Experts from more than 190 countries around the world will gather in Dubai this month to brainstorm on ways to combat the climate crisis. The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) is scheduled to take place in Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

As preparations in the UAE for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) enter their final stages, the venue for this prestigious event, Expo City Dubai, is demonstrating its commitment to leading by example in climate action.

The global built environment is a major contributor to climate change. It is responsible for over 42 per cent of annual global CO2 emissions. This is due to the energy used to operate buildings and infrastructure, as well as the emissions from the materials used to build them.

Rapid urbanisation worldwide means, every five days, the world adds buildings equivalent to the size of Paris, with the built environment sector already responsible for 37 per cent of global emissions.

Much of the ageing building stock that populates our cities’ skylines has either passed into disrepair or has dropped so much in value because it is no longer attractive compared to the newly launched set of buildings.

The cement industry, which is responsible for about seven per cent of global carbon emissions, is facing a significant challenge in reducing its emissions. However, a range of revolutionary technologies is available that can help the industry to achieve this goal, says the CEO of the World Cement Association (WCA).