Global Building Network: Development, Social Justice, and Low Energy Housing: Advancing a Just Energy Transition at Scale

The Global Building Network’s social justice agenda is based on our respective institution’s commitment to advancing the quality of life for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Our philosophy for engagement is underpinned by the United Nation’s leadership role in centering human right in the delivery of adequate housing (UDHR, 1948), making our cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable for everyone (UN SDG #11), and supporting a global transformation of buildings in the built environment towards low energy and low carbon solutions (UNECE Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings). There is a significant opportunity for well-designed, constructed, and operated low-energy housing that contributes to positive health, well-being, prosperity, and social justice outcomes. The kind of research, education, and outreach that is required to accelerate the translation of evidence to policy and action in a way that will advance our efforts from one-off pilots to scale at both the regional and global level to make low-energy housing the norm requires working across disciplines, sectors and geographical regions. It also requires inclusive and participatory processes that can allow those whose lives we seek to impact to work alongside researchers, practitioners, and policymakers as partners. With this context, our panel uses both national and international case studies to explore scalable and sustainable interventions at the intersection of social justice and affordable, low-carbon residential buildings.

Lead Convenor: Esther Obonyo 

Moderators: Esther Obonyo and Scott Foster  

Panelists

• Tim McDonald

• Michael Bennett

• Kristin Roy

• Barbara-Anne Murphy