NORDIC FRIENDS LOUNGE 23
[ Nordic
point of view ]
Building for tomorrow
The Nordic countries are particularly committed to more sustainable living. This also includes the building and construction sector, where the Nordics strive to be positive role models for the rest of the world.
The building and construction sector contributes significantly to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emis- sions. According to a 2018 United Nations study, the sector accounts for almost 40 per cent of energy-related CO 2 emissions. This is why it can also play a crucial role in addressing the climate challenge. Optimising energy efficiency in buildings together with decarbonising the electricity grid could make a significant contribution to achieving climate targets. While innovations and solutions are emerg- ing in the building sector around the world, the global community is looking to the Nordic countries in particular as they have taken the lead in creating a building industry for a sustainable tomorrow. Leading the way in climate protection Many Nordic initiatives actively drive the necessary transformation in the building sector by promoting the development of more sustainable construction methods and building materials. One of these is the FUTURE project: the Swedish region of Skåne and the Danish Capital Region and Zealand support each other in the integration and storage of renewable energy in buildings and in the reuse of building ma- terials and recycling. In this context, the idea came up of converting textile waste into thermal insulation and acoustic cladding for buildings, which helps to significantly reduce the burning of textile fibres. Norwegians are also developing creative and innova- tive solutions. For example, over the past ten years, the City of Oslo and the municipalities of Bærum, Asker and Drammen have supported the FutureBuilt programme, which aims to create low-carbon urban projects. One of these is Ruseløkka School in Oslo. In the renovation of the school, the builders used only low-carbon cement and recycled steel. In addition, they reused 4,500 bricks and granite blocks from the existing building. The new structure even took into account the future reuse of building materials, so the new bricks were laid with lime mortar to make them easier to remove later. In Denmark, the Gate 21 initiative organises the energy retrofitting of single-family homes in Greater Copenhagen. Normally, such refurbishment is compli- cated and interested parties can quickly lose the
The Nordics are making great strides in sustainable building, inspiring other regions around the globe to also set out towards a more sustainable future.
overview. Thus, Gate 21 has created a platform that guides homeowners through the process.
The research continues These initiatives are in line with the vision of the Nordic Council, the official body for formal inter-par- liamentary cooperation between the Nordic coun- tries, to make the Nordic region the most sustainable region in the world. Nordic countries see themselves as a testing ground for the introduction of revolution- ary energy and building technologies that can help the world achieve necessary climate goals. Denmark, Norway and Sweden are already further ahead than many other countries in such technologies. But to achieve their climate goals, the search for new inno- vative solutions must continue. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed the motto for this: “Had we already known all of the solutions by now, these targets would not have been ambitious enough.”
Did you know? Since the building and construction industries are among the high-emitting sectors today, they offer investors the opportunity to drive real change. The Nordea 1 – Global Sustainable Listed Real Assets Fund invests in sustainable real assets companies that are at the forefront of net-zero action. For more information, go to: nordea.lu/ThematicSustainableSolutions
ISSUE 02.2018 ISSUE 01.2023
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