Page 13 - BENTLEY SYSTEMS PR REPORT - JANUARY 2024

1/10/24, 3:34 PM The case for decarbonising the built sector
The built sector contributes between 45 to 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions
of which construction plays a huge part. A new report published by McKinsey & Company

and the World Economic Forum suggests that the construction sector’s carbon dioxide

emissions – from building to real estate to infrastructure – can be reduced by up to 75 per

cent by 2050 through the establishment of a circular economy.

This means the built sector will be able to shed upto 4 gigatons of carbon dioxide in the

next three decades through efficient and sustainable operations and business models.

The report notes that circularity will create substantial economic advantages, with the

potential to yield an annual net profit gain of up to $46bn by 2030 and $360bn by 2050. To

talk about the challenges and opportunities that decarbonisation presents to the global built
environment, Gulf Business spoke to Rodrigo Fernandes, director of ES(D)G,

Bentley Systems . Here are excerpts from the conversation:

Q: Why were you at COP28?

Our presence at COP is pivotal as Bentley

Systems specialises in creating software solutions

for infrastructure design, construction, and
operation. With infrastructure contributing to 79

per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions,

there’s a profound responsibility on professionals

to decarbonise and climate-proof infrastructure.
Our focus here is to leverage our technology to

expedite this process. We aim to support a clean

energy transition in three key areas: enhancing Image credit: Supplied
production, optimising delivery, and promoting

energy efficiency.

Additionally, we see technology as a catalyst for enabling climate adaptation, especially

concerning water-related challenges. Our belief is that by emphasising infrastructure

intelligence and data-centric approaches, particularly through digital twins, we can
significantly enhance how we design, build, and operate infrastructure.

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