Net Zero Carbon Architecture, Affordable Housing And Clean Energy Access For Urban And Peri-urban Communities In Africa

By 2030, UN-Habitat estimates that 3 billion people will need access to adequate housing. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the housing deficit is over 160 million housing units and will surpass 230 million units by 2030 if business as usual prevails.
The building construction sector represents an estimated 40% of global energy consumption and around 30% of the global GHG emissions. Africa accounts for an estimated 6% of global energy demand, with more than half of this coming from modern buildings that are not adapted to local climate.
Despite Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, 567 million people are still without electricity. Additionally, of the 2.3 billion people worldwide who lack access to clean cooking, 910 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. Without accelerated progress, by 2030, 660 million people are projected to remain without electricity, and 1.9 billion people will continue to rely on polluting and unhealthy cooking fuels, with the majority located in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rationale of the Event
With 75% of Africa’s building stock that will exist in 2050 still to be constructed, there is an opportunity to use the building sector to address three major African challenges:
1. The climate crisis – by reducing drastically the carbon emissions in the building sector from: the selection of the building materials; the design of the building and its operation.
2. The housing crisis- by adopting new strategies for mass production of affordable and adequate housing to meet the growing demand, using locally available materials, innovative design and technologies.
3. The poverty crisis- by adopting labor intensive options in the building production value change where sourcing of nature-based building materials and the construction of housing can create millions of jobs.
Africa’s energy demand projected to triple by 2040 could be address by using the abundant untaped renewable sources. This requires heavy investment in the clean energy sector. Availability of energy will kickstart the industrialization, reduce the cost of production while creating jobs.
Objective of the Event
The event aims to explore and promote strategies for achieving net zero carbon architecture, expanding affordable housing and improving clean energy access in Africa. This will include discussions on :
• Innovative approaches to net zero carbon construction and passive building design that are adapted to African climates.
• Strategies for scaling up mass production of affordable and sustainable housing units.
• The role of renewable energy in meeting Africa’s growing energy demand and supporting socio-economic development.
The session will bring together stakeholders from different part of the world to explore options and solutions for access to adequate and affordable housing and energy.
Experts will share challenges, opportunities, best practices and lessons learned.
A platform on net Zero Carbon Architecture for Africa (NZCA4A) under construction will be presented