Can Buildings Adapt to Climate Change?

If buildings contribute 40% of global carbon emissions, what's stopping us from transforming the built environment? In this episode of Age of Adoption, recorded on Earth Day 2025, host Keith Zakheim speaks with Breana Wheeler, Director of Operations for BREEAM USA, about the critical role of certification in decarbonizing the built environment. Wheeler shares how BREEAM, the world's first science-based validation standard for sustainable building performance, has evolved since its 1990 inception to address not only carbon mitigation but also climate resilience and adaptation. With buildings contributing nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, Wheeler explains how BREEAM's standards help asset owners manage climate risk while maintaining building value. The conversation explores parallels between pandemic response and climate action, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and science-based approaches to global challenges. Wheeler, whose environmental passion led her from receptionist to sustainability leader, outlines the opportunities and challenges in retrofitting existing buildings. With over 750,000 certificates issued worldwide yet 70% of existing building stock still needing certification, Wheeler emphasizes the critical role of finance, regulation, and long-term investment strategies in transforming real estate for a sustainable future. Breana Wheeler serves as Director of Operations for BREEAM USA, where she leads the organization's efforts to validate and improve sustainability performance in the built environment. With a career spanning nearly a decade at BREEAM and extensive experience in the UK, Wheeler brings a unique international perspective to climate resilience and building science. Her environmental passion began early, leading her to pursue degrees in geography, political science, and environment, politics and globalization. Before joining BREEAM, Wheeler worked at Skanska Infrastructure Development, where she transitioned from administration to sustainability leadership, focusing on environmental management as both a risk and opportunity for business. Based in San Francisco, Wheeler is a respected voice in building certification, advocating for science-based approaches to decarbonization and climate adaptation in real estate. In This Episode: (00:00) Breana Wheeler and San Francisco Climate Week (03:20) Breana's career journey and environmental background (10:46) BREEAM's evolution in response to climate science changes (14:13) The importance of resilience standards in building certification (21:37) Discussion on retrofitting existing building stock globally Share with someone who would enjoy this topic, like and

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Can Buildings Adapt to Climate Change? is an episode from Raising Your Antenna by Keith Zakheim.

This episode is 00:25:17 long.

This episode was published on Jun 5, 2025.

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