The built environment is considered as a hub of economic activities, individuals and families, and society’s cultural heritage.

The built environment protects life and health, its inhabitants’ psychological and social welfare, and sustains aesthetic and cultural values. However, it consumes lots of energy and resources while generating a large amount of waste.

It is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will rise to about 37 per cent in 2030 compared to 2005 levels, affecting the natural and the built environment if efficient policies are not implemented.

The solution to this challenge is the design and construction of improved built asset supported by appropriate management tools and regulatory frameworks that address sustainable development issues.

The conservation of historic cities is an effective strategy in reducing CO2 emissions when compared to their replacement by new buildings. New construction projects have more damaging impacts in the short to mid-term; however, conserving an existing building saves original energy and CO2 investment. The connections between components of the built environment, such as individual buildings, transport systems, urban landscapes and other infrastructure, should reduce environmental impacts in terms of energy, carbon, waste or water. Sustainable regeneration projects can also significantly contribute to social well-being; achieving a sustainable built environment will impact the society’s ability to realize the SDGs.

A recent UN report estimates that about 3 billion people live in urban slum conditions due to the problem of urbanization and population growth and would require adequate and affordable housing by 2030.

The pace of constructing new affordable housing is slow compared with the global population growth, requiring countries to develop and implement national urban plans to address this challenge.

Urbanization should be at the heart of the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Clement Nayigiziki and Daniel Mugisha both construction technologists have previously published that regenerating the urban slums in Rwanda could significantly contribute to the realization of many of the SDGs, including SDG 1 (end poverty), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

The paradigm shift towards a low-carbon society cannot be achieved without a sustainable and efficient infrastructure that can withstand climate change. Maintaining sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems that can withstand floods, keep road systems, and the reliability of building structures is crucial for guaranteeing essential services such as energy and water supplies.

The built environment has a long-term impact on the quality of life, prosperity, health, well-being and happiness of people and communities regarding the planning, design, management and maintenance of the built asset. The built environment needs to be flexible and adaptable to future uses and be resilient to climate change. The built environment should lead the fight against climate change towards low-carbon and a sustainable future

Challenges facing built environment in Rwanda

Graduate engineers have a gap between knowledge gained from higher learning institutions and the requirement of labour market this leads to not act in accordance to the regulations, standards of the Rwanda building code of law in the official gazette no special of 16/04/2019.

Provided designs for public and private buildings are often said to be poor as they don’t meet the building standards whereby ensuring standards are upheld to protect the public in terms of safety and health.

Stakeholders have often cited lack of professionalism among practioners in the field that is mainly caused by lack of skills at hand, not aware of rules regulations and standards of the building code as well.

However, on the other side of the coin clients also influence this in a common slang known at the market " icyigenzi nuko bikora”.  For instance, a technician is likely to propose a durable, efficient electric cable of Rwf 50 000 and another less durable alternative of Rwf 10,000 thousand (sometimes not even complying with the local standards) the client then goes for the less price due to unproper budget or mindset.

Rwanda Standards Board, Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority , Rwanda Housing Agency , and Institute of Engineers in Rwanda  should enhance capacity building to professional’s and train them about regulations, standards and codes of the building system in Rwanda. Close inspection of the authorized entities in a transparency way and adoption of construction technology measures to monitor the progress and implementation of projects.