Definition of the required carbon budget for operational energy of buildings in Switzerland until 2050

Abstract

In the context of a rapidly changing climate, buildings and construction activities play a crucial role when transitioning towards carbon neutrality. Avoiding higher than desired temperature increase comes with globally permitted emissions, known as a global budget. This global budget is disintegrated and allocated to the buildings and construction activities of Switzerland. Current carbon budget expenditure is quantified, to define the status quo. Later, two scenarios of future carbon budget expenditure are developed and compliance with carbon budgets is discussed. Both of the scenarios fail to meet the 1.5°C carbon budget. The 2°C carbon budget is met by the unconventional scenario. Furthermore, the conventional scenario can meet the given threshold of 2°C carbon budget by 2050; however, operational and embodied emissions persist; thus the conventional scenario does not comply with 2°C carbon budget in the long-term.