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The climate emergency poses a significant threat to our vision of a world where everyone has an adequate, safe and secure home within a thriving community. Its impacts are most severe for those in vulnerable housing situations, as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation disproportionately affect the poorest communities.
Addressing this crisis requires urgent action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards a net-zero society. Improving the energy efficiency of homes and implementing measures to mitigate climate impacts are essential steps. Central to these efforts is placing people and communities at the heart of climate action, ensuring an inclusive transition that leaves no one behind. At World Habitat, we are committed to supporting this journey towards zero-carbon housing.
Through our World Habitat Awards, we have recognised over 250 innovative housing projects worldwide that provide sustainable solutions to the climate emergency. The following featured initiatives exemplify the transformative power of community-driven approaches to carbon reduction and climate resilience:
CARBON REDUCTION /MITIGATION
Energiesprong
Revolutionising Home Retrofitting
Europe and North America
Energiesprong employs prefabricated insulated wall and roof panels alongside smart green technologies to retrofit homes. These upgrades can be completed in just 7 to 10 days, achieving a remarkable 70-80% reduction in a building’s energy consumption.
Originating in the Netherlands, this approach is now transforming social housing across Europe and North America.
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Nubian Vault housing programme
A roof, a skill, a market
The Sahel
Reviving ancient Egyptian techniques, this project uses sun-dried mud bricks to construct vaulted roofs, replacing unsuitable materials commonly used in the Sahel region. Local communities receive training, leading to employment opportunities and improved living standards. The resulting structures have minimal carbon emissions and are resilient to climate impacts. Learn More
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Affordable low energy homes
United States of America
This initiative offers permanent, year-round housing to agricultural workers in California. It is the first multifamily affordable rental development in the U.S. to receive the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes certification. The project features a ‘positive-net energy system, producing more energy than residents consume, with excess energy fed back into the grid. Residents benefit from significant cost savings and opportunities for personal development through various programs. They also gain skills and confidence through a range of opportunities, and new leaders have emerged from the community who now work to advocate for the rights of agricultural workers. Learn More.
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ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE
UrbaSEN and the Senegalese Federation of Inhabitants:
Empowering communities against flooding
Senegal
This collaborative program enables residents, particularly women, to pool savings and access loans for home improvements. By 2022, 50 female members were elected to city councils, up from 12 in 2014, and over 8,000 homes have been upgraded, enhancing community resilience to climate-induced flooding
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Integrating DARAJA (Developing Risk Awareness through Joint Action)
The Inclusive City-Community Forecasting and Early Warning Service
Kenya and Tanzania
DARAJA provides accessible, reliable weather information and response strategies to communities, leading to reduced climate-related losses and increased household preparedness. Since its 2018 launch, nearly 1 million people have benefited from improved information about storms, floods, and heatwaves. The service is expanding to other countries with the goal of reaching 1 billion people by 2030. Learn More
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Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH Pakistan)
Integrating local knowledge with technology for disaster management.
Pakistan
In the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, AKAH Pakistan combines local and scientific knowledge to conduct hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessments. This approach has led to the development of disaster management plans, safer building practices, and the construction of shelters for internally displaced people, significantly enhancing community resilience. Learn More
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These examples demonstrate the profound impact of community-led housing solutions in combating the climate emergency, and creating sustainable, resilient neighbourhoods worldwide.