Glossary

Built environment

Buildings, infrastructure and the spaces that connect them.

Built environment decarbonisation

Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment by improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, switching to renewable energy supplies, and reducing the climate footprint of construction materials.

Built environment resilience

Measures to strengthen the resilience of buildings and infrastructure to the impact of climate-related events such as flooding, extreme heat, and sea level rise.

Just transitions

For the purpose of this project, just transitions refer to climate actions that:

  • Are ecologically-conscious as well as supportive of societal development within planetary boundaries, and;

  • Ensure the benefits of such shifts are equally spread and enjoyed, and that costs are not borne by traditionally excluded or marginalised groups.

Workers’ rights

Freedom of association and collective bargaining, social dialogue in transition processes, no forced or child labour, no discrimination, and a safe and healthy working environment, to apply on site and throughout supply chains.

Right to housing

“the right to live in a home in peace, security, and dignity, which includes security of tenure, availability of services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, appropriate location, and cultural adequacy”.

Spatial justice

Refers to the principles of equality and non-discrimination applied to space. Spatial justice is defined as “fair and equitable distribution in space of socially valued resources and the opportunities to use them”, and an even development, free of biases imposed on certain populations because of their geographical location.

Participation

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognises the right to participate in public affairs. This UN-recognised right to participation, when applied to the built environment, relates to the concept of the right to the city proposed by philosopher Henri Lefebvre who argues people should be able to take part in, appropriate, and shape the built environment they inhabit and use. Therefore, it is “not merely a right of access to what already exists, but a right to change it”.