This is a thought leadership piece written by Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC
As COP30 opens in Belém this November, the world is not gathering for another round of negotiations — but for a moment of diplomacy through delivery. It’s not about a new agreement that will change the world overnight; it’s about showcasing and scaling climate solutions that are already working.
The Brazil COP Summit (10-21 November 2025) will be defined by the proof of progress. Governments, cities, businesses, and non-profit organisations will come together under the COP30 Action Agenda — a framework focused on delivering the outcomes of the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake across six pillars that cover efforts for mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity-building. Its purpose is about mobilising solutions, removing barriers, and scaling what works.
In this era of implementation, success will be measured not in words but in collaboration — in how countries, companies, and communities align to deliver the solutions we already have.
Among these solutions, buildings stand out as a critical lever. The building and construction sector is responsible for around 34% of global CO₂ emissions, but it is also where climate action generates co-benefits — creating jobs, improving health, strengthening resilience, and unlocking economic opportunity.
The choices we make today in design, construction, retrofits, and operation will determine whether we lock in emissions for decades to come or build a transition to a low-carbon, equitable future.
As an official observer to the UNFCCC process, WorldGBC is ensuring that the voice of the built environment is heard and recognised as central to global climate solutions.
Our message is clear: the building sector is on the right side of progress. Across our global network, over 85 Green Building Councils and 53,000 members are already demonstrating that sustainable, climate-resilient buildings are not only possible — they are profitable, scalable, and essential for thriving economies.
Through the COP30 Action Agenda, WorldGBC is working closely with the UNFCCC, High-Level Climate Champions, and the COP30 Presidency to advance real-world implementation through two key Activation Groups:
Over the last year, WorldGBC has been co-leading priority action 1 of the Buildings Breakthrough, an initiative that is also recognised by the Action Agenda. At COP30 we will be convening governments and stakeholders to ensure that partnerships and initiatives continue to align around the agreed definition on Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings. We need to continue to advance global transparency, comparability, and accountability for collective progress.
COP30 is widely seen as a pivotal moment: some describe it as the most consequential climate summit ever, driven by escalating climate impacts and urgent timelines; others view it as a bold experiment, shifting the focus from negotiation to implementation.
Both are true: this COP is about demonstrating that multilateralism can work, even in a complex political and economic context.
A central focus of COP30 is the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) shortfall. All countries are expected to deliver updated national climate plans this year, yet there remains a substantial gap between current NDCs and the trajectory needed to limit warming.
Key questions for leaders include:
The Action Agenda is central to answering these questions. Positioned as COP30’s implementation engine, it:
COP30 also presents an opportunity for equitable treatment of adaptation, including adoption of progress indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation. These measures will create a common language for tracking resilience-building efforts and the support needed to protect vulnerable communities, infrastructure, and assets.
The summit also provides a platform to accelerate the new economy — demonstrating that a regenerative, inclusive, and resilient economy is already emerging. This is an era of implementation — the new economy is rising, the energy transition is accelerating, and COP30 must build on this momentum.
COP30 is a delivery COP, not a negotiation COP. Governments have the opportunity to unlock public finance and policy levers to accelerate a sustainable transformation of the built environment, delivering solutions that:
COP30 is not the finish line — it is a launchpad for sustained, multi-level action. WorldGBC’s global programme, Building the Transition, is central to turning COP30 outcomes into measurable impact for buildings.
Building the Transition is delivering results through three interlinked actions:
Our ambition is clear: Green Building Councils worldwide will collaborate with governments and stakeholders to create practical, locally-owned roadmaps that translate policy into concrete action.
Next week, we will announce how we plan to build out further our Building the Transition initiative, co-developing and implementing national roadmaps alongside the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and with Green Building Councils around the world. These roadmaps in key jurisdictions will strengthen government partnerships, tackle pressing barriers, unlock market opportunities, and deliver aligned, actionable pathways for a decarbonised and resilient built environment.
Through Building the Transition, WorldGBC is ensuring that COP30 is more than a moment of diplomacy — it is the start of a tangible, scalable movement that turns ambition into action, building a low-carbon, resilient, and equitable future for all.
By acting boldly on buildings, governments can cut emissions, protect communities, create jobs, and build a fairer, healthier world. The solutions exist. The partnerships are ready. Now is the time to #BeBoldOnBuildings — for people, for the planet, for 2030, and for our shared future.