ABSTRACT
Scientists predict a future with more natural disasters due to climate change. Up-to-date building codes can reduce carbon emissions and make the built environment more resilient. However, the hostile environment for code adoption and lax enforcement in many jurisdictions in the United States impede the full potential of building codes to moderate the impacts of climate change. There are three ‘realpolitik’ reasons that building codes are not as effective as they could be in moderating the impacts of climate change. First, most building code review and approval boards are comprised of construction industry professionals who rarely take climate change into account. Second, the homebuilding industry is waging an effective advocacy campaign against updating building codes in general, particularly objecting to improved energy efficiency through building energy codes. Finally, enforcement of building codes, especially energy codes, is uneven. Overcoming these political and practical challenges requires greater activity in the areas of participation, pricing and policing. Interest groups and policy-makers must become more engaged in code advocacy. Price signals must internalize the costs imposed on society by damage from climate change. Finally, improving compliance and enforcement through training and additional resources should be a priority.
