COP28: The Case for Health in Climate

Jan 31

COP28

The UAE hosted the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) at Expo City Dubai from November 30 – December 13, 2023.

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

Last November, the United Arab Emirates hosted COP28, the United Nations’ (UN) annual climate conference, which provided the opportunity for member states to discuss, debate, and pledge commitments to support a greener climate and healthier world. As we reflect on the past year, both the intensifying nature and increasing frequency of climate-related events are impossible to ignore. Furthermore, as we at CfAD and Fitwel have demonstrated for years, climate and health are inextricably linked (see our past blog posts on heat, floods and air quality for more). In a monumental step forward, this message was echoed in many of the publications and conversations surrounding COP28. Building on this consensus, our team compiled five key takeaways from this landmark conference, highlighting how built environment interventions can combat climate change while also prioritizing health for all.

1. Greener Cities

The Urban Nature Program, co-led by the World Bank’s Global Platform for Sustainable Cities and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), represents a significant call to action and a step forward in acknowledging the links between urban landscapes and health. The program aims to increase investments and protections for the preservation of nature in urban areas. Natural spaces in cities can provide numerous benefits not only for people, such as cleaner and cooler air and spaces for social connection and recreation, but also for other species, as they provide habitats and support ecosystem preservation. Fitwel supports this mission through strategies like open space preservation, outdoor space and amenities, supporting biodiversity, and more.

2. Addressing the Role of Buildings

The "Buildings Breakthrough" initiative, led by the governments of France and Morocco in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), was also launched at COP28. Its goal is to make climate-resilient buildings the new normal by 2030. The new initiative, as part of the Breakthrough Agenda, aims to strengthen international collaboration to decarbonize the building sector and make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible and attractive option in all regions by 2030. As has been well-established, the built environment and buildings specifically account for 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While reducing energy consumption and Scope 1-3 emissions are important steps toward climate resilience, buildings must go beyond addressing these elements. Resilient buildings and urban environments must also consider their proximity to flood and fire zones, the materials being used – and how they impact urban temperatures– and how to facilitate retrofitting to extend their life cycles. All of these areas are key focus points of the Fitwel v3 Standard update.

3. Equity in Urban Greening

In line with COP28 commitments, USAID pledged more than $53 million for new low-carbon and climate-resilient activities in 23 cities across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This is a significant commitment, not only financially, but also in terms of addressing the equity gap around climate risks. Fitwel has long viewed equity as a health issue, and as is clear both on a local and global scale, the impacts of climate change disproportionately impact marginalized communities. This commitment from one of the wealthiest nations in the world to balance the scales around urban climate change is a massive step forward.

4. Cleaner Cooking

Together with the COP28 Presidency, representatives from multiple countries and organizations took part in the launch of the Global Electric Cooking Coalition (“GeCCo”) to mobilize and accelerate electric cooking use. While clean cooking can mean different things across a variety of contexts, electrification of cooking can have an impact on both the environment and people’s health in any setting. Earlier this year, the push for electric stoves made headlines in New York when it became the first state to ban gas stoves. New York City also committed to electrifying all public housing apartments. While this move reduces the state’s dependency on non-renewable energy, it also has tremendous health impacts. Electrification efforts can also be impactful in areas where biomass is burned, as it can have harmful effects on respiratory health and carbon dioxide emissions. While electrification may not be possible in all spaces or settings, Fitwel supports this mission through the recent addition of the Kitchen Ventilation Strategy in the v3 Standard, which helps protect occupants from the harmful health effects of gas stoves.

5. Materials Matter

Another big announcement for the real estate industry was the launch of the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Initiative, led by Canada and the UAE. The use of cement and concrete in cities are the central contributors to the urban heat island effect, which has dangerous impacts on both the health of people and the planet. (See our blog on mitigating urban heat for more details.) This initiative will not only help reduce the use of cement and concrete in urban development internationally but it is expected to also spur innovation around new solutions and materials that can reflect rather than absorb heat. The Fitwel v3 Standard embraces this mission by awarding credit for the use of heat-resistant construction materials and high albedo surfaces in the new climate-forward strategy, Heat Island Mitigation.

Overall, COP28 marked a significant advancement in the integration of health into climate solutions for the built environment. For the first time, on a major global stage, the health consequences of climate change and the co-benefits of potential solutions were put in the spotlight. While CfAD has long supported these ideas, we are now directly addressing climate in the new v3 Standard, which will launch this year. As we prepare for the spring season of weather disasters, climate initiatives like these are more important than ever. Whether at an asset level through singular adaptation and mitigation initiatives or through global transnational ones like these, we all play an important role in the movement toward a more sustainable and healthier future.

Article contributed by Grace Dickinson, MPH, MUP, Fitwel Ambassador, Associate Director of Applied Research, Center for Active Design

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