This is a thought leadership piece written by Cristina Gamboa, WorldGBC’s CEO.
Every so often, we find ourselves standing at a crossroads — moments where the choices we make will shape not only the future of our businesses, but the future of our world.
Right now, is one of those moments.
In boardrooms and on construction sites, in climate reports and balance sheets, the same truth keeps resurfacing: building sustainably is central for a smarter, more competitive, better future.
And yet for too long, we’ve treated buildings as background infrastructure — fixed, inert, immovable. But the reality is the opposite. Our buildings are one of the greatest demand levers to accelerate a clean, competitive new economy and a brighter future. If we’re bold enough to act.
Each week, I am speaking with industry leaders who are navigating the pressures of rising costs, volatile markets, and a climate crisis that grows in urgency every day. The challenges are increasing.
But I also hear something else — an opportunity — a growing clarity about sustainable buildings, powered by clean energy, being one of today’s smartest business strategies.
Businesses that are future-ready are the ones that are bold on buildings.
They’re upgrading offices, warehouses, homes, and retail spaces to be more energy efficient and powered by renewables. They’re evaluating their entire building portfolio and actively reducing carbon emissions across every stage of a building’s life cycle. They’re creating healthier spaces that improve wellbeing, boost retention, and enhance performance.
And in doing so, they’re not just reducing emissions — they’re building resilience, cutting long-term costs, and unlocking new financial opportunities.
This is not a fringe movement. This is smart, strategic leadership.
At the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), we’ve always believed that “actions speak louder than words”.
Being bold on buildings means:
From 8–12 September, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the pioneers.
This campaign is a celebration. But it’s also an invitation to be bold on buildings and implement existing climate solutions, at scale.
An invitation to accelerate the sustainable transformation of real estate.
An invitation to transform our spaces into assets of hope — driving the clean energy transition, not harm.
And an invitation to show the world what sustainable business leadership really looks like in 2025.
Across every region of the world, businesses are showing what bold building leadership looks like:
These are just a few of the stories proving that bold building choices work — for the climate, for people, and for business.
We’re calling on you — wherever you are in your journey — to join us. Whether you’re starting with a single retrofit or rethinking your entire portfolio, there’s room in this movement for every bold decision.
As World Green Building Week (WGBW) is busy demonstrating that leaders from the sustainable built environment movement are already implementing green building solutions that can drastically reduce emissions – we need policymakers to step up with greater levels of ambition.
To meet the global 1.5°C climate limit, and prevent the most severe impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must fall 42% by 2030.
COP30 in Belém, Brazil will be a decisive moment. Countries will submit updated climate action plans that shape policy and investment for the next decade.
The COP30 outcome must accelerate the building sector’s sustainable transition in line with the Global Stocktake.
WorldGBC and the global Green Building Council network will be taking our #BeBoldOnBuildings campaign into COP30 to ensure that this year’s event be remembered as the climate summit that changed the rising tide of climate risk.
Alongside the global built environment business community, we are calling on Member States of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for clear, coordinated government action and deep involvement in the Action Agenda to showcase the world that buildings are central to delivering the clean transition to a brighter future.
Let’s choose courage over caution. Vision over inertia. Let’s remember business goes better when you’re bold on buildings!