Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, Director of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-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
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-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
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-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 (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 ¡ªwill hold its annual meeting in Dresden in April 2025. ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-FLORES, an active member of GlobalABC, participated in its events at COP29.
