Building a Sustainable Future: How the latest UN Climate Report impacts housing delivery

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of the increasing devastation caused by climate breakdown, including millions of deaths, destroyed homes, hunger, and losses to vital ecosystems. The report also highlights that more than three billion people already live in areas highly vulnerable to climate breakdown, with half of the global population experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. The Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report is almost certain to be the last such assessment while the world still has a chance of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

The Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report, based on years of work by hundreds of scientists during the IPCC’s sixth assessment cycle, reiterates that humans are responsible for all global heating over the past 200 years, leading to a current temperature rise of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, causing increasing destruction to people and the planet.

It suggests sharing best practices, technology, effective policy measures, and mobilising sufficient finance to decrease or prevent the usage of carbon-intensive consumption methods, prioritising climate risk reduction for low-income and marginalised communities for the biggest gains in wellbeing.

Call For Transformational Changes

The latest report from the IPCC highlights that there are multiple feasible and effective options available now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change. The report emphasises the urgency of taking more ambitious climate action and underscores the need for effective and equitable climate action that will reduce losses and damages for nature and people. The report also highlights that climate justice is crucial because those who have contributed least to climate change are being disproportionately affected. The solution lies in climate-resilient development, which involves integrating measures to adapt to climate change with actions to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in ways that provide wider benefits.

The report calls for political commitment, coordinated policies, international cooperation, ecosystem stewardship, and inclusive governance to achieve effective and equitable climate action.

Finally, the report emphasises the need for significant investment in adaptation, conservation of approximately 30-50% of the earth’s land, freshwater, and ocean, and transformational changes in the food sector, electricity, transport, industry, buildings, and land use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Housing

Real estate is responsible for approximately 39% of total global emissions. Approximately 11% of these emissions are generated by manufacturing materials used in buildings (including steel and cement), while the rest is emitted from buildings themselves and by generating the energy that powers buildings. The housing sector has a crucial role to play in reducing emissions and addressing the climate crisis. Housing delivery is a crucial aspect of the sector, and the latest IPCC report will undoubtedly impact how we approach it. The report highlights the need for more sustainable building practices, including increasing the use of MMC, which can significantly reduce emissions while improving the quality and affordability of homes.

Modern Methods Of Construction

MMC involves the use of innovative construction techniques and materials, such as modular building systems, offsite construction, and 3D printing, which reduce waste and energy consumption while improving the quality and efficiency of construction. These methods have several benefits over traditional construction methods, including reduced construction times, lower labour costs, and fewer emissions. For example, offsite construction can significantly reduce the amount of waste generated during construction, as materials are measured and cut to precise specifications, resulting in less waste.

The use of MMC in housing delivery can help reduce the carbon footprint of the sector while providing more sustainable and affordable homes. By reducing waste and energy consumption, MMC can significantly reduce the emissions associated with housing construction, making it a crucial tool in the fight against climate change. MMC can also improve the quality and efficiency of construction, leading to more durable and energy-efficient homes, which require less maintenance and provide a better quality of life for residents.

The adoption of MMC in Ireland’s housing sector is still relatively low, and there are several barriers to its widespread adoption, including a lack of awareness, resistance to change, and the perception that MMC is more expensive than traditional construction methods. However, with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and create sustainable housing, the benefits of MMC are becoming increasingly evident.

Reducing Carbon Footprint

MMC can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects by minimising waste, reducing energy consumption during the construction process, and using sustainable building materials. Moreover, MMC allows for more efficient and streamlined construction processes, reducing construction time and costs while improving the quality of the finished product. This can be particularly beneficial in addressing Ireland’s current housing crisis, where there is a significant shortage of affordable, high-quality housing.

Overcoming Barriers To Adoption

To overcome the barriers to adoption, the Irish government has implemented a range of policies and initiatives to promote the use of MMC in the housing sector.

For example, the State’s Climate Action Plan sets a target of achieving a 51% reduction in carbon emissions from new buildings by 2030, with a strong focus on the use of low-carbon construction methods such as offsite and other modern methods of construction.

MMC Ireland, along with several national initiatives including the Modern Methods of Construction Taskforce, is developing a roadmap for the adoption of MMC in the Irish construction sector. By bringing together key stakeholders from across the industry, the organisation is working to identify and address the barriers to adoption and to promote the holistic benefits of MMC.

In support of this, the government has introduced a range of financial incentives to encourage the use of MMC in housing construction, such as grants and tax incentives for developers who use sustainable construction methods. This has helped to increase awareness and adoption of MMC in the industry, contributing to the development of best practices and encouraging investment in research and development of new MMC technologies and methods.

Policymakers can continue to drive progress through the development of policies and incentives that encourage the increased use of offsite and other MMC. This can include funding for research and development, investment in training and skills development, and regulatory frameworks that promote sustainable construction practices.

Building Lifecycle

Despite the progress made in promoting the use of MMC in Ireland’s housing sector, there is still much work to be done. The State and industry stakeholders must continue to work together to address the remaining barriers to adoption, such as a lack of skilled labour and the reputation of the sector, specifically, raising awareness about the durability and longevity of MMC buildings. Moreover, the benefits of MMC extend beyond the construction phase and into the operational phase of buildings. Energyefficient and sustainable building designs can significantly reduce energy consumption and associated costs, leading to long-term cost savings for homeowners and reducing the carbon footprint of the housing sector.

The latest UN climate report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The housing sector has a significant role to play in achieving this, and the adoption of MMC can help to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects while improving the quality and efficiency of housing delivery.

MMC Ireland is a representative body that strives to promote and advance the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in Ireland by building knowledge and awareness, advocating for regulatory change, and fostering access to the MMC market. Join MMC Ireland to transform the construction industry through innovation and excellence: https://mmcireland.ie/