WWF calls for action in buildings
Kim Carstensen, leader of the WWF Global Climate Initiative, represents an organisation which is not usually associated with energy efficiency issues. But there are very good reasons for ‘the panda organisation’ - the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) - to engage with climate change and energy efficiency, explained Kim Carstensen at the Rockwool sponsored side event on 9 December at the COP15 summit.
Kim Carstensen, Leader, WWF's Global Climate Initiative “You may wonder why somebody like me, who works in a ’panda organisation’, is interested in buildings. Why not just concentrate on protecting the pandas in the forests or the whales in the sea? Or maybe go to the Arctic to protect the polar bears? Well, the most important thing I can do to protect the polar bear is actually to support the political efforts to enact the decisions on climate change,” Kim Carstensen said.
“I could have chosen examples from a tropical forest or a small island, but let’s look at the Arctic to give an example. The Arctic is changing. We see air temperatures in the Arctic rising, we see the sea ice melting, and soon there will not be any ice in the summer, if trends continue. We lose 11 per cent of the sea ice per decade, and this obviously cannot continue for long. Some might say that they don’t care because no one lives there. But the Arctic is part of a large life support system, and it will have consequences for people, as well as polar bears, if the ice in the Arctic disappears,” he underlined.
Urban growth is a challenge
Kim Carstensen explained why the WWF has engaged in a project for low carbon cities.
“We are in the middle of a process of extremely rapid, dramatic urban growth. The number of cities in China has grown from 193 in 1978 to 661 in 2005 – of which the number of mega cities has gone up from 13 to 54. There is a lot of new urban mass being built, and therefore the WWF has engaged in low carbon city development in China. This is not only about buildings, but buildings are a big part of it,” Kim Carstensen said.
“We are working with two cities, Shanghai and Baoding to find ways to ensure low carbon emission development, energy efficiency in buildings and focus on renewable energy. We can actually show how rapid economic growth and energy consumption can be completely de-coupled. The experiences are really good, and by working in China we can show the potential gains in terms of better lives, better economies and new jobs in new sectors and better living conditions in buildings. In countries like China and India, there is an enormous potential for this,” he said.
Germany’s efficiency in buildings programme is best practice
Kim Carstensen also argued for political regulation with the clear objective of promoting climate friendly buildings. This does not necessarily have to be strict legislation. Instead, he emphasised Germany’s approach.
“We did a study of the experience in different economic settings in the 20 largest economies in the world with different types of policies and initiatives. The most efficient thing that anybody has done is Germany’s efficiency in buildings programme. It is an integrated package of building standards, subsidies, loans, grants and retrofitting building projects”, Mr. Carstensen said.
“Because it is an integrated package, it encompasses a lot of action which proves good for jobs, the environment and reduced CO2 emissions.”
Chinese