The Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024, hosted by the Green Building Council Nigeria (GBCN), took place from July 17 to July 19, 2024, at Lagos, Nigeria. This summit, co-located with the World GBC Africa Regional Network’s Africa Green Building Summit, aimed to advance the conversation on sustainable urban development across Nigeria and the broader African continent. This remarkable event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, urban planners, and innovators to advance sustainable urban development across Nigeria and Africa. Litedares Consult Limited was proud to be both a sponsor and an exhibitor at this prestigious summit.
Event Highlights – Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024
Theme: Building Resilient Futures: Integrating Carbon Neutrality, Circular Economy & Inclusive Urban Development.
The focus was on strategies to reduce carbon emissions and enhance resilience in housing and community adaptation. Also to promote circular economy principles and conserve water. And also to improve health and equity in urban environments, with a strong emphasis on EDGE Certifications in building standards and sustainable green buildings. Noteworthy sessions included:
- Keynote Addresses and Plenary Sessions:
- Distinguished speakers set the stage with visions of Africa’s urban future.
- Expert-led plenary sessions discussed various facets of sustainable urban development. This is with an emphasis on carbon neutrality, resource circularity, and inclusive development.
2. Interactive Breakout Sessions:
- Sessions stimulated in-depth dialogue on localizing policy formulations encapsulated in the World GBC’s Africa Manifesto and its Global Policy Principles.
- One notable session, “Building Codes: Setting New Norms in African Construction,” moderated by Adv. Trudy Muwanga emphasized the need to localize and democratize sustainability principles within the African context
3. Exhibitions and Product Expos:
- The summit featured exhibitions showcasing the latest innovations in green building practices, sustainable products, and services.
4. Networking and Collaboration:
- The summit provided a platform for experts and stakeholders, including property developers, policymakers, urban planners, and industry leaders. Furthermore, this platform is for them to share knowledge and collaborate on sustainable urban futures across Africa.
5. GBCN Youth Empowerment Exchange Presentations
Some of the project topics are:
- Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Materials
- Advanced Recycling and Waste Management Solutions for Urban Areas, with Lagos State as a case study
- Conceptualizing Smart Cities for Sustainable Urban Development, providing an innovative blueprint for transforming an existing Nigerian city into a smart city
- Creating a Nouveau Green Infrastructure to tackle the nation’s issues of heat, flooding, and biodiversity enhancement.
Key Lessons Learnt from Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024
- Economic Impact of Green Standards: The main benefit of green buildings is the significant impact on the buildings’ commercial lifecycle, with over 85% of costs attributed to lifecycle running costs. Adoption of green standards like IFC EDGE, which requires a minimum 20% reduction in energy, water, and material measures. This can greatly reduce operating expenses
- Implementation of Green Products: Green products are successfully being implemented in Africa. This includes gas-powered biofuel generators, heat exchange chillers, and motion control sensors to reduce lighting costs. However, challenges include high costs of financing and importation, lack of government-driven green regulations and incentives, and foreign exchange fluctuations
- Starting with Passive Design Measures: Passive design measures, such as green roofs, can achieve cost savings through improved energy efficiency and decreased renewable energy investments. These should be the starting point for any green building initiative.
- Educational Programs and Certifications: Various universities offer independent sustainability programs focused on the built environment. Collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of certification standards such as IFC EDGE are crucial for further progress. You can read our previous post on the different green building certifications.
- Public-Private Partnerships and Grassroots Advocacy: Successful public-private partnerships, such as solar power projects, showcase the importance of collaboration. Grassroots advocacy is essential as it involves a key portion of the total real estate assets on the continent. Capacity building and skills acquisition are needed to achieve the appropriate environmental impact.
- Government and Policy Support: The importance of political support and government-driven initiatives was emphasized, with calls for incentives and policies to encourage the adoption of green building practices. Partnerships with organizations like the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) are exploring green regulations and tax incentives
Reflections and Appreciation
Participating in the summit was an enriching experience. We connected with industry leaders, shared innovative ideas, and explored groundbreaking solutions for a sustainable future. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the directors, members, speakers, innovation partners, sponsors, and all attendees for making this event a resounding success.
Special thanks to the directors, members, speakers, innovation partners, sponsors, and all attendees for their contributions to making the event a success. As Asaf Carmiel of Narida Ltd. stated, “Green building is the new normal,” and Engr. Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, Permanent Secretary of the Nigeria Ministry of Energy, emphasized the need to partner with governments to “Move the Movement.”
The Impact
The Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024 was a memorable event. The summit connected with great minds and heard the valuable ideas of various stakeholders. The collective insights and lessons learnt underscore the need for a holistic approach to building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments across Africa. Litedares Consult Limited, as a sponsor and exhibitor, remains committed to advancing these principles and fostering sustainable urban development in Nigeria and beyond. We look forward to the continued growth and adoption of sustainable practices in the built environment, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for all. Schedule a consultation with us today.
Special Quotes from the Summit:
- “Green building is the new normal!” – Asaf Carmiel, Narida Ltd.
- “It’s essential to partner with governments to ‘Move the Movement’.” – Engr. Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, Permanent Secretary, Nigeria Ministry of Energy, Lagos.
Together, let’s build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for Africa.
