Climate Adaptation and Mitigation for the Built Environment

The built environment serves as a prominent symbol of urbanization, reflecting the way human societies have shaped their surroundings. Currently, approximately 55% of the global population resides in urban areas, with this figure projected to increase to 68% in 2050, according to the United Nations. Rapid urbanization worldwide means that every five days, the world adds buildings equivalent to the size of Paris, with the built environment sector already responsible for 37 percent of global emissions.

With climate change impacting cities and communities worldwide on a scale and intensity previously thought to be years away, the role of the built environment in contributing to climate change, as well as its preparedness to manage the worst of those impacts, becomes a critical aspect to explore.

Climate-related risks typically manifest either as physical risks - the direct impacts of climate change events on assets, infrastructure, and communities - or transition risks - the financial and operational risks associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

For the real estate sector, adapting to physical risks stemming from extreme weather events, floods, and wildfires is paramount, as is designing buildings with a lower environmental impact and developing roadmaps to reduce the resulting carbon emissions from construction and operational activities.

Join CEP Toronto and our panel of industry experts as they highlight how the Canadian built environment space is developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate-related risks.

Speakers to be announced. 

This panel will be moderated by Shashanka Suresh, Director, Sustainability & ESG - Dream.