Billions Lack Safe Housing, and Climate Change is Making it Worse – Here’s How Global Leaders Are Fighting Back
The world is facing a dual crisis: a staggering 2.8 billion people lack adequate housing, and the buildings we do have are major contributors to climate change, responsible for a third of global energy use and emissions. But here's where it gets even more urgent: these same buildings are increasingly vulnerable to the very climate disasters they help create.
Meeting this challenge head-on, global ministers have launched the Belém Call for Action, a bold initiative to tackle housing insecurity and climate change simultaneously. This isn't just about building more homes; it's about building them sustainably and affordably, ensuring a future where everyone has a safe and resilient place to live.
And this is the part most people miss: The Belém Call for Action builds upon the Chaillot Declaration, a groundbreaking policy framework established at COP29 in Baku. This declaration, championed by over 60 countries, aims to align national building policies with global climate goals. Imagine a world where every new building is designed to minimize its environmental footprint while providing shelter for those who need it most – that's the vision driving this initiative.
Led by France, Brazil, and Kenya, and hosted by the UN Environment Programme’s Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the International Conference on Buildings and Climate (ICBC) is the engine behind this movement. Through regular meetings, countries share best practices, track progress, and hold each other accountable for implementing the Chaillot Declaration.
“Affordability and sustainability must go hand in hand,” emphasized Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “The buildings sector can be a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change, both by reducing emissions and providing resilient homes for billions.”
The Belém Call for Action sets ambitious, time-bound targets for ICBC members:
- By 2030: Integrate climate action into housing policies, establish a global financing alliance to bridge the staggering $1.1 trillion annual investment gap for affordable and sustainable housing, and prioritize official development assistance for sustainable housing projects.
- By 2035: Align national housing policies with the Chaillot Declaration, prioritize housing that meets local standards for efficiency, emissions, and resilience, and prohibit construction in climate-risk areas without adequate protective measures – a lifeline for the 1.12 billion people currently living in vulnerable settlements.
Is this enough? Some argue that these targets are too ambitious, while others believe they don’t go far enough. What do you think?
The Belém Call for Action represents a significant step forward, but its success hinges on global cooperation and unwavering commitment. As Benoît Faraco, France’s ambassador for climate negotiations, aptly stated, “We’re moving from pledges to implementation.” This is a crucial moment – will we rise to the challenge and build a future where everyone has a safe and sustainable home, or will we let this opportunity slip away?
The Global South has a unique perspective on this issue. Alice Wahome, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, highlights the importance of ensuring that climate action doesn’t come at the expense of affordability and access to essential resources. This raises a critical question: How can we balance the need for sustainability with the urgent need for housing in developing nations?
Jader Filho, Brazil’s Minister of Cities, reminds us that cities are both the problem and the solution. Urban areas are major emitters, but they also hold the key to innovative solutions. Can we reimagine our cities as models of sustainability and social justice?
The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), with its 397 members, including 71 countries, is a powerful force driving this transformation. Through initiatives like the Buildings Breakthrough, led by France and Morocco, GlobalABC is fostering international collaboration to decarbonize the building sector and build resilience against climate impacts.
The Chaillot Declaration, endorsed at the 2024 Buildings and Climate Forum, provides the roadmap for this global effort. It establishes a collaborative framework that engages all stakeholders in the building sector, ensuring a unified approach to achieving zero emissions and resilience.
The Belém Call for Action is a call to action for all of us. It’s a chance to build a future where everyone has a safe, affordable, and sustainable place to call home. But it’s also a challenge – a challenge to rethink how we build, how we live, and how we prioritize the needs of both people and the planet. Are we up to the task?
