Building a New World
At COP28, 2023 we are reminded of the words of Gro Harlem Brundtland who in 1987 published the Brundtland report entitled Our Common Future and defined sustainable development as '‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising…
COP28: why we need urgent action on buildings
COP28 marks a critical moment where policymakers must revisit their commitments and set out an energy efficient, regenerative and just transition for the buildings sector, which World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC’s) network of 75+ Green…
MIPIM's Road to Zero
In a clear sign of progress in the real estate industry and its efforts toward a net zero built environment, MIPIM, the world’s largest international real estate event, will include for the first time the Road to Zero area and stage.
Net-zero buildings: Halving construction emissions today
This report provides insight into strategies and measures companies can deploy to halve embodied carbon emissions, those associated with building materials and construction processes, by 2030. It analyzes how to use and adapt currently available…
A call to action for cities, business and industry in the built environment
Last Friday, the rather un-engagingly titled “Technical dialogue of the first global stocktake: Synthesis report” quietly made its way onto the UNFCCC’s website. This understated release somewhat contradicts its significance.
As we make buildings greener, residents and workers need a voice
Amol Mehra, Director of Industry Transformation at Laudes, and Ambet E. Yuson, BWI General Secretary, explore how the built environment is rising on the just transition agenda. ‘Human settlements’ was a key theme of the final day of COP27, but to…
At COP27 the BuildingToCOP Coalition keeps the focus on the built environment as a critical…
Operational emissions from the built environment increased by 5% last year, compared to 2020 levels, but with more than 200 events and several new climate action initiatives launched at COP27, the sector has shown that it has the climate solutions…
List of built environment initiatives announced at COP27, Egypt
At COP26, the Breakthrough Agenda was launched, aiming to strengthen international collaboration on the decarbonisation of high-emitting sectors (Transport, Power, Hydrogen, Steel, Agriculture). At COP27, the governments of France and the Kingdom of…
People Power: Building Progress at COP27
The closure of this year’s Africa COP coincides with my fourth anniversary at the helm of World Green Building Council. It has been an amazing journey as we’ve significantly stepped up our collective impact, advocacy and deepened our collaborations.
If we act today, we can halve the emissions of the built environment by 2030
This year’s climate summit, COP27, hosted by Egypt, is taking place at a tough time for global collaboration on all matters, such as global security, environment, energy, and most importantly, human survival. The geopolitical context has gone from…
Rethinking solar power for a new generation of green buildings
This year’s climate summit, COP27, hosted by Egypt, is taking place at a tough time for global collaboration on all matters, such as global security, environment, energy, and most importantly, human survival. The geopolitical context has gone from…
Energy efficiency is no longer a nice-to-have, but a can’t-do-without
Switching to LED lighting can have a major impact, and the time to act is now. Today, the world is facing what might be called a trilemma: the concurrent climate, energy, and economic crises. Economies are struggling with multiple impacts,…
Africa’s COP must urgently tackle decarbonization
Decarbonisation is one of a multitude of acute challenges that cities in the Global South must tackle – but it needs to be a priority – a blog provided by JLL. With the built environment responsible for around 40% of carbon emissions, COP27 must…
#BuildingToCOP27 – scaling social, economic and climate resilience in the built environment
We are now only one week away from the 27th United Nations Global Climate Conference of Parties, COP27, in Egypt. At WorldGBC, we are preparing to empower our movement by showcasing built environment leaders acting to scale economic, social, and…
Swire Properties: Accelerating actions towards net zero
Swire Properties’ Chief Executive, Tim Blackburn believes that companies with a strong commitment to improving their sustainable development (“SD”) performance will be better prepared to withstand systemic climatic, social, and economic stresses and…
Why uniting digital and sustainability should be at the core of urban infrastructure
A joint blog post by Olivier Blum, Executive Vice President Energy Management, and Marc Nezet, Senior Vice President Software Transformation, at Schneider Electric. Cities have always been a benchmark for human achievement. As we re-build our…
Urban Sequoia: Thinking beyond the high-rise to decarbonise the built environment
Last October, I traveled to Glasgow for COP26 to present Urban Sequoia, a concept to address the climate crisis by designing buildings to act like urban trees – capturing carbon, purifying the air, and regenerating our cities. Together with my…
How whole life carbon emissions assessments will reshape data centres
As in other sectors, tech firms are stepping up their net zero commitments, with many aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by as soon as 2030. The power to change?
Call for case studies: Yearbook of Global Climate Action
The Yearbook of Global Climate Action is an annual report compiled by the High-Level Champions which provides an important snapshot of climate action globally, highlighting key examples of climate action per thematic area.
USGBC Analyst: Impact of the built environment in the Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act passed by the U.S. Senate on 9 August 2022 will drive massive reductions in Green House Gas (GHG) and energy costs of homes and buildings across the U.S.
#BuildingtoCOP27 Coalition meet COP27 Presidency in Egypt
Partners and experts, from the urban and the climate communities discussed concepts and mechanisms to reach more sustainable cities in the Sustainable Cities Initiative Workshop, hosted by the COP27 Presidency of Egypt in collaboration with The…
France is championing the development of a buildings breakthrough
The GlobalABC Secretariat is pleased to announce that France is committed to championing the development of a Buildings Breakthrough as part of the Breakthrough Agenda. The Breakthrough Agenda was launched at COP26 in Glasgow by 45 countries…