https://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/paris.jpg450800Jon Lovellhttps://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hillbreak-green.pngJon Lovell2016-04-05 15:47:302016-05-06 11:21:56Summary of ULI Event: Implications of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Jon Lovell sets out his thoughts on the implications of the Paris Agreement on climate change for the real estate industry. He asks what difference the Agreement will make to business as usual and what are the implications that developers, asset owners, occupiers and funders should be preparing themselves for.
Article published originally in, and reproduced here with the permission of, www.europroperty.com.
https://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/implications-of-paris-deal-on-climate-change.jpg6531280Jon Lovellhttps://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hillbreak-green.pngJon Lovell2016-02-01 10:01:452016-05-06 10:56:37Global Warming – It’s Paris or Bust!
COP21 Paris 2015, UN Climate Change Conference Logo
Last week at COP 21 in Paris, governments of the world united in action on climate change by adopting the Paris Agreement, the first universal, legally binding climate deal. This agreement will spur a transformation of global growth and development and open the door to a low-carbon, stable, sustainable future.
Today, major cities, regions, investors and companies from around the globe representing 150 million people and US$11 trillion promised to quickly and effectively help implement the Paris Agreement and accelerate the transformative changes needed to meet the climate change challenge.
L’Appel de Paris, or the Paris Pledge for Action, is a call to action in support of the Paris Agreement which brings together a multitude of voices on an unprecedented scale within a single, collective statement:
“We welcome the adoption of a new, universal climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris, which is a critical step on the path to solving climate change. We pledge our support to ensuring that the level of ambition set by the agreement is met or exceeded.”
This landmark pledge is a clear signal that the message sent by the negotiations has been received loud and clear and that cities, regions, business, investors and other non-state actors are now ready and willing to stand shoulder to shoulder, alongside governments, to implement the terms of the agreement. This is our best opportunity to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius and raise ambition even before the agreement takes effect in 2020.
L’Appel de Paris has already been signed over 400 businesses, 120 investors, 150 cities and regions representing 150 million people and US$11 trillion.
Initial signatories include businesses such as Hillbreak, Unilever, Acciona, Allianz, Coca Cola Enterprises, Generali, KPMG, Legal & General Investment Management, Braskem, Tata, Kellog’s, and Mars; cities such as Los Angeles, Johannesubrg, and Addis Abeba; and regions such as Cross River State (Nigeria), and Chiapas (Mexique).
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said: “COP21 was a landmark, and not just for the Paris Agreement by governments. The extraordinary momentum witnessed before and during the UN conference by cities, provinces, regions, companies and citizens was also a hallmark”.
“The Paris Pledge for Action is about taking that momentum to the next level in support of nations as they work towards raising ambition up to 2020 and well beyond—it is about building ever more support by non-state actors who are aligning with government policy as never before, “she added.
The pledge is an initiative of the COP21 French Presidency and uniquely incorporates under one roof a diverse range of entities that are already committed to quickly mitigate emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These non-state actors include members of the Under 2 MOU, the White House Act on Climate Pledge, the Montreal Carbon Pledge, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) Initiative, the We Mean Business ‘Road to Paris’ initiatives, the Paris City Hall Declaration, ICLEI and many more. The pledge is open to more signatories and will spread around the world. All non-state actors are invited to join this call to action in support of the Paris Agreement.
Jon Lovell, Co-Founder of Hillbreak, said: “Let no-one pretend that COP21 wasn’t an unprecedented achievement for international diplomacy. To unite 195 countries from all parts of the world in this way is unprecedented. But at the same time, let no-one be under the illusion that L’Appel de Paris guarantees our climate safety; far from it. It is now incumbent on all of us to translate the Agreement into a surge of investment and action, and to continue to push for strengthened commitments and policies from Nation States and municipalities.”
About L’Appel de Paris
L’Appel de Paris (Paris Pledge for Action) brings together hundreds of non-state actors from across the globe in support of Paris Agreement on climate change. The Paris Pledge for Action is an initiative of the COP21 French Presidency managed by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
https://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/eiffel-tower.jpg531800Miles Keepinghttps://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hillbreak-green.pngMiles Keeping2015-12-16 16:56:002016-05-06 10:38:51Hillbreak Adds Voice To Paris Pledge For Action
Today in Paris, the role of buildings in tackling climate change took centre-stage in the first ever #BuildingsDay at a Conference of the Parties (COP). Given that carbon emissions resulting from the use of energy in the construction and occupation of buildings accounts for nearly half of global emissions, it is clear that the building sector, in all its forms and across the entire value chain, has a pivotal role to play.
As well as advocating more intelligent and effective policies to drive the decarbonisation of the sector, building owners, occupiers and developers – as well as their supply chain partners – are beginning to demonstrate ever greater leadership by delivering projects and outcomes that go beyond policy requirements.
We say, all power to them! The more leadership they display, and the more they can prove the business and economic benefits of better performing buildings, the more confidence governments will have to hold their nerve on stretching regulatory trajectories to force the laggards in the industry to up their game.
https://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/green-and-blue-facade-hillbreak-postcard.jpg720960Jon Lovellhttps://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hillbreak-green.pngJon Lovell2015-12-03 09:47:352017-12-05 19:40:11Leadership from COP21 Buildings Day
Jon Lovell today presented to the Building Energy Symposium in Lisbon, Portugal. He illustrated how a range of global megatrends are coalescing to create a new operating environment, with associated risks and opportunities, for the commercial real estate market, and for cities.
https://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/lisbon.jpg533800Jon Lovellhttps://www.hillbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/hillbreak-green.pngJon Lovell2015-11-25 22:25:232016-05-06 11:24:22Shaping the Future – Key Trends in the Real Estate Sector
We have written before about the massive significance of the upcoming climate negotiations (COP21) in Paris this December. This could be – and must be – a vital turning point in the global battle against climate change.
As part of the World Green Building Council‘s “Collective Commitment”, we are proud to have joined forces with the UK-GBC and many of its Members, as well as organisations around the world, in making our own #climatepledge.
In particular, our #climatepledge supports the inaugural “Buildings Day” at COP21 on 3rd December. Organised through the UN, Buildings Day is designed to help put the buildings and construction sector on a “below 2°C path”. A whole range of commitments are expected to be published, from an unprecedented number of partner organisations who are collaborating for maximum impact.
Our #ClimatePledge
Hillbreak aims to educate at least 200 people per year between 2015-2020, from global Executives to students and graduates, on the business imperatives of tackling climate change. That’s a minimum of 1,000 people in total.
Our Founders, Jon Lovell & Miles Keeping, commit to providing no less than one day per month of pro-bono time to industry efforts to address climate change and related environmental imperatives. That’s 60 days, or two months, each over the next five years.
On the scale of deals to be done, the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris will be massive. At stake is the survival of the planet: everyone will be winners or everyone will be losers. And in the nature of all mega deals, there are some big beasts who will be doing the deal making, with the USA and China taking centre stage.
In the past, these two countries have held-up progress. But at times like this we need to be prepared to rip up history and try something new. From climate policy positions recently announced, it seems that the USA and China are prepared to do so. Barack Obama claimed this week to have fired “the starting gun for an all-out climate push” by demanding carbon emission cuts.
For his part, Li Keqiang has recently promised even deeper emissions cuts and greater reliance on non-fossil fuels than his green energy policy proposed just last year.
It is interesting to compare the approach of these two economic behemoths with that of the UK. David Cameron has promised to push for a strong global climate deal in Paris. Of course, actions speak louder than words.We only have to look to the gap between UK pre-election policy and post-election actions to see how things can unravel.
A rowing back on onshore wind power generation, reduction in green energy feed-in-tariffs and scrapping the zero carbon buildings promise spring to mind.
And in their place? Nothing – bar tumbleweed – and the promise of a “review” at some future point. This week DECC tweeted their praise for Obama’s climate leadership – at least they know where to look for it.
These actions have ramifications, certainly for our ability to combat climate change but also for our ability to invest in sustainable futures. With a slippery approach to green policy making, it is difficult to make the necessary investment in sustainable approaches to business. Thankfully, the best businesses – particularly those in the property sector (and corporates delivering sustainability through property management) – seem to realise that they must show real leadership in sustainability if they are to succeed. Look at Microsoft and BT reducing emissions and saving money by pricing carbon. See General Motors saving a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon and $287m each year through better logistics. Watch as Samsung Construction increases sales profits by responding to consumer demand for green products.
We can only hope that our political leaders adopt a similar approach in Paris if we are to have winners rather than losers.
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