As African nations rush to accommodate their burgeoning populations with new housing, the construction industry confronts material shortages and underinvestment, hindering efforts to foster sustainability. The ongoing building boom offers a golden opportunity to propel Africa’s transition towards clean energy by embracing eco-friendly design techniques and materials to mitigate the environmental impact of construction.
An estimated 70% of Africa’s buildings by 2040 are yet to be erected, underscoring the significance of implementing greener practices such as using renewable materials and reducing energy consumption in buildings. Such measures could not only combat climate change but also enhance resilience against its adverse effects, including heightened droughts, storms, and floods across the continent.
However, Nigerian architect Eshemokhai Akpene’s experience underscores the challenges. When tasked with designing 60 condominium units in a Lagos suburb, Akpene encountered difficulties sourcing sustainable materials locally, resorting to importing timber frames from Indonesia, significantly inflating the project’s budget.
“Most of the green building materials are imported from overseas, so it is just not a viable option for real estate developers,” lamented Akpene, citing a shortage of local expertise and insufficient production by West African loggers.
Despite Africa contributing less than 4% of global emissions, the construction sector globally accounts for nearly 40% of carbon emissions. To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a radical transformation in building design, construction, and operation is imperative.
Caitlin Wale, founder of African climate tech accelerator Kinjani, highlighted Africa’s potential to innovate at scale, leveraging its demographic dividend and abundant natural resources to develop new green building materials. She emphasized the need for Africa to forge its path rather than mimic traditional approaches from more developed regions.
In Nigeria, with a projected population nearing 400 million by 2050 and a housing deficit of approximately 28 million units, there’s a pressing need for sustainable solutions. Ayodele Arigbabu of the Nigerian Institute of Architects advocated for a return to indigenous building practices that utilize locally-sourced materials, which are better suited to the region’s climate.
While there are indigenous innovations, such as using mining waste and biochar as substitutes for cement, financing remains a challenge. Wale called for diverse funding mechanisms, including development grants and private investments, to support green startups.
Experts emphasize the critical role of government intervention, advocating for mandatory building codes and procurement policies favoring green alternatives. By investing in sustainable practices and materials, governments can catalyze industry-wide adoption while assuaging concerns about safety and reliability.
In India, for instance, government initiatives promoting environmentally-friendly cement variants demonstrate the potential impact of regulatory support. Akpene echoed the sentiment, urging Nigeria’s government to incentivize local production of energy-efficient building materials through tax incentives.
As Africa stands at the precipice of unprecedented urbanization and infrastructure development, the adoption of sustainable practices in construction is not merely an environmental imperative but also a pathway to inclusive and resilient development.
