CRTKL, a global cultural agency specializing in architecture, planning and design, has released an industry-leading annual sustainability report pledging that all projects will answer the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
CRTKL has outlined its commitments to developing projects that are planet-positive, promoting the 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), key drivers of sustainability in the region and adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. This commitment to the SDGs recognizes that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Preeti Mogali, Associate at CRTKL commented: “We are pleased to see the progress of the SDGs in the region and we are committed to driving reliable and sustainable solutions to the biggest issues of both today and the future. Countries in the Middle East have pledged to leave no one behind and the built environment will be significant in solving complex challenges as buildings are currently responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.”
Buildings are estimated to consume 50% of global materials and contribute to approximately half of global solid waste
“We have been carbon neutral since 2020, leading a planet-positive design revolution. At CRTKL, we adopt a human-centric approach to sustainable development and are at the forefront with our significant strides recognized through the AIA 2030 challenge, an actionable climate strategy that provides a set of standards and goals for reaching net-zero emissions in the built environment. We are proud to be forward-thinking and are using advanced digital design to empower people to live full, healthy lives and shape a better, more sustainable world,” he added.
Sustainability Mindset
CRTKL embeds a sustainability mindset into everything it does, influencing consumers to be more planet-positive. Resources in projects are used efficiently, providing for both immediate needs as well as long-term benefits to support all life on this planet and contribute to safe and affordable access to varied human needs in the community.
CRTKL has implemented climate-neutral operations since 2020, building on successes each year, and has pledged that all projects will be climate positive for operation by 2030 and extend to climate-positive materials by 2040. These ambitious goals take into consideration both operational and embodied carbon. Where operational carbon refers to the total carbon produced from all energy sources used to keep our buildings warm, cool, ventilated, lighted and powered; embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the mining, logging, harvesting, extracting, processing, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of all the materials that go into a building.
SDGs in the Middle East
The upcoming major UN-led environmental events in the Arab World, COP 27 in Egypt and COP 28 in UAE, will showcase the importance of SDGs for public and private stakeholders to build a healthy and prosperous future for the region. As momentum builds to build back better and support long-term growth, CRTKL is embedding sustainability in projects to protect the planet, improve health and increase resilience.
The annual sustainability report outlines the seven SDGs most applicable to CRTKL operations and the positive action taken in advance of the landmark UN events. These include good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities and a commitment to working in partnership for the goals.
This commitment to the SDGs recognizes that action in one area will affect outcomes in others
Reduced Carbon Footprint
CRTKL is mitigating the environmental impact of design projects as buildings are estimated to consume 50% of global materials and contribute to approximately half of global solid waste. CRTKL will continue to take climate action, and support the development of sustainable cities and responsible consumption.
The company is transparently tracking carbon calculations using the GHG Protocol, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard. Successes in 2021 for CRTKL include a reduction of electricity footprint by more than 30%, largely based on right-sizing selected office spaces based on hybrid work models and a paper carbon footprint reduction by over 60% based on reduced paper usage as digital communication became fully embedded.