Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubai Ngubane; (Jeffrey Abrahams)
The built environment industry – man-made structures that people use in their daily lives – needs to change the way it operates to adapt to the effects of climate change, says Human Settlements Minister Mamoloko Kubai.
Speaking on the indaba at the Black Business Council in the Built Environment on Friday, Kubai said changing the way industries are built will help reduce carbon emissions in the country.
South Africa is widely known as the continent's most carbon emitter. Kubai said the built environment could play a role in reducing emissions. “The products we currently use are said to have high emissions and we need to do our part to reduce them,” she said.
Kubai said it is important for the industry to move quickly to innovative building technologies that are resilient to climate change while remaining affordable for more vulnerable communities.
“As storms become more intense, bricks and mortar fall on people, sometimes killing them. To adapt to the future in terms of climate-resilient buildings, we need to develop innovative building technologies. “You can't run away from the fact that there is,” she said.
Kubayi added that the built environment industry also has a responsibility to prioritize sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of buildings. This includes responsibly sourcing materials, reducing waste during construction, and implementing energy efficient design to minimize ongoing environmental impact.
He said Black business leaders have innovative ways to address concerns posed by climate change and help disadvantaged communities affected by climate-related weather disasters sustainably rebuild their homes. said it was necessary to do so.
“Now, the question I always ask is, are we ready for this movement? Because if we don't position ourselves for it, we're going to be left behind. If we don't do this, then this… People from previously disadvantaged communities will be left behind,” she said.
Mr. Kubai emphasized the importance of governments, industry stakeholders and local communities working together to develop integrated solutions to address environmental and social challenges.
He said the industry needed to prepare for the changes coming to the industry by considering the use of fire-resistant coatings in bushfire-prone areas such as the Western Cape and Northern Cape.
He added that the market needs more suppliers to provide materials to builders. “There is currently a shortage of suppliers on the market, which is also impacting the delivery of homes being rebuilt after climate disasters,” she said.
Mr Kubai said that to address the shortage, the government will promote cooperation between the private and public sectors in the housing sector, which will be supported by the upcoming policy framework that will be implemented in this area.
These collaborations will support the rapid rebuilding and placement of housing for people displaced by climate-related disasters.
Kubai said the initiative includes amendments from the national treasury to ensure a more efficient process for private entities to engage in partnership with the government on human settlements and housing.
He said the upcoming public procurement bill would prioritize localization, outline transformational objectives and emphasize the importance of regulatory compliance in the housing sector.
“The Human Settlements White Paper will encourage amendments to housing laws and other relevant laws related to human settlements,” she said.
