How Can Design Make Climate-Resilient Buildings?
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: July 22, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Authors: The Kid Should See This, UN Environment Programme
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This animated video and article summarize the UN Environment Programme's guidance on creating more resilient buildings to reduce the impacts of extreme weather.
- Students will learn about a variety of engineered and nature-based solutions to help buildings withstand severe heat, floods, and wind caused by climate change.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video concisely presents information using animated graphics. It effectively summarizes the key points of a longer, more dense publication on climate-resilient building and design.
- The video and article present a solutions-based and action-oriented approach to discussing climate hazards, which may be encouraging to students who feel overwhelmed by the issue of climate change.
- Links to related videos and resources are included at the bottom of the webpage.
- Some of the solutions include increasing coastal habitats like mangroves and flood plains, as well as designing structures in a way to withstand more extreme conditions.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand that climate change is causing more extreme weather events and hazardous coastal conditions.
Differentiation
- Consider having students brainstorm ways to build more climate-resilient communities before watching the video. Students could even complete a design challenge using diorama construction materials with simulated flood or wind conditions.
- Students who are not familiar with physics or engineering design could benefit from experimenting with some of the solutions presented in the video by engaging in hands-on simulations or demonstrations.
- To explore this topic further, check out this video on nature-based solutions or this text on Naturally Resilient Communities.
The resource underscores the role of integrating Indigenous knowledge and scientific data for constructing climate-resilient buildings. It contains an elementary guide on how buildings should be constructed to adapt to various climate risks across different geographies. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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