The Green Building Council Zimbabwe (GBC Zimbabwe) is the latest addition to the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) network. Beginning their journey as Prospective members, they bring green building practices to the Africa region. By 2050, Africa will be home to 1.1 billion more people than it is today. That’s nearly 75% of the worlds projected population growth of 1.5 billion more people. This means a huge demand for buildings – with 80 percent of those that will exist in 2050, yet to be built.
GBC Zimbabwe is devoted to the sustainability of Zimbabwe’s built environment by imparting transformational standards to Zimbabwe’s construction industry, green building contextualisation and sharing practical sustainable built environment insights with property and construction professionals in Zimbabwe. Working closely with their strategic stakeholders, they are committed to the establishment of an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective built environment during design, commissioning and operations. They are also committed to capacity building of the built environment ecosystem in Zimbabwe.
WorldGBC defines Prospective Green Building Council (GBC) membership as bringing together key representatives from different parts of the building sector within a country and creating a founding group, who will initially lead the design and implementation of the GBC’s governance and business plan.
Vere Shaba, Programmes Head for Africa Region, WorldGBC, said:
“Having worked with GBC Zimbabwe since 2013, it is an honour to welcome GBC Zimbabwe to the WorldGBC Africa Regional Network. The GBC has grown in influence and reach in Zimbabwe, engaging with government and private sector stakeholders to catalyse sustainable built environments for everyone, everywhere in Zimbabwe.
“We are greatly looking forward to the leadership, perspective and expertise which they will bring to our network in Southern Africa and to the WorldGBC Africa Regional Network. The Africa region is set to be critical for the growth of green building globally over the next few years. They join our network at a time when COP27, also termed the African COP, is throwing a light on the region and highlighting both the challenges and opportunities it faces.”
Dr. Mike Eric Juru, President of GBC Zimbabwe, said:
“We are happy to be joining the World Green Building Council at a colossal time for humanity as the negative impact of climate change on flora and fauna has become more noticeable. Zimbabwe’s green building goal is to create an enabling environment for sustainable, efficient, effective, and methodical infrastructural developments in Zimbabwe. The fact that over 75 percent of buildings that would be in our country by 2050 are yet to be constructed gives GBCZw a unique opportunity to green the majority of Zimbabwe’s buildings by 2050. With everyone’s support, it is possible.”
GBC Zimbabwe joins WorldGBC’s Africa Regional Network of 11 Green Building Councils.