Low Carbon and Resilient Buildings: Lessons Learned from Nearly Two Decades of Engagement

Low carbon and resilient buildings in practice: The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been committed to llow carbon nd resilient buildings for mseveralyears. A comprehensive evaluation of this commitment documents the experiences and lessons learned from the projects. The goal is to make this knowledge available to future projects.

The building sector plays a key role in achieving global climate and development goals. Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and the growing risks of climate change, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been supporting projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the resilience of buildings since 2008.

On behalf of the SDC, INFRAS, in collaboration with Zoï Environment Network, has compiled the lessons learned from the projects in a knowledge summary. For this purpose, INFRAS analyzed project documents and conducted interviews with project implementers.

A broad portfolio of projects in key areas

SDC support in the building sector takes a holistic approach. It helps make the sector as a whole more climate-friendly and resilient, while putting people and their livelihoods at the center of its efforts.

Accordingly, the SDC's engagement covers a range of themes and lines of action. These range from new construction, existing buildings and building materials to resilience and reconstruction.

However, support is not primarily focused on technical solutions: A wide range of approaches are being tested in the intervention areas of policy and governance, practice and projects, and knowledge and capacity development. These range from the development of building standards to demonstration projects and training and professional development activities. Overall, the capitalization makes clear that effective interventions often address multiple levels simultaneously.

Examples show how it works in practice

Two examples from Mongolia and India illustrate how this impact can be realized in the construction sector: They show how SDC's long-term partnerships are helping to improve the livelihoods of local people, reduce emissions, attract investment and embed climate change adaptation solutions in policy and practice:

• In Mongolia, the SDC has supported the energy-efficient renovation of public buildings. This reduces heat loss and significantly lowers energy consumption. In kindergartens, for example, the warmer rooms in winter have had a tangible, positive impact on health: sick leave among children has fallen by 65 percent.
• Through LC3, the SDC supported the development and market launch of a low-emission cement that can reduceCO2emissions by about 40 percent compared to conventional cement. The inclusion of this cement in standards in India, Europe and several countries in Latin America and Africa paved the way for its widespread use and mobilized private investments of approximately CHF 180 million by the end of the project.

The evaluation of SDC projects reveals four key lessons for future international cooperation initiatives in the building sector:

• First, regulations and standards are key levers for steering markets towards climate-friendly and resilient construction.
• Second, viable business models are needed to bring new solutions to the mass market.
• Third, expertise must be adapted to the local context, as climatic, structural and institutional conditions vary widely from country to country.
• Fourth, change in the building sector requires patience: Transformation is a gradual process that requires reliable partnerships.
• These and other lessons learned identified during the capitalization process can serve as a foundation for the further development of future programs in the building sector.

Further Information

• "SDC Climate, DRR & Environment Network website: Detailed information on capitalization (in English)
• SDC newsletter on capitalization (PDF)