Page 24 - Mapping the Nation: Taking Climate Action

Data for Decision: Transforming Facilities to Combat Climate Change At the heart of the climate crisis is what we refer to as our built environment. Our built world—buildings, roads, utilities— has altered the earth's climate in ways that are not amenable to life and the natural world. To realize a sustainable future, our focus should be the nourishment of all life and the environs required to sustain and support it. Buildings are responsible for more than 40 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the carbon costs incurred to create and transport materials, the construction process itself, and inefficient energy consumption during a building's life span. To effectively combat climate change and protect our planet, we must transform the way we 23