Climate resilient cities panel from Şişecam at COP31

Şişecam, a global player in the glass and chemicals industries, attended the COP31 Climate Summit held in Antalya between 9-20 November as a Climate Supporter. While Şişecam exhibited its innovative glass solutions that contribute to energy efficiency at the summit, it also discussed the role of buildings and high-performance glasses in the fight against climate change in a special panel attended by international experts.

At the summit, the company exhibited its innovative products that contribute to energy efficiency in buildings and hosted a high-level panel discussing the strategic role of glass in cities' fight against climate change.

In the panel titled "The Strategic Role of Glass in Climate Resilient Cities" moderated by Şişecam General Manager Can Yücel; How cities can be made more resilient in the face of increasing energy demand and climate risks, how energy consumption in buildings can be reduced, and the contributions that high-performance glass technologies can make in this transformation were evaluated.

The session also discussed climate-compatible building solutions, data-based renovation approaches and how these solutions can be disseminated through standards, financing mechanisms and public policies.

International Energy Agency (IEA) President Dr. In the panel where Fatih Birol was the guest of honor; Former UK Minister of Energy and Climate Change Claire O'Neill, T.R. Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change General Directorate of Professional Services Deputy General Manager Atila Erenler, EBRD Türkiye Infrastructure Vice President İdil Gürsel and METU Faculty of Architecture Faculty Member Prof. Dr. İpek Gürsel Dino shared her views.

One of the prominent topics of the panel was the results of the research conducted by Şişecam in cooperation with the Middle East Technical University Solar Energy Research and Application Center (METU-GÜNAM).

The research revealed that high-performance coated glasses can serve as an important lever for cities to achieve their 2050 climate goals by reducing the energy consumption of buildings. The findings of the study were shared with COP31 participants and the public for the first time.

HIGH PERFORMANCE GLASS SYSTEMS CAN PREVENT 13.1 MILLION TONS OF CARBON EMISSIONS IN ISTANBUL

Şişecam General Manager Can Yücel, who made the opening speech of the panel and emphasized that the climate crisis is a common responsibility that cannot be postponed, stated that reducing energy consumption as well as energy conversion is of great importance in order to achieve net zero targets.

Stating that Şişecam focuses on transforming the energy resources it uses in production into more sustainable alternatives, and on the other hand, reducing the energy needs of buildings with the high-performance glass technologies it develops, Yücel said that the study carried out in cooperation with METU-GÜNAM reveals with concrete data the impact that the right material selection can have on the city scale.

Pointing out that, according to the research results, if high-performance glasses become widespread in residences in Istanbul, 13.1 million tons of carbon emissions can be prevented by 2050, Yücel stated that with correct prioritization, the unit cost of carbon reduction can decrease to 11 Euros per ton.

Emphasizing that glass is no longer just a building material but also a technology that directly affects energy performance, Yücel said:

“These data clearly show that glass is a strategic solution element in the processes of cities decarbonizing and gaining resilience to climate change.

Turning this potential into reality is only possible with the strong cooperation of the public, private sector and academia. We can achieve climate targets at a lower cost and faster thanks to performance-oriented renovation programs, well-designed financing models and targeted incentive mechanisms. As Şişecam, we are ready to contribute to this joint transformation.”

FUTURE ENERGY AGENDA: COOLING

With the effect of global warming, cooling-related energy demand in Istanbul is expected to increase by 60 percent to 75 percent by 2050. This table reveals that energy efficiency in buildings is of critical importance not only in reducing carbon emissions, but also in strengthening the climate resilience of cities against increasing temperatures.

The research conducted by Şişecam in collaboration with METU-GÜNAM reveals with concrete data the role that high-performance glasses can play in this transformation. According to the remarkable findings of the study, the carbon emission reduction that can be achieved if high-performance coated glasses are widespread in residences in Istanbul;

•25-year carbon emissions of approximately 231 thousand houses,

•It creates an impact equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of approximately 2.8 million passenger cars.

Research results reveal that correct material choices and energy-efficient building solutions can serve as a powerful lever for cities to both achieve their climate goals and reduce the energy pressure caused by increasing cooling needs. It is pointed out that energy efficiency-oriented renovations, especially in the existing building stock, are one of the most important solution areas that can create high impact at low cost.