Climate change mitigation strategies in the housing sector can support both immediate health gains and long-term mitigation objectives simultaneously. Strategies should, however, more explicitly consider both potential health benefits and risks to be avoided. Strategies also should address housing and health inequalities more directly in the context of low-carbon strategies adapted to poor communities. Strategies should consider occupational factors, such as risks and exposures of workers engaged in construction or retrofits of homes. Occupant behaviour may also influence the effectiveness of certain mitigation measures (e.g. regulation of indoor temperature and ventilation measures), and need to be considered.
Despite its large contribution to climate change, the residential and commercial building sector was described by the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report as having the greatest potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cost-effectively within a short time frame, using available and mature technologies. This is in comparison to other sectors subject to IPCC assessment, including transport, agriculture, industry, forestry, energy supply and waste generation.