Gov’t, private sector urged to invest in resilient housing

MANILA, Philippines – The government and the business community are being urged to invest in affordable, sustainable and resilient housing and buildings to combat climate change.

Climate Change Commission secretary Emmanuel de Guzman said at a forum in Makati Monday that the building sector plays an important role in climate change mitigation and adaptation as it is seen as the single easiest and most effective way for cities to make significant climate contributions.

“The buildings sector has an oversized environmental footprint,” he said. “More than 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are buildings-related, and emissions could double by 2050 if we carry on with business as usual in a time of rapid urbanization and explosive demographics.”  

In the Philippines, the building sector and social housing can be transformed through its Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA), which seek to cut by 70 percent the country’s carbon emissions across major economic sectors, he added.

De Guzman said the country would be able to reduce and ultimately phase out carbon emissions by transforming the way buildings are designed, built and operated.

“The social sector housing needs to provide access to low-cost yet resilient homes to ensure security and safety for occupants,” he said. “The design, construction and operation of today’s houses and buildings need to incorporate and address concerns of adaptation to climate change.”

De Guzman recommended that the government revisit the country’s 38-year-old National Shelter Program (NSP) to make it more responsive to climate change.

“It will be worthwhile for this forum to revisit the NSP, a housing initiative undertaken by the national government as early as 1978 – a very long time ago when climate change was not yet a global issue,” he said.

“Are current government housing units being built to climate change standards? Do the community plans include green environment and green infrastructure? We should find out about current public housing projects in order to make them NAMA-oriented, climate-resilient and green,” he said. 

De Guzman said the buildings sector offers one of the most cost-effective and economically beneficial paths for reducing energy demand and associated emissions while at the same time supporting adaptation and resilience to climate change.

 “The economic, health and social benefits of sustainable buildings are significant,” he said.

“Buildings provide shelter, places to live, work, learn and socialize, directly affecting our daily lives,” he added. “We recognize the importance of engaging the private business community in the housing development of the country. We are willing and eager to sit down with the building sector to find business sector to invest in low-income housing and other green building initiatives.”