London, Monday 9 September 2024 

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in November 2024, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and the global network of Green Building Councils (GBCs) have come together for World Green Building Week (#WGBW24) (9–13 September) – the world’s largest campaign to lead the industry in #BuildingTheTransition to make the built environment sustainable, resilient to future climate change and fit for purpose for the people and communities they serve.

This year’s campaign is calling on the building and construction sector to follow three steps for a resilient and zero-carbon future – reduce, electrify and adapt. 

The three steps to change:

The path to #BuildingTheTransition can seem complex, which deters action and leadership. So WorldGBC has set out a simple action pathway to guide everyone with an interest in improving the built environment on how to take steps in the right direction.

1. Reduce: The built environment currently consumes 34% of global energy and around half of all raw materials. By improving energy efficiency and minimising use, the building and construction sector can dramatically decrease global energy and resource demands.  
2. Electrify: Buildings account for 37% of global energy-related carbon emissions. To reduce this, the industry needs to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. Currently electricity only accounts for 35% of buildings’ energy use. By shifting to electricity for essential functions, and ensuring electricity generation is from low-carbon sources such as renewables, the industry can move towards a zero-carbon future. 
3. Adapt: Global temperatures and extreme weather events are rising. So the industry will need to ensure the built environment is capable of withstanding the impacts of climate change. With global insurance losses from natural catastrophes now exceeding $100 billion annually, not only will this mitigate the economic impact of the changing environment, but it also has the potential to create millions of jobs in sustainability to support a just transition as well as a green one.  

About World Green Building Week:

Now in its 16th year, #WGBW24 is led by WorldGBC and the global network of GBCs, their over 46,000 members, and international industry leaders, to build momentum and drive the local action necessary for people and the planet to thrive. 

The GBC network is uniquely placed to drive action. Present in over 75 countries around the world, GBCs cover 60% of the world’s building stock, plus 65% of global GDP, in countries that account for 72% of global built environment emissions.

The scale of the network will be reflected during #WGBW24 through over 100 events planned to take place across almost every continent in the world. These events will spotlight examples of how the industry is already #BuildingTheTransition, providing insight and guidance to the wider community on how to turn theory into action.

Spearheading this global movement is Cristina Gamboa, CEO of WorldGBC. She said: 

“WGBW has always been led by our dynamic action network of Green Building Councils, which is the most influential global-regional-local network operating across the building and construction sector today.

“These pioneers are showcasing solutions in action, so the industry can make the transition to a sustainable future.

“We know that the transition isn’t easy. But it’s one we all must make, because the clock is ticking; with less than 2,000 days to rise up to the 2030 climate challenge, we still have a huge gap to bridge in our sector.

“Industry will need guidance and our network is ready to support them every step of the way. The three steps of #WGBW24 are a map to take them on that journey.

“There is no one policy, stakeholder group or any other single issue holding up the sustainability transition. It depends on everyone within a system, pulling every lever, to make change happen. Our network is keeping up the momentum this #WGBW24 and as we prepare for the next key moment – the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 – we will be ensuring the built environment is a central part of the climate conversation.

“Please join us in making it count. Let’s keep #BuildingTheTransition together.”

Find out more about the campaign, register for a local event, and join the conversation on social media at #BuildingTheTransition and #WGBW24. You can also contact your national GBC to find out more about the sustainable built environment in your area.