From Paris to Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh
In 2015, the Paris Agreement united nearly 200 nations around targets to limit warming. Since then, subsequent COP conferences—from Glasgow in 2021 to Sharm El-Sheikh in 2023—have pressed countries to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Under President Biden, the U.S. re-joined Paris and committed to a 50-52% reduction in emissions by 2030. Yet these lofty goals must be translated into code changes, permit rules, and procurement policies at the state and municipal levels.
Federalism and the “Tragedy of the Commons”
The classic “tragedy of the commons” allegory illustrates why shared resources go unprotected when individuals pursue self-interest. Our atmosphere, like that common pasture, suffers when any party over-emits. In the U.S. federal system, states wield great authority—and they, in turn, delegate to cities. California’s 2022 Building Standards Code now requires new homes to offset a portion of their operational energy via rooftop solar and/or electrification—ambitious steps that exceed many other states.
Why Cities Matter Most
“Local action is critical for needed greenhouse gas reductions,” writes Michael Boswell in Local Climate Action Planning. In fact, cities control:
- Building construction (materials, envelope performance, on-site renewables)
- Transportation infrastructure (complete streets, EV charging networks)
- Land-use planning (density bonuses, up-zoning near transit)
Los Angeles’s own Green New Deal and “pLAn” document set a 2035 net-zero building goal and a 2050 citywide decarbonization target. Yet 70% of our greenhouse-gas footprint still comes from buildings—more than transportation or industry. That makes every code cycle, every permit revision, and every local incentive a make-or-break lever.
Modern Methods of Construction to the Rescue
In 2025, material shortages, skilled-labor gaps, and supply-chain delays still hamper on-site building. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)—factory-built panels, volumetric modular units, and off-site prefabrication—offer:
- Reduced waste (factory precision cuts material overruns)
- Faster delivery (parallel site prep and module build)
- Lower embodied carbon (optimized material usage)
Los Angeles municipalities can spur MMC adoption through “pre-approved” modular plans, streamlined inspections for factory-built elements, and incentives for zero-carbon manufacturing processes.
A Path Forward
Global treaties set the objective. State codes provide the framework. But cities are where buildings become climate solutions—or climate liabilities. In 2025, we must:
- Embed net-zero performance in every building permit.
- Champion MMC and off-site construction in municipal RFPs.
- Align land-use, transit, and housing to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
- Educate stakeholders—developers, architects, inspectors—on low-carbon innovations.
Only by uniting global ambition with local execution can we avert the “tragedy of the atmospheric commons” and build a resilient, sustainable future—one code change, one modular panel, one city council vote at a time.
If you want to learn how to apply Modern Methods to our current challenge of building profitably AND sustainably, [set a free call appointment with Dr. Musson]
Dr. Brent Musson is a public policy specialist and modern‐methods advocate focused on industrialized housing solutions for multifamily development.