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11 October 20217 minute read

Climate-responsive buildings – fighting the effects of climate change in Lagos state

Climate change is a burning global environmental issue and its most visible effects are the adverse impact on food production, rising sea levels and flooding, rising temperatures, storms, wildfires and heatwaves.

The increase in weather-related crises on a global scale has led policymakers to realize the impact of human actions on the climate. Global leaders are making efforts to implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and establish legal frameworks aimed at fighting climate change.

Data on climate change underscores how important it is for both governments and international organizations to take immediate and drastic action at local and global levels. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are rising and, if left unchecked, the environmental crisis will become an irreversible ecological catastrophe.

Buildings and climate change

With rapid urbanization, buildings contribute a considerable amount of global GHG emissions. This occurs during the construction and occupation phases. Building construction processes generate CO2 and emissions are produced from burning fossil fuels and biomass in both residential and commercial buildings.

Direct GHG emissions from buildings come from fossil fuels used to generate heat, for cooking or cooling, and to power other appliances such as water boilers and air conditioners. Indirect emissions come from the electricity generated at power stations using coal, diesel or other fossil fuels that is then used in the building. The 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction indicates that the use and occupation phases contribute about 38% of global CO2 emissions.

Climate change impacts in Lagos

Lagos state, with its large growing population and its topography characterized by low-lying and coastal areas and a high-water table, is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Energy, waste and transport have been identified as the major sources of GHG emissions in Lagos. Inadequate land use and development control, poor drainage and solid-waste management infrastructure have also added to the effects of climate change.

In the Lagos Climate Action Plan – Second Five Year Plan, 2020-2025, nine risk areas were identified. The most significant risks are heat waves, flooding (inland, flash, river, coastal and lagoon) and erosion. A direct impact is the loss of Alfa Beach, a once vibrant tourist attraction, and a number of coastal communities have lost their homes to storm surges because of rising sea levels. Flooding is recognized as the most common result of climate change in Lagos state, causing flood-related illnesses, destruction of property, human fatality and damage to means of subsistence.

The scarcity of decent and affordable housing in good locations of the city means that a large section of the population live in hazardous locations and buildings are built indiscriminately, preventing the free flow of storm water and increasing flood risks.

Climate-responsive buildings

The climate change crisis in Lagos state is due to a myriad of factors, chiefly CO2 emissions, with the built environment contributing a significant amount of the emissions. It is essential that more efficient and ecofriendly ways of building construction and energy consumption are developed so more sustainable communities can be established to reduce the effects of climate change on the environment and enhance living conditions for future generations.

This is where climate-responsive buildings become relevant as a tool for creating sustainable, climate-friendly cities. A climate-responsive building is one in which the weather conditions of the building’s location are critically analyzed and factored into the building’s architecture. According to Abiodun Olukayode Olotuah, climate responsive architecture is an “environmentally-conscious design technique,” which aims to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment through the moderate and efficient use of building materials, power, and development space. The core objective of climate-responsive architecture is to apply sustainable principles throughout the lifecycle of a building – from planning to completion and use.

In the development of climate-responsive buildings, energy use and comfort of the buildings’ users are usually key considerations. These dual goals may be achieved through proper design and structuring of the building envelopes (such as foundations, roofs, windows, doors and ceilings), which can help to reduce unnecessary energy loss. Properly designed building envelopes may reduce the need for fossil fuel generated energy, as natural cooling and heating are designed into the building’s envelopes.

In Lagos state, building codes are more focused on ensuring the integrity and safety of buildings. For instance, the National Building Code, 2006 was enacted as result of the frequent instances of collapsing buildings, use of non-professionals, and use of untested products and materials. However, the Code fails to specifically address climate change concerns. While it was expected that the Lagos State Building Control Agency Regulations, 2019 and Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Regulations, 2019 would specifically mention the need to reduce the impact of climate change, they fail to directly promote international best practices regarding climate change policy guidelines and enforcement.

Recommendations

In Lagos state, mitigation measures adopted in the past have proven inadequate for the simple reason that they are reactive and temporary.

A wholistic review of the legal framework for building and industrial activities should be carried out immediately with a view to setting minimum standards and best practices on building designs, construction and use. New building standards, which set requirements for energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable energy in new developments, need to be put in place. It is critical that there is proper regulation of industrial and agricultural activities in line with international best practices.

The Lagos Climate Action Plan details some very positive mitigation and adaptive measures that, if effectively implemented, will help reduce the effects of climate change, but there must be a strong legal enforcement mechanism for the recommendations in the Action Plan. Concerted efforts must be made by all stakeholders to effectively implement physical and spatial development plans that encourage low-emission developments. This will involve the preparation of updated physical and spatial development plans that include the goal to reduce GHG emissions as a core consideration and adoption of low-emission technologies in proposed developments.

Deliberate action should be taken to establish building energy efficiency codes to ensure buildings are designed to take advantage of climatic conditions to reduce energy consumption. Some of the key mitigation targets related to energy consumption in buildings should include increased use of renewable energy for electricity generation, and solar water heating and LED lighting in new residential and commercial buildings.

As flooding is a major environmental concern in Lagos, development plans and building regulations should include adequate guidelines to provide a long-lasting solution to this crisis. Building developments in flood-prone areas need to be designed and constructed to be flood resilient. Additional measures to reduce flooding include dredging and maintenance of rivers and canals, extensive construction of new storm water drainage channels, and maintenance of existing drainage channels.

The problem is not a shortage of ideas; the major challenge is the government’s effective implementation of policies to combat climate change. But the government cannot tackle climate change alone; there must be concerted effort and support from the private sector in terms of funding and the general public must also lend their support by ensuring compliance with rules and regulations geared towards mitigating the effects of climate change.

Construction professionals and property developers – as a matter of necessity – need to continue to innovate and focus on developing climate-friendly construction techniques to combat environmental issues arising from construction activities. The legal framework, as a vital component of the Climate Action Plan, must recognize the need to manage and protect the environment in an effective and efficient manner. The government needs to take steps to update the body of laws relating to the construction industry, streamline all legislation and regulations and bring them in line with global best practices.

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