Digital Twins: A Key Topic at COP29 and Their Role in Climate Action for Buildings

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, underscored the urgent need for transformative solutions to tackle climate challenges. Among the key technologies discussed, digital twins emerged as a critical tool for advancing climate adaptation, resilience, and decarbonisation efforts—especially in the context of the built environment.

Digital twins, dynamic digital replicas of physical assets, are revolutionising how we design, manage, and optimise buildings. By integrating real-time data, predictive analytics, and advanced modelling, digital twins offer unparalleled opportunities to support the key actions outlined at COP29.

How Digital Twins Align with COP29 Priorities

1. Climate Finance Commitments: Ensuring Impactful Investments

The commitment of $300 billion annually by developed nations for climate finance creates a vital opportunity to optimise building investments. Digital twins can:

• Maximise ROI: Demonstrate the long-term savings and emissions reductions achievable through energy-efficient retrofits or renewable energy integration.

• Guide green financing: Provide precise data to justify investments in sustainable building projects, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Accelerate project implementation: Use real-time insights to prioritise high-impact upgrades, reducing the risk of delays and inefficiencies.

2. Carbon Market Mechanisms: Accurate Emissions Tracking and Reporting

The COP29 agreement on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, establishing international carbon markets, depends on accurate emissions data. Digital twins enable:

• Precise carbon tracking: Monitor building emissions in real time, ensuring compliance with market-based mechanisms.

• Validation of carbon credits: Provide transparent, verifiable data to support emissions reductions through energy efficiency measures.

• Simulations for offsets: Model the impact of renewable energy systems or other offsets on overall carbon footprints.

3. Adaptation and Resilience Initiatives: Strengthening Vulnerable Communities

COP29 emphasised adaptation strategies, particularly for vulnerable regions. Digital twins can help in the built environment by:

• Planning resilient infrastructure: Simulate extreme weather impacts, such as flooding or heatwaves, to design buildings that can withstand climate-related stresses.

• Improving disaster preparedness: Predict vulnerabilities in building systems and create contingency plans to minimise disruptions during emergencies.

• Supporting least developed countries (LDCs): Offer accessible modelling tools to guide the development of climate-resilient urban infrastructure.

4. Health and Climate Coalition: Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

The formation of the COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health highlights the intersection of climate action and public health. Digital twins support these goals by:

• Optimising IEQ: Monitor and improve air quality, temperature, and humidity to create healthier indoor environments.

• Reducing energy consumption: Balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort, minimising emissions without sacrificing health standards.

• Tracking health outcomes: Use real-time data to measure the impact of building upgrades on occupant well-being.

Why Buildings Are Central to Climate Action

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, making them a critical focus for climate initiatives. Digital twins address key challenges in the sector by:

• Driving energy efficiency: Reduce operational emissions through real-time energy management and predictive maintenance.

• Facilitating net-zero buildings: Support the design and operation of buildings that produce as much energy as they consume.

• Reducing lifecycle emissions: Optimise material selection and waste management during construction, operation, and decommissioning phases.

Case Example: Digital Twins in Action

Resilient Urban Planning in Coastal Cities

A major urban development used digital twins to model rising sea levels and storm surges, redesigning its drainage and flood mitigation systems. This effort reduced the city’s vulnerability to climate risks while increasing property value for building owners.

Energy-Efficient Retrofitting in Commercial Buildings

An office complex used digital twins to simulate the integration of solar panels and HVAC upgrades, reducing energy costs by 25% and cutting carbon emissions by 18% annually.

Digital Twins: A Call to Action

The discussions at COP29 highlighted the transformative potential of digital twins in addressing climate challenges. By integrating this technology into building strategies, nations, industries, and communities can:

• Accelerate decarbonisation efforts.

• Enhance climate resilience.

• Improve health outcomes and equity in urban spaces.

As we prepare for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, digital twins must remain at the forefront of climate action, offering scalable, impactful solutions for a sustainable future.

Are you ready to leverage the power of digital twins to drive climate action in your buildings?