Klimafestival speakers call for a transformation of the construction sector
A total of around 3500 guests attended the 2nd BauNetz Heinze Klimafestival in Berlin.
The transformation of the construction industry requires a collaboration between politics, business and society.
Preserve existing buildings, avoid demolitions and conserve resources – These were the key messages at this year's Klimafestival for the construction revolution, which took place at STATION Berlin. Speakers included: Prof. Dr. Werner Sobek, Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Dr. Christine Lemaitre and Stefano Boeri They urgently called for a transformation of the construction sector. A total of approximately 3,500 visitors attended the event over the two days.
“In the future, we will need to build with less material in terms of the building materials used,” he explained. Prof. Dr. Werner Sobek In his presentation, Sobek explained that this means "maximizing the use of secondary building materials" to reduce transport-related emissions and conserve resources. He stated, "Within two generations, our resource consumption has almost quadrupled."
Together for a construction revolution
“With less material expenditure, we could achieve better and more sustainable solutions,” he also said. Dr. Christine Lemaitre In her speech “Together for a Construction Transformation” at the opening of the Klimafestival, the managing director of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) advocated for simplifying the currently used systems. However, she added: “Not everyone wants this transformation, because building elaborate structures is a good business model.” She noted that there is a powerful lobby that is deliberately trying to keep the issue complex.
Belinda RukschcioIn her presentation, the Vice Chair of the Federal Foundation for Building Culture called for greater attention to be paid to the issue of construction waste. "The potential for a construction revolution in this area is enormous," said Rukschcio. The amount of construction waste generated annually in Germany is theoretically equivalent to the material requirements for approximately 422,000 residential units. A functioning circular economy could therefore have a positive impact on the built environment.
In her presentation “Upgrading instead of demolition”, she spoke out Theresa KeilhackerThe president of the Berlin Chamber of Architects, advocated for the preservation of existing buildings. She argued that municipalities, in particular, far too often neglect these structures: "Settlements must be made in budgets for the upkeep of these buildings," she demanded. Otherwise, these properties will deteriorate, leaving only the environmentally damaging option of demolition.
Opening panel "Together for a construction revolution"
Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker He called for the establishment of a "climate foreign policy." Europe is the only continent that takes climate protection "somewhat seriously" through appropriate legislation. Efficient economic management in the sense of using energy and resources sparingly will no longer be sufficient in the future, the environmental scientist emphasized. "We must consistently switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy."
The Italian Architect Stefano Boeri In his closing lecture at the Klimafestival, he demonstrated how nature and urbanity can be united through innovative architecture. His concept of the "vertical forest" focuses on three key points: "Cities are responsible for 75% of global CO2 emissions," Boeri explained. "At the same time, they are the first victims of climate change, as 70% of cities are already suffering from its consequences, such as overheating."
Through urban greening and sustainable policies, cities could become the most important driving force in combating climate change. Boeri calculated that his high-rise complexes, planted with trees and shrubs, would save up to 30 tons of CO2 per year, promote biodiversity in cities, and absorb dust particles from the air. There are already twelve "Vertical Forest" towers worldwide, with 40 more in the planning stages, according to Boeri. In Germany, there are corresponding plans for Göttingen.
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Photos: Heinze GmbH, Marcus Jacobs / Offcsreen Oliver Zeipelt
Video: Offscreen