A Climate-Responsive Green Building Framework for Ghana: Integrating Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to develop a comprehensive framework for implementing climate-responsive green building practices in Ghana that effectively integrates mitigation and adaptation strategies. The objectives are: to develop a multi-level implementation framework that bridges policy intentions with practical applications, providing clear pathways for adopting green building practices across different building types and scales in Ghana; and to validate the proposed framework through stakeholder engagement and expert evaluation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research design was based on qualitative and non-probability techniques used to gather information for the study, and the sample size was 17. The interviews were conducted face-to-face or online. This study also used a narrative style to analyse the data. Findings: The study found that despite the country's efforts, there was limited or no coordination between the various players in the Built environment and other sectors of the economy, resulting in the non-existence of a long-term national strategy for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The paper thus focuses on the need for Ghana to incorporate the Green Building concept as one of its climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Research Limitation: This study is limited to how policy interventions toward climate change mitigation and adaptation can significantly help to improve energy and material use efficiency, conservation drive, and end-use wastage. Practical Implication: Thus, developing a national strategy for green building construction has the potential benefit of helping to mitigate climate change challenges. Social Implication: Educating policymakers on the potential benefits of adopting the Green Building Concept and developing an effective cross-cutting communication strategy to educate the citizenry on the benefits derived from the Green Building Concept as a low-hanging fruit towards GHG mitigation. Originality/Value: This study innovatively explores how traditional Ghanaian building techniques and materials can be incorporated into modern green building practices.