BUILDING TO COP26

For a Zero Emissions and Resilient Built Environment, Regions & Cities

Why cities, regions and the built environment matter

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions and 50% of all extracted materials.

The building and construction sector’s demand on natural resources accelerates climate change, and inefficient, unhealthy buildings negatively impact human health and wellbeing.

BY 2050

1.6 billion urban dwellers will be regularly exposed to extreme high temperatures
Over 800 million people living in more than 570 cities will be vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal flooding
By 2060 the world’s building stock will double and almost 70% of the global population is projected to live in urban areas

By 2030, efficient buildings will be an investment opportunity worth $24.7 trillion

Despite this, under $3 of every $100 spent on new construction goes to efficient buildings. Out of the 186 countries that have submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 136 countries mention buildings, 53 countries mention building energy efficiency, and 38 specifically call out building energy codes. Most countries do not include full building decarbonisation targets and certain areas such as building materials are under addressed.

HOW WE HALVE EMISSIONS BY 2030

Ahead of COP26, the #BuildingToCOP26 Coalition is working together to halve the built environment’s emissions by 2030 and establish the built environment as a major solution provider to the climate crisis. To do so, they have defined three outcomes for the sector:

1

All countries include full building decarbonisation targets, concrete policies and measures and related implementation mechanisms in their NDCs.

2

1,000 cities and at least 20% of the largest built environment businesses by revenue committed to the UN’s Race to Zero.

3

The sector’s stakeholders unite behind a single voice and ambition towards shared goals: By 2030, 100% of new buildings must be net-zero carbon in operation and embodied carbon must be reduced by at least 40%, and by 2050, all new and existing assets must be net zero across the whole life cycle (see UNFCCC Human Settlements Pathway)

Flagship events for Cities, Regions and Built Environment day

Build a Better World Together: Accelerating deep collaboration for Built Environment climate action

National and subnational governments, as well as the private sector, must work together to deliver the Paris Agreement goals. This event will bring together national governments, cities, regions and the private sector to build deep collaboration for built environment climate action.

Ministers and Mayors on buildings as a critical climate solution

Ministers and mayors are uniting behind the urgency for action with one voice, one ambition: to deliver and enable a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient built environment.

All Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day events

Nigel Topping

UN High-Level Climate Action Champion at COP26

Let’s win the race to a zero emissions and resilient built environment, regions and cities

We can’t win the Race to Zero without winning the Race to Resilience as well. Climate breakdown and the pandemic multiply inequalities — social, environmental and economic gaps are widening across nations and across the Global North and South.

By 2030, we must catalyse action by non-state actors that builds the resilience of four billion people from groups and communities who are vulnerable to climate risks.

EVENTS

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Latest Past Events

Nov 12 2021

November 12 @ 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

LETI takeover of Construction Scotland Innovation Centre

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre 3 Watt Pl, Blantyre, Galsgow

Nov 11 2021

November 11 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

#BuildingOnCOP Reception

GlobalABC Buildings Pavilion (Theatre)

Nov 11 2021

November 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Live from #COP26: 10 Green Buildings Principles to get you to net zero

JLL Glagow

RACE TO ZERO

Winning the Race to Zero means prioritising zero emissions buildings, infrastructure and cities

Businesses and sub-national governments are urged to join the Race to Zero. The Race to Zero’s goal by COP26 is to have 20% of the built environment sector by revenue to join the Race to Zero. This will create a ‘breakthrough point’ to help mainstream climate action in the sector.

Cities are urged to join the Cities Race to Zero, as major policy enablers and owners of real estate who can go further, faster.

RACE TO RESILIENCE

But we can’t win the Race to Zero without winning the Race to Resilience as well

The Race to Resilience is catalysing a step-change in global ambition for climate resilience, putting people and nature first in pursuit of a resilient world where we don’t just survive climate shocks and stresses but thrive in spite of them.

We need to run these races together, at the same time — and win them both.

BUILDINGS AS CRITICAL CLIMATE SOLUTION

We need stronger and more built environment-related contributions in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCS)

We urge countries to include decarbonisation targets for the entire building system / whole value chain, concrete policies and measures and related implementation mechanisms in their NDCs.

The Global Alliance for Building and Construction is working with its country members and beyond on a commitment ‘Buildings as Critical Climate Solution (BCCS)’ that will advance building sector measures at national level, creating the appropriate enabling environment towards a zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector.

Learn how the sector can advance adaptation in the Building and Climate Change Adaptation Report.

Running from the 1-12 November at COP26 in Glasgow, download the #BuildingsPavilion Programme for in person and online participation.

The Virtual Pavilion is a coalition of 100+ partners across the built environment sector working together to give the sector a strong voice at COP26. The Virtual Pavilion will enable widespread access and engagement with COP26 to complement activities happening in person, and provide an online legacy that will last far beyond November.

The Virtual Pavilion comprises two main elements:

An Exhibition

Exploring practical solutions to the climate crisis, through a showcase of leading sustainable projects and places from around the world in a bespoke Virtual Reality (VR) space, with an inspirational and artistic centrepiece. If allowed, the Exhibition will also be accessible via Oculus Rift headsets or iPads in the Green Zone.

A Programme of Events

A programme of tours and talks including keynotes, panels, discussions and more.

For more information contact COP26@ukgbc.org

Keep up to date and exchange your views ahead of COP26’s Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day with the WorldGBC, UKGBC and GlobalABC’s monthly engagement platform — the #BuildingToCOP26 Forum.

Thought Leadership

For energy-efficiency gains, let’s get our houses in order

November 25, 2021

This blog written by Signify discusses raising the global building renovation rate will cut greenhouse gas emissions and reap multiple rewards.

Building ambition: The future of the built environment post COP26

November 19, 2021

It is now nearly a week since Alok Sharma closed the negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow. Since then, there has been a chorus of views on whether the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ has been a success, a failure or somewhere in between

Accelerating deep collaboration: 26 built environment climate action initiatives announced at COP26

November 11, 2021

Marking a climate breakthrough for the built environment, a coalition of business and government groups announce 26 climate action initiatives at Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26

Join The Conversation

#BuildingToCOP26

'; NFB Policy Team @NFBPolicyTeam ·

6 Dec 1467803502839832577

Do you remember our 5 actions against climate change from #COP26 ? How many of these can you commit to & how ? Keep us updated on your efforts to fight against the #ClimateCrisis♻️🌍💚#Construction #ConstructZero #NFBatCOP26 #BuildingtoCOP26 find out more: https://www.builders.org.uk/policy/cop26/

Twitter 1467803502839832577

'; Philips lighting UKI @PhilipslightUKI ·

30 Nov 1465693087720632333

Did you know that our buildings are responsible for 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions?

Read our recent UK&I CEO’s, @SRouatt, blog on how raising the global building renovation rate will cut greenhouse gas emissions: https://bit.ly/3llNOdE

@UKGBC #BuildingtoCOP26

Twitter 1465693087720632333

'; William Sisson @WSissonWBCSD ·

20 Nov 1462046328956018691

As part of the #BuildingToCOP26 Coalition, @WBCSD organized the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day — in collaboration with @hlcchampions, the #COP26 Presidency & @beisgovuk.

26 initiatives were announced for transformation in the #BuiltEnvironment.
https://www.wbcsd.org/Programs/Cities-and-Mobility/Sustainable-Cities/Transforming-the-Built-Environment/News/BuildingToCOP26-Coalition-highlights-26-climate-action-initiatives-on-Cities-Regions-and-Built-Environment-Day

Twitter 1462046328956018691

We are the #BuildingToCOP26 Consortium

The #BuildingToCOP26 consortium is a group of organisations catalysing climate action in cities, regions and the built environment. We work closely with the UN High Level Climate Champions and the COP26 Presidency to shape the agenda of the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26.

CONSORTIUM MEMBERS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UN HIGH LEVEL CLIMATE CHAMPIONS