BUILDING REGULATORY PRACTICES IN 10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17501/2513258X.2021.5104Keywords:
Building regulatory practices, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency policiesAbstract
The expected increase in building activities on the African continent and the anticipated future vulnerability of the continent in the face of climate change require investigation. This paper compares the building regulatory practices in 10 African countries to determine their responses to climate change. Various studies highlight the contribution of the built environment to total global greenhouse gas emissions, which mainly includes Water vapour (H₂O), Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄) and Nitrous oxide (N₂O). Additionally, the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions, specifically CO₂ and construction activities, is generally accepted due to increased energy use (IPCC, 2019). With just 10 years left, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are unlikely to be achieved by 2030. This exploratory study aims to establish whether the built environment of the 10 identified countries are currently taking any action towards the climate change effects and, if so, to determine their response and format. The paper reviews and compares present-day built environment regulatory policies on the African continent, focusing on energy efficiency measures. The results could be interpreted as a baseline when evaluating current policies, making the study beneficial to the selected countries and the broader African built environment. The study points towards a lack of building energy codes by the biggest emitters on the African continent. As part of the recommendations, African countries are encouraged to consider revising the regulatory documents governing the built environment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the continent.
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