The rapid progress of climate change requires effective concepts for protecting people indoors

According to the latest forecasts from the United Nations, it is highly likely that we will miss by a wide margin the 1.5°C climate target set in the Paris Agreement in 2015. Rather, this planet has to prepare for a global temperature increase of 2.7°C or higher relative to pre-industrial times by 2100, which will be associated with increases in the frequency of many types of hazardous weather that affect society. Buildings, in which much of everyday life takes place in industrialized countries, must consequently be designed and equipped to meet future requirements in order to ensure the health of the population in the short and long-term. Occupied indoor spaces serve not only as living and working environments but are also necessary to protect people, especially vulnerable population groups, from heat stress, microbial contamination, air pollutants, and other threats. The structural and technical possibilities for this exist, but implementation often fails due to lack of insight and administrative hurdles. Although the needs are obvious, this aspect of climate change has not yet been adequately addressed at either the national or sub-national level. As climate change progresses, a lack of structural measures and inadequate crisis management will inevitably lead to further fatal problems in weather-related events. It is therefore necessary to place greater emphasis on the importance of the indoor environment in the context of climate change. Key issues for solutions aimed at improving indoor conditions must include thermal comfort, ventilation, and the reduction of air pollutants.