Buildings continue to be one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. This paper argues that both mitigation of greenhouse gases and adaptation to climate change should be added to building codes and standards.It is asserted that since space heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning utilise a large proportion of energy in buildings, thermal comfort standards should be redefined and strategies that mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and adapt to predicted climate variability should be added.The paper draws attention to a number of key questions that can enable architects and designers to address climate change in comfort standards, with a major focus on influencing behavioural adaptation, rather than structural changes in building design. Additionally, the need to build capacities of engineers and architects to broaden the acceptable range of thermal comfort and thereby contribute towards reducing energy consumption is underscored. The authors argue that the application of flexible energy-efficient design for comfort in current and future buildings can go a long way in contributing towards the transition to a low-carbon economy while also considering aspects of resilience and energy sustainability.