Buildings sector actions – the unprecedented opportunity for climate change commitments

12:30 – 14:00 (EET)

The mention of buildings sector actions in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) increased from 90 countries in 2015 to 148 by August 2022. However, there are a wide variety of ways in which buildings sector climate actions are mentioned and described in NDCs. Some countries have provided comprehensive descriptions of their actions, including energy and emissions reduction targets. In some cases, links to adaptation have also been made. Other countries provide only a brief mention of buildings sector actions as contributing to energy or industry mitigation goals. Few countries include measurable, reportable, and verifiable emission reduction targets for their buildings sectors that are aligned with the Paris Agreement 1.5oC goal. Therefore, more needs to be done to ensure all countries include buildings sector actions in their NDCs, and that they are sufficiently ambitious and holistic to halve buildings sector emissions by 2030 and achieve zero-emissions by 2050. This event introduces a new set of criteria to identify front-runner comitments when it comes to buildings sector commitments in NDCs. The criteria will be showcased in a digital tool to help benchmark and increase ambition.