic
• Slow progress on climate action and biodiversity loss
• High levels of income inequality
• Lack of access to basic services like water, sanitation, and electricity in many regions
• High levels of food insecurity and malnutrition
• High levels of informal employment and unemployment
• Slow progress on clean cooking solutions
• High levels of land degradation
• High levels of ocean acidification
• High levels of prison overcrowding

Mitigation Strategies

• Increased investments in data and innovation
• Mobilization of resources to support developing countries
• Strengthening health systems and increasing access to essential health services
• Accelerating efforts to improve energy efficiency and expand access to renewable energy
• Implementing policies to promote sustainable consumption and production
• Strengthening international cooperation and partnerships
• Implementing policies to reduce inequality and promote inclusive growth
• Implementing policies to promote sustainable urban development
• Implementing policies to protect and restore ecosystems
• Implementing policies to promote peace and justice

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, floods

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• All 17 SDGs

The report tracks progress towards all 17 SDGs.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Health Emergency Preparedness

Social Achievements

• Sharjah Police General Headquarters collaborated with the Department of Statistics and Community Development to map vulnerable populations, improving first responder access to information on vulnerable groups needing specialized services during emergencies.

Governance Achievements

• Establishment of a crisis management group in Agii Anargiri Kamatero, Greece, to address citizen needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting participation as a key pillar of the SDGs.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Lack of political will to strengthen preparedness in cities due to political differences and short-term prioritization.
• Governance mechanisms not facilitating meaningful engagement of all government levels in emergency preparedness.
• Unclear roles and responsibilities between national and local governments regarding health emergencies.
• Legislative and coordination gaps for preparedness across government levels.
• Insufficient funds for city governments for preparedness activities.
• Short-term thinking in funding allocation prioritizing quick wins over long-term sustainability.
• Slow access to and release of funds for cities for preparedness and response.
• Inadequate appreciation of health emergencies' broad impacts on other sectors.
• Lack of clarity on who should lead multisectoral coordination for health emergency preparedness at local levels.
• Lack of mechanisms for coordination and communication between sectors and stakeholders for preparedness.
• Inadequate engagement of local sectors in national health emergency preparedness activities.
• Lacking capacities for multisectoral coordination at national and local levels.
• National health emergency preparedness plans not adequately accounting for the unique challenges of cities.
• Insufficient incorporation of health emergency preparedness considerations in urban planning.
• Risks posed by congested public transport systems during health emergencies.
• Mass movement in and out of cities facilitating disease spread.
• Insufficient representation and involvement of local governments and communities in health emergency preparedness policy development.
• Insufficient access to prompt, reliable, and culturally appropriate risk communication.
• Challenges in managing misinformation ('infodemics').
• Lack of alignment between national and local public health communication.
• Needs of vulnerable persons and communities not well integrated into preparedness plans.
• Insufficient continuous engagement and protection of vulnerable groups during health emergencies.
• Difficulties in identifying and mapping groups at risk of vulnerability.
• Many available sources of urban data needing to be prioritized, integrated, and used for risk assessment.
• Data not routinely shared between different levels of governance.
• Concerns around privacy and confidentiality in data collection and sharing.
• Local governments not equipped for data management and analysis.
• Insufficient trust and willingness of governments and commerce/industry stakeholders to work together for preparedness.
• Lack of appropriate engagement and accountability mechanisms with businesses in cities.
• Health and non-health essential services not optimally organized or funded to support health emergency preparedness and response.
• Frequent disruption to essential services during emergencies.
• Urban health systems lacking the resilience needed to ensure continuity of services.

Mitigation Strategies

• Paradigm shift in engaging subnational governments as important elements of policy development.
• Advocating for placing health and development at the center of public policy.
• Maintaining two-way communication between government levels through integrated multisectoral mechanisms.
• Clearly articulating an accountability framework for subnational and local authorities in preparedness.
• Holding regular dialogue on realistic roles for actors in urban settings.
• Revising existing/establishing new legal frameworks for emergencies allowing for flexibility.
• Updating contingency plans to embed all sectors in a cross-sectoral command structure.
• Ensuring governance to support diversifying economic structures.
• Adopting a long-term, sustainable view to financing for preparedness.
• Developing regulations to help cities manage limited allocations and collaborate with partners.
• Developing fiscal policies allowing for adaptive responses at the city level.
• Ensuring political commitment and appreciation of financing health emergency preparedness.
• Ensuring funding distributed to the local level is aligned with local needs.
• Identifying co-benefits to engage other sectors in preparedness activities.
• Improving understanding of the broad systemic risks of health emergencies.
• Collaborating to ensure national disaster management structures are mirrored at local levels.
• Keeping learning and improving for future responses through simulation exercises and reviews.
• Commissioning studies on high population density and movement.
• Mainstreaming health into urban planning and development.
• Translating and contextualizing national plans to local settings.
• Integrating health emergency preparedness considerations into urban planning and design.
• Developing plans to ensure safe travel on public transport.
• Mapping and predicting movement patterns.
• Identifying and assessing the risk and impact of events leading to mass movement.
• Empowering people and communities for safe movement.
• Leveraging existing agreements to facilitate cross-border collaboration.
• Supporting event organizers to work with public health authorities to develop plans for safe events.
• Enhancing focus on Points of Entry (PoEs) and strengthening public health capacities.
• Working with local authorities to define essential travel and reduce non-essential movement.
• Monitoring public transport usage and trends.
• Conducting local-level vulnerability and risk mapping.
• Leveraging the experiences of civil society organizations.
• Adopting people-centered sustainable urban planning.
• Ensuring that inclusion of community groups in emergency preparedness policy development is mainstreamed.
• Establishing mechanisms to address 'infodemics' and misinformation.
• Ensuring national crisis communication messaging is adaptable for local authorities.
• Leveraging collective efforts of communities and supporting community-led solutions.
• Investing in and building resilient cities.
• Ensuring that groups at risk of vulnerability and their specific needs are considered in emergency preparedness plans.
• Using a whole-of-society approach to work with organizations supporting vulnerable populations.
• Accurately mapping the whereabouts of groups at risk of vulnerability.
• Integrating contextualized approaches aimed at vulnerable groups in local implementation.
• Improving access to essential services before and during emergencies.
• Defining essential services within local contexts.
• Providing overall coordination of key agencies and providers of essential services.
• Ensuring that all relevant departments integrate risk management into service delivery models.
• Conducting joint exercises and reviews to test plans for continuity of essential services.
• Leveraging resources of local private providers to supplement essential services.
• Clearly defining appropriate engagement of the private sector.
• Maintaining dialogues with the private sector from the COVID-19 response.
• Legislating to ensure platforms for appropriate engagement with industry.
• Conducting a review of engagement with the private sector during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Defining and communicating the role of each type of business stakeholder in emergencies.
• Investing in designing and implementing a primary health care approach supporting preparedness.
• Investing in fundamental components of health systems.
• Ensuring the ability to flexibly deploy staff and resources.
• Preparing to requisition infrastructure to ensure service continuity.
• Formalizing relationships with sectors providing critical support services.
• Working with humanitarian/development partners to ensure continuity of service delivery.
• Emphasizing digital readiness and infrastructure in urban preparedness frameworks.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Resource Efficiency
• Circular Economy
• Biodiversity
• Social Equity

Environmental Achievements

• Increased awareness and accessibility of circular economy solutions for the built environment.
• Showcased existing solutions that could be implemented at scale to transition the built environment towards a closed-loop system.

Social Achievements

• Highlighted the socio-economic benefits of a circular built environment, including job creation and community resilience.
• Emphasized the importance of addressing 'embodied injustice' alongside embodied carbon emissions.

Governance Achievements

• Called for mass-market collaboration to make circular economy aspirations business as usual for all built assets.
• Promoted the use of ESG frameworks to enhance ambition around the circular economy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Depletion of finite resources
• Greenhouse gas emissions accelerating climate change
• Inequities and human rights challenges in the building and construction supply chain
• Complex certification processes and lack of appropriate regulations for circular materials
• Cost competitiveness of circular materials compared to traditional materials
• Linear mindsets hindering the adoption of circular design principles
• Lack of appropriate tools and software for circular building design
• Insufficient supporting regulations
• Knowledge gaps regarding the long-term effectiveness of nature-based solutions

Mitigation Strategies

• Promoting the use of digital material passports and material databases
• Advocating for policy changes that incentivize the use of circular materials and practices
• Developing and sharing best practice case studies and resources
• Encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing across the value chain
• Providing financial support and incentives for the development and implementation of circular solutions
• Upskilling and educating stakeholders on circular economy principles
• Developing and implementing nature-based solutions
• Using innovative business models such as Product as a Service (PaaS)

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable procurement practices that prioritize locally sourced materials with low embodied carbon and no hazardous substances
• Product take-back schemes
• Material passports

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events
• Flooding

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products
• New business models such as Product as a Service

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: LEED, WELL, Green Star, NABERS, DGNB, EU Taxonomy, TCFD

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
• SDG 13 (Climate Action)
• SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The initiatives described in the report contribute to these goals by promoting resource efficiency, reducing emissions, protecting biodiversity, and fostering sustainable urban development.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Hempcrete
• Cross-laminated secondary timber (CLST)
• Carbon-neutral concrete
• Recycled materials