Edgar Pieterse: Without strict measures for developers, climate-resilient housing to remain unaffordable

Climate-resilient housing cannot be made affordable without strict penalties for developers, Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of the African Center for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town, said at a panel discussion as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

"Incentive mechanisms alone cannot overcome the affordable housing crisis amid climate challenges – the implementation of strict regulatory instruments for construction industry players is required. All stakeholders recognize the need to build affordable, climate-resilient, and energy-efficient housing, but there remains a virtually insurmountable contradiction between ensuring affordability and the transition to new building codes," emphasized Pieterse.

He also noted that until market participants feel a real impact on their profitability, none of them will be ready for genuine dialogue and constructive negotiations.