Building for a Hotter Future: Smart Design Solutions to Cut Building Energy Use, Particularly in the Global South

Buildings in hot climate zones face unique challenges in reducing energy use and CO₂ emissions, especially as urbanization and population growth drive new construction. This study examines how different design choices and technologies can help make buildings more energy-efficient while keeping them comfortable in high temperatures. Using computer simulations, the researchers tested five building types—ranging from homes to offices—across five hot climate regions. They explored a mix of passive design strategies (like better windows, reflective roofs, and solar shading), active cooling systems, and renewable energy options to see which solutions had the greatest impact.

The results show that simple changes, such as improving windows and adding shading, can significantly reduce cooling needs. More advanced systems, like hybrid ventilation and decentralized cooling units, further improve efficiency, while solar energy solutions help offset electricity use. The study also found that climate change will increase cooling demand in the future, making energy-efficient design even more critical. Notably, residential buildings had the greatest potential for achieving low-carbon or even zero-carbon status, while offices and hotels posed greater challenges due to their higher energy use.

To turn these insights into action, the study highlights the need for stronger policies and building codes, particularly in the Global South, where energy-efficient design is less widely implemented. The findings provide a roadmap for decision-makers to develop strategies that balance affordability with sustainability. By combining modern technology with lessons from traditional architecture, buildings in hot climates can become more efficient, reducing emissions while improving comfort and resilience in a warming world.

Overview of building types showing floorplans and basic renderings.

Citation

Österreicher, D., & Seerig, A. (2024). Buildings in hot climate zones—Quantification of energy and CO₂ reduction potential for different architecture and building services measures. Sustainability, 16(22), 9812. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229812

How Saving Peat Swamps and Mangroves Can Help Fight Climate Change

Summary of Half of land use carbon emissions in Southeast Asia can be mitigated through peat swamp forest and mangrove conservation and restoration

Southeast Asia is losing huge amounts of peat swamp forests and mangroves, which store massive amounts of carbon and help fight climate change. When these ecosystems are cut down, burned, or drained, they release nearly half of the region’s land-use carbon emissions, making climate change worse. Scientists found that protecting and restoring these forests could cut emissions in half while also preserving wildlife, preventing floods, and supporting local communities. This makes them one of the most effective and natural solutions for reducing pollution and slowing global warming.

Big Idea:

Scientists found that almost half of the land-use carbon pollution in Southeast Asia comes from destroying peat swamp forests (PSFs) and mangroves. Protecting and restoring these ecosystems could cut emissions in half, helping the fight against climate change.

What’s Happening?

• Southeast Asia releases a lot of carbon pollution (about one-third of the world's land-use carbon emissions).
• Much of this pollution comes from cutting down or damaging peat swamp forests and mangroves.
• These forests store huge amounts of carbon, but when they are destroyed, they release that carbon into the air.

Fig. 1: Distribution of land uses replacing peat swamp forests (PSFs) and mangroves across Southeast Asia by 2022. See document for more details.

Where Is This Happening?

• The biggest polluters from land-use change are:
  • Indonesia (73%)
  • Malaysia (14%)
  • Myanmar (7%)
  • Vietnam (2%)

How Much Land Is Being Lost?

• Peat swamp forests are disappearing at a rate of about 240,000 football fields per year.
• Mangroves are disappearing at a rate of 16,600 football fields per year.
• This destruction is mostly caused by:
• Cutting down trees for plantations (like palm oil farms).
• Fires (some natural, some caused by humans).
• Draining land to make space for farms and fish ponds.

Mangroves. Photo by Muhammadh Saamy on Unsplash

Why Does This Matter?

• Peatlands and mangroves act like giant sponges for carbon. They soak up carbon from the air and keep it trapped in the soil.
• When they are burned, cut down, or drained, they release that carbon back into the atmosphere, which heats up the planet.
• Peat swamps store way more carbon than regular forests, so destroying them does more damage to the climate.

What Can Be Done?

• Stopping deforestation (cutting down trees) could cut emissions in half.
• Restoring peatlands and mangroves could remove nearly 100 million tons of CO₂ from the air each year.
• The best way to help? Rewet the land (stop draining the water) and let forests regrow naturally.

Why This Is Important for the Future

• If Southeast Asian countries protect and restore these forests, they could meet their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
• This could also protect wildlife, prevent floods, and support local communities.

The Bottom Line:

Saving peat swamps and mangroves is a simple and powerful way to slow down climate change. By stopping destruction and helping forests grow back, Southeast Asia could cut nearly half of its land-based carbon pollution, helping both people and the planet.

Sasmito, S.D., Taillardat, P., Adinugroho, W.C. et al. Half of land use carbon emissions in Southeast Asia can be mitigated through peat swamp forest and mangrove conservation and restoration. Nat Commun 16, 740 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55892-0 (open access)

The Climate Crisis and Human Health

Summary of: The climate crisis and human health: identifying grand challenges through participatory research 

What’s the Issue?

• Climate change is a major health threat—it’s making people sick in new ways and making existing health problems worse.
• Extreme weather like heatwaves, floods, and storms can lead to new diseases, mental health struggles, and food shortages.
• Poorer countries and small islands suffer the most, even though they contribute the least to climate change.
  

Why Is This a Problem?

• We’re focusing on reducing pollution (which is important), but we haven’t done enough to prepare for the health risks of climate change.
• People in high-risk areas need better healthcare and support to deal with the changes happening now and in the future.

What’s Being Done?

A group of organizations, including Grand Challenges Canada and Science for Africa, are working together to find solutions by listening to people on the front lines.

How Are They Doing This?

1. Global Climate & Health Survey

   • They’re asking doctors, nurses, and community health workers what climate-related health problems they see and what barriers exist.

2. Online Discussion Event (Teach to Reach 11)

   • Health workers from around the world will share their experiences and ideas in a virtual meeting.

3. Expert Review Panel

   • A team of climate and health experts will look at the results and create a list of the biggest challenges.

4. Sharing the Results

   • The list will be made public so that governments, researchers, and funders can use it to make real changes.
   • It will also help guide funding and new programs to improve health in climate-vulnerable areas.

Why This Matters?

• Climate change is already hurting people’s health—we need to act now.
• By listening to local health workers, we can find practical solutions that actually help communities.
• The goal is to get funding, policies, and innovations that protect people’s health from climate risks.

The climate crisis and human health: identifying grand challenges through participatory research

Sanchez, J JohannaBerry, Peter et al.

The Lancet Global Health, Volume 13, Issue 2, e199 - e200