Just two months after the launch of BGBC's Framework for Climate Adaptive Buildings (FCAB), the topic returned to the headlines through a second wave of entirely organic media coverage.
As Belgium experienced another summer marked by extreme heat, journalists increasingly turned to BGBC for expertise on the relationship between climate change, overheating risks and the resilience of the built environment. The renewed media attention demonstrated that climate adaptation is no longer a niche sustainability topic, but an increasingly urgent societal and economic challenge.
International and national media explored how Belgium's ageing building stock struggles to cope with rising temperatures, the health impacts of overheating and the growing need for climate-resilient renovation strategies. Across these stories, BGBC helped bring attention to the practical steps that can reduce vulnerability to heatwaves and improve long-term resilience.
Read the coverage:
- The New York Times – Belgium's heatwave challenge
- De Morgen – Belgium as a warning for Europe
- Le Soir – Why is Belgium performing so poorly during heatwaves?
- Batibouw – Millions of Belgian homes are not ready for tomorrow's heat
The fact that climate-adaptive buildings continued to generate media attention weeks after the FCAB launch is an encouraging signal. It shows that awareness is growing and that stakeholders are increasingly looking for practical solutions to help buildings withstand future climate conditions.
At BGBC, we see this continued attention as further confirmation that climate adaptation must become an integral part of Belgium's building and renovation agenda. Through the FCAB, we will continue to work with our members and partners to support the transition towards buildings that are not only low-carbon, but also resilient, healthy and future-proof.