It’s predicted that by 2030, there will be a 40% gap between global fresh water supply and demand, with the built environment being responsible for around 15% of fresh water use.
With nearly half the global population predicted to be denied access to fresh, clean water, this humanitarian crisis has now become as urgent as tackling greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change. That’s why the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched an innovative publication through its global Circularity Accelerator programme: Building a Water-Resilient Future, which outlines the role of the building and construction sector in tackling the global water crisis. This report was launched at GBCSAʼs 2023 convention by Dominika Czerwinska, WorldGBCʼs Director of Engagement and Networks.
At the UN Climate Summit COP28 in Dubai, UAE (30 November–12 December 2023), the role of the built environment was spotlighted in addressing how we can secure an equitable and resilient future for everyone. This work was showcased at COP28 to demonstrate how the built environment provides one of the greatest opportunities in helping the world transition to zero carbon, meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and tackle the water crisis. The paper is aimed at the building and construction sector, and has been developed with extensive collaboration from WorldGBC’s global network and industry experts. It lays out the magnitude of the challenge – and what we can do to change course.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
Fresh water is essential for human existence. As our population continues to grow, combined with the lack of systemic and long-term planning, fresh water has become a globally scarce resource. As a result, the world is now facing a global water crisis that is being exacerbated by climate change, with global water use, storage and distribution contributing to 10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Although the surface of the planet is approximately 70% water, less than 1% of the water on Earth is available for human consumption and use.
In the past century, population growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and climate change have collectively contributed to a rapidly accelerating global water crisis. Today, nearly four billion people are affected by water scarcity, and predictions suggest this number will rise as global water demand is projected to increase 55% by 2050.
In addition, the global building floor area is expected to double in size by 2060 – meaning an urban area the size of New York City is being built every month. The sector is using water across four scales – the materials supply chain, construction, operating buildings and cities – at all stages of the life cycle.
THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED NOW
The impact of tackling the water crisis within the built environment has immense opportunities to address the water crisis on a global scale. Supported by exemplary case studies from around the world, this paper highlights four key areas across the built environment, where solutions can, and are, being actioned to tackle this crisis. The infographic (on page 56) demonstrates the four key stages of the lifecycle where water use can be most effectively addressed.
This paper has been developed by WorldGBC in collaboration with a network of 26 Green Building Councils around the world, as well as our partners Arup, Brightworks Sustainability, CBRE, Foster + Partners, WSP, Kingspan and ARKANCE (formerly VinZero), and a network of over 30 individual experts.
Building a Water-Resilient Future is the latest report from WorldGBC’s global Circularity Accelerator programme, which released the Circular Built Environment Playbook earlier in 2023. The Playbook outlines how the building and construction sector can implement circular economy and resource efficiency principles throughout the entire lifecycle of a building.
View the Building a Water-Resilient Future paper at https://worldgbc.org/article/water-paper/ and follow the campaign at #CircularityAccelerator and #ChangeTheCourse. www.worldgbc.org
“I am proud to launch this industry position paper, which outlines the magnitude of this challenge – yet also the great potential of the built environment to address it. This is a sector that contributes to an enormous 15% of freshwater use. So we must take a systems change approach and utilise every resource and opportunity to leverage our influence and expertise to drive real change across global infrastructure.”
“Infrastructure resilience and sustainability are critical in positively shaping the future of water. The technology already exists. There is no lack of resources; the solution lies in competent leadership, efficient stakeholder engagement processes and acting collaboratively in taking a whole systems approach to solutions, in time. We must come together to design, build and solve our infrastructure challenges and ensure that our future means we all have clean and safe water for life.”
