Interview: Cornelia Freund
ED: Sebastian, what was your role at COP28?
Sebastian Clark Koth: For a few years, our Chair has been in extensive discussions with the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e.V.) about the absurdity of the construction sector. We are particularly interested in questioning how complex and technology-driven the construction sector has become. Efficiency is essential, but before implementing all the technical "solutions", we need to fundamentally question why modern architecture has so many problems in the first place. We believe that architecture itself is the best tool for achieving the near-zero emissions goal for the building sector. This means designing local and climate-responsive. But it also means recognizing the built world not as an object of speculation but as a place to live, work and socialize, where we have a significant impact on the lives of real people. This responsibility must be addressed from the early design stage on - in new construction and more importantly in the renovation of existing building stock. This year, the DGNB was invited to present these positions as part of an exhibition pavilion at COP28 in Dubai, and I was asked to represent them and us.
What expectations did you have when you arrived?
At first, I was very nervous about what to expect. With so many stakeholders and different perspectives, interests, and experiences, I was unsure how the international response to our point of view would be and whether we would be heard at all. I was also there on my own, which only added to the pressure of representing the DGNB and our chair appropriately. I was well aware of the responsibility.
Our aim was to stimulate public debate and international exchange. The sustainable transformation of the building sector often seems overwhelming, so the opportunity I see in the COP is solving it together, through the international exchange of perspectives and pain points - and the articulation of common goals. My hope was to understand these experiences, achievements, frustration, and expectations of other parties better, and to apply these insights to our work. And secretly, I was hoping to meet activists like Luisa Neubauer, whom I really admire.
Are you satisfied with the results of the COP, especially about the future of the construction industry?
In principle, no, but as always the answer is much more nuanced. The final documents of the COP are more than anything a compromise. A compromise between actors and countries that do not see eye to eye often. The fact that new targets were set at all is impressive from a sober point of view. Unfortunately, the final declaration does not reflect the general mood I experienced at COP28. On the grounds, it certainly seemed like it was time to say goodbye to fossil fuels, but there is little translation of that in the final declaration.
It seemed like there were more ambitious goals in the building sector. One example is the Buildings Breakthrough Initiative, to which 27 countries have signed up to, including Germany. The initiative aims to decarbonize the building sector and promote renewable technologies and sustainable solutions as the most cost-effective and attractive options by 2030. The next meeting will take place in Paris in March 2024, where the responsible ministers of the countries will draw up a more precise action plan. The DGNB is already planning to join, to exert even more pressure, as the decarbonization target alone is still too vague. Together with us, the DGNB has already formulated demands in this regard.
What impressions did you take away from Dubai?
It's no coincidence that COP28 took place in one of the world´s most oil-rich countries, but it's also very questionable. The commute from the COP exhibition center to my hotel was accompanied by advertisements for wind power, but I didn't see a single wind turbine outside the exhibition center. My hotel room was on the 29th floor of a glass skyscraper, where I couldn't turn off the air conditioning and probably wouldn't have wanted to, at 30° Celsius outside temperature. On the way to the airport, I took some time to stop in Dubai's historic old town, which was an almost exemplary demonstration of how effective climate-friendly architecture can create a pleasant microclimate - without any air conditioning.
Links:
Chair of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design
Research Group Senselab