As temperatures rise and heatwaves become more frequent, we are committed to accelerating the adaptation of cities to climate change.
Responding to Urban Heat Spikes : A Collective Responsibility
Climate change is profoundly transforming our relationship with urban environments. According to projections, some urban areas could experience heat peaks of up to 50°C in the coming years. In this context, sustainably adapting how we build and renovate is no longer optional, it is a necessity.
Launched during the Université de la Ville de Demain summit led by the Palladio Foundation, “Our Cities at 50°C” is a joint initiative by Seqens, CDC Habitat, and A4MT. It brings together public and private stakeholders, including local authorities, housing providers, developers, construction firms, and urban planners, to accelerate the adaptation of buildings and neighborhoods to the effects of climate change. The initiative is rapidly expanding and already includes major players such as Acorus, Altarea, Bouygues Immobilier, EPA Marne, Icade, Immobilière 3F, the City of Paris, VINCI Immobilier, RIVP, and Seqens Solidarités. A first group of expert contributors includes Béchu & associés, Carbone 4, Martin Duplantier Architectes, Cerema, LexCity Avocats, Pouget Consultants, Université Gustave Eiffel, IFPEB, OID, and CIBI.
The goal : make climate adaptation a reflex in every real estate project, whether new builds or renovations, by relying on concrete solutions and close collaboration between members. The collective aims to adapt 10% of housing in France and 30 million square meters of commercial property by 2030.
Our Off-Site Construction Expertise
By joining the “Our Cities at 50°C” collective, we are bringing our expertise in real estate development and off-site construction and renovation to a shared ambition: designing buildings adapted to extreme heat episodes, incorporating our comfort solutions while minimizing their environmental impact.
A Collaborative and Action-Oriented Approach
The “Our Cities at 50°C” collective works on several key areas:
- Supporting real estate projects led by its members, through decision-making tools and shared feedback
- Bringing together a multidisciplinary expert community of urban planners, architects, engineering firms, researchers, and businesses to build a shared culture of climate adaptation
- Hosting dedicated workshops
- Providing evolving decision-support tools
By joining this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to collective action, helping to evolve industry practices and contribute to cities that are more energy-efficient, cooler, and better prepared to face future climate challenges.
The ‘Our Cities at 50°C’ initiative fully aligns with GA Smart Building’s ambition to build sustainably. Our off-site industrial approach already helps reduce the carbon impact of buildings, improve thermal comfort in summer, and speed up their adaptation to tomorrow’s climate.
