Quezon City transitions to clean construction

Buro Happold and C40 Cities have launched the fourth report in a series of Clean Construction deep dives. These reports support cities in resourcing efficient, net zero construction to deliver healthy, resilient and thriving urban communities.

The engineering, architecture and construction industry has a huge role to play in bringing about positive social, economic and environmental change. Almost 40% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to buildings and construction.

The built environment is therefore critical to addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency. We must unite as a sector to drive change. Failure to reduce the impact of construction in our cities poses a serious risk to the environment.

Clean Construction in our cities

As a result, C40 Cities launched its global Clean Construction Programme in 2019. The programme supports cities to mitigate the impact of construction, strengthen resilience to climate risks, and facilitate dialogue within the industry.

A series of deep dives into six cities around the world — developed in partnership with Buro Happold — take this one step further. The reports provide local, actionable advice to help city leaders make the case for Clean Construction. They also offer guidance for other cities around the world.  The deep dive for Quezon City, in the Philippines, is the fourth report in the series.

A green and equitable future for Quezon City

The Quezon City Government (QCG) has set ambitious climate action goals and is part of multiple national and international working groups focused on delivering bold climate action.

The QCG has developed a number of locally specific plans and commitments, such as the Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2050, which sets out a strategic framework and roadmap to build climate resilience, pursue carbon neutrality, and advance green economic development through inclusive and equitable climate action.

“With strong expertise in the retrofit of buildings and an effective (albeit informal) construction waste recycling system, Quezon City is primed for a Clean Construction transition. Having an extensive ability to use a range of hard and soft powers, the Quezon City Government is uniquely placed to lead such a transition.”

Fergus Anderson, Sustainability Associate at Buro Happold

Transitioning to Clean Construction

The construction sector is a major employer in Quezon City, across both the formal and informal sectors. Quezon City is grappling with a number of challenges linked to a growing population, climate resilience, informality and wealth inequality, a limited focus on preventative maintenance and an emerging skills gap in the construction sector.

However, the city is also home to a culture of reuse and retrofit, and has developed ambitious local building codes – albeit with limited uptake – that consider embodied carbon. Quezon City, and the Philippines more broadly, has significant experience in retrofit and refurbishment of buildings due to the country’s seismic risks.

In recent years, municipal buildings such as the high rise Quezon City Hall have been retrofit to strengthen the foundation and make them more resistant to seismic activity, the Department of Public Works and Highways has upgraded hundreds of structures across Metro Manila to reduce damage from climate-related events, and the Philippines Heritage Awards annually celebrates adaptive reuse; recognising projects that utilise buildings and other built-structures for purposes other than what they were intended originally.

Download the detailed policy infographic

How can Clean Construction support Quezon City?

Implementing policies that reduce carbon emissions from both building and infrastructure construction can support many social and environmental co-benefits, not just locally but also on a global scale.

The localised benefits of Clean Construction include:

• Designing new buildings and streets to accommodate increased climate risks, as well as undertaking retrofit and refurbishment today, will ensure the safety of current and future inhabitants of Quezon City to flooding and overheating, and protect the valuation of assets following these events.
• Adaptive reuse can retain community identity and foster local pride, whilst minimising disruption to local communities.
• Green and biodiverse spaces have also been found to provide mental and physical health benefits, reduce local crime rates, and increase land and property values.
• New industries for low carbon construction materials and waste processing will create jobs locally, and support the stabilisation of the informal sector, providing workers with stable sources of income and low-income communities with safer homes. 

The global benefits of Clean Construction include:

• Encouraging sustainable production and consumption practices
• Increasing citizen awareness of environmental and health issues
• Mitigating greenhouse gases and emissions
• Driving economic innovation, dynamism and competitiveness
• Fostering inclusive, just and transparent governance

“Extending the lifespan of buildings and developing build-sustainable supply chains can improve the quality of housing and build healthier communities. Our recommendations to raise awareness and knowledge of clean construction techniques will help establish secure, safe and just working conditions.”

Fergus Anderson, Sustainability Associate at Buro Happold

A sustainable future for our cities

All these positive outcomes are inextricably linked. To address the need for greater social and environmental justice, cities have a critical role to play in spearheading the vision and leadership needed to facilitate this transition.

The proposed Clean Construction policies for Quezon City will be applicable, to varying degrees, to all cities around the world.

Buro Happold and C40 are working with five other cities around the world to make the case for Clean Construction. This work forms part of the C40 Clean Construction Declaration. These cities have committed to reducing the embodied emissions associated with the construction of buildings and infrastructure by 50% by 2030.

More information about Clean Construction can be found on the C40 Knowledge Hub.

Download the report

Download the report