Demystifying Climate Change and Climate Action Through the Circular Homes Concept – An Educational Tool for Community Engagement

Abstract

Climate change has been identified as a pressing social, environmental and economical challenge that has been unequivocally linked to human activity through latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. It is here to stay with us for generations to come and is already causing severe tribulations across the world. As nations devise policies to mitigate to climate change to stay within the 1.5 degrees Celsius target and small island developing states (SIDS) like Mauritius and the developing world in general find means to adapt to its consequences, a core shortcoming highlighted is the lack of community engagement and grassroots action so that policies permeate to concrete action. Of prime importance for this to happen is raising awareness on the climate change phenomenon, which has so far been a topic deemed complex for the general public, hence creating systemic barriers for climate action. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) can play a significant role in designing such community outreach programmes based on outcomes reported in literature in the educational sector in support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. There is growing interest for a green lifestyle in the world population, and this chapter shows how the home can be used as a basic building block for allowing each household to contribute to climate action, while offering an effective case study to raise awareness on climate change through practical examples and demonstration, in support for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Based on an energy-water-materials nexus, the circular home concept is a clear contribution to SDG 13: Climate Action, with huge potential to use AI techniques and underpinning technologies to implement and optimise the efficacy of the proposed measures.

Citation

Gooroochurn, M. (2024), "Demystifying Climate Change and Climate Action Through the Circular Homes Concept – An Educational Tool for Community Engagement", Fowdur, T.P., Rosunee, S., Ah King, R.T.F., Jeetah, P. and Gooroochurn, M. (Ed.) Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Systems and Sustainable Development, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 183-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-540-820241014