How COVID-19 could raise the urgency for greening the built environment

COVID-19 has highlighted the issue of resource scarcity, thereby stressing the importance of self-sufficiency — and this is, in some ways, fulfilled in the concept of a net-zero energy building, stated UBS Asset Management in its “Going Green” paper. The paper focused on climate change and how that relates to real estate, but the principles of efficiency and proper stewardship of resources extend to the broader sustainability and ESG agenda, specifically in Asia Pacific.

Furthermore, the threat of food scarcity is once more coming to the fore as global supply chains shut down amid virus containment efforts. To this end, buildings can play a part too, with recent trends such as urban farms and rooftop gardens demonstrating the ability of these concrete and steel structures to also generate life-giving nourishment.

Introducing nature into the built environment is part of promoting health and well-being, bringing agriculture into cities and making urban areas more p