Faced with Climate Urgency and Sustainable Development Imperatives, Eco-Construction Becomes a Necessity

At the recent Carthage Green Building 2026 forum, experts, architects, and industry professionals gathered to advocate for a more sustainable and systemic approach to building, integrating environmental, economic, social, and cultural dimensions, while leveraging innovation and artificial intelligence to rethink construction methods.

Eco-Construction: A Must-Have for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

In light of the climate challenges facing the planet, eco-friendly building is no longer an option or a luxury, but an indispensable obligation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which Tunisia is fully committed.

The issue was analyzed from multiple angles at the Carthage Green Building 2026 forum, held at the Kram Exhibition Park during the second edition of the International Construction and Building Exhibition, themed "Building Sustainably, Building Responsibly."

Multiple Criteria at Play

Whether it's building new structures or adapting existing ones, eco-construction encompasses economic, ecological, cultural, and social aspects, as well as systemic considerations, breaking away from the prevailing perception in the building industry.

"Currently, responses are technical and quantitative," noted Emna Bchir, a university professor and co-director of the Sustainable Development Commission of the International Union of Architects. However, "this does not address the sustainability of construction," she explained, emphasizing the importance of culture as the fourth dimension, in addition to economic, environmental, and social aspects of construction.

According to the expert, "action must start from reality," which differs from city to city and confers "contextual intelligence" to ecological solutions based on cultures and traditions, while relying on innovation and intelligence to develop sustainable solutions tailored to each context.

Innovative Solutions

Two examples were cited during the meeting. The first involved rebuilding an entire city devastated by an earthquake in Morocco using local materials and existing resources to construct more earthquake-resistant buildings.

The second example showed how, in Bangladesh, traditional boats were transformed into floating classrooms and dispensaries to provide essential services to residents affected by flooding.

Towards a Sustainable Approach

In this vein, expert Mondher Khanfir suggested that construction should not be perceived as a technical object, but as an ecosystem composed of multiple elements requiring a systemic approach to manage flows.

For him, eco-construction is not simply the installation of insulation materials to reduce energy consumption, but rather the implementation of mechanisms favoring a durable approach, intersecting multiple components.

He cited the example of installing photovoltaic panels as an investment that makes construction profitable rather than energy-intensive, as is currently the case.

"The sustainable building is more expensive to build, but less costly to maintain," he added.

The meeting also discussed the use of artificial intelligence in eco-friendly construction. "Technology does not provide a solution in place of the architect, but accompanies them as a decision-making tool," it was agreed during the debates.

Conclusion

The Carthage Green Building 2026 forum highlighted the need for a more sustainable and systemic approach to building, integrating multiple dimensions and leveraging innovation and artificial intelligence to develop eco-friendly solutions tailored to each context.