Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, Director of UNU-FLORES led a session at COP29 in Baku, emphasizing the pressing need for circular economy solutions in the construction industry. The event, titled "House of No Waste: Catalyzing Circular Solutions for a Resource-Positive Construction Sector," invited stakeholders to reconsider waste, explore sustainable building practices, and contribute to a new vision for the future of construction.
Key Issues in Construction
The construction industry accounts for 37% of global CO2 emissions and 34% of global energy demand in 2022. The construction waste sector is a major contributor to the climate crisis, accounting for 60% of total waste in Germany alone. Concrete production is responsible for 9% of global industrial water withdrawals, and by 2050, it is projected that 75% of the water required for concrete production will be in regions facing water stress.
Becoming Resource-Positive: The Path Forward
UNU-FLORES advocates for the Resource Nexus approach to a sustainable future, focusing on minimizing waste, optimizing resources, and driving innovation. At the COP29 side event, Prof. Guenther drew into focus the 2020 European Union’s nine key circular economy strategies to address the resource-intensive nature of construction.
Vision: House of No Waste
UNU-FLORES is driving the House of Waste project. The vision of the project outlines an ambitious and innovative project that addresses these pressing issues while housing public facilities in a groundbreaking building built primarily from waste materials. This project is guided by the principles of the European Union’s 9Rs for a circular economy: Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, and Recycle, in line with the United Nations’ ambition for a “pollution-free planet”.
From Baku to Dresden
The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) is the leading global platform for all buildings stakeholders committed to a common vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector —will hold its annual meeting in Dresden in April 2025. UNU-FLORES, an active member of GlobalABC, participated in its events at COP29.
