As we enter a decade of climate action, WorldGBC is proud to announce three new signatories who have joined the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Signatories to the Commitment have pledged to take urgent action to ensure their own portfolios of buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 and, for cities, states and regions to enact regulations to ensure all new buildings operate at net zero carbon from 2030, and all buildings, including existing, operate at net zero carbon by 2050.

The latest businesses to sign up to the Commitment are:

Keva – a Finnish pension institution, responsible for funding the pensions of local government employees and for investing their pension funds. They manage a fund of €56 billion, of which 6.3% is invested in real estate. Keva’s decarbonisation roadmap includes milestone targets of reducing energy consumption by 12% and carbon emissions by 50% before the end of year 2025.

Avison Young UK – as the UK arm of the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, their aim is to ensure real estate has a positive impact on people’s lives. Their strategy for decarbonisation details actions for fit-out, retrofit and operational efficiency projects and renewable energy strategies. These practical actions are coupled with advocating for all buildings to be net zero carbon by 2050 and demonstrate leadership to support the wider industry transition.

Lemay – a world leading architectural practice headquartered in Canada, implementing a net positive approach that now guides designers and project teams through all stages of projects in the integration of sustainability metrics, including embodied carbon and operational emissions. In addition to advocating for net zero carbon buildings across the value chain, they are demonstrating industry leadership through their own facilities, including their Montreal office “Le Phenix” having been recently awarded Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Performance certification.

This office features on the WorldGBC Case Study Library as a ‘Game Changer’, an example of a world leading sustainable building that displays features in line with net zero operational carbon as well as improving the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

Carl-Henrik Roselius, Real Estate Investment Director, Keva said: “We, as a long-term investor, consider climate change from both an environmental as well as from a financial point of view. Keva’s key responsibility is to manage its cross-generational pension liability. Environmental perspectives concerning real estate are considered part of a responsible and cost-efficient investment strategy. We have identified that we need to mitigate long-term investment risks stemming from energy-related costs and emissions. We find the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment well aligned with our long-term investment strategy.”

Jason Sibthorpe, President, Avison Young UK said: “The climate crisis requires immediate action and AY is committed to leading the way. We believe the most successful companies realise profits that are inextricably linked to social purpose. Taking action on climate change is a key part of this. Our UK business is at the forefront of this trend by making this commitment to transform our workplaces to net zero carbon, instilling carbon literacy throughout our workforce and helping our clients achieve their own net zero carbon ambitions.”

Louis T. Lemay, President, Lemay said: “Committing to Net Zero Carbon is a natural next step for Lemay. Having implemented our sustainability strategies for our own operations, we believe it’s imperative that we scale up our reach by working with our clients to systematically integrate our unique Net Positive approach on every project.”​

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council said: “Wherever you sit along the value chain, you can make a difference in driving our sector towards decarbonisation. Addressing your own emissions from your portfolio is a great place to start, and we congratulate these new signatories to the Commitment. We compel others to evaluate the contribution you can make to this important mission, whether from investment decisions, advising clients or in the buildings you design, as these leading firms have shown.”

This announcement brings the total number of signatories to 82 businesses and governments who have joined the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment since the launch in September 2018.

Increasing energy efficiency is an essential component of achieving net zero carbon buildings, and it makes business sense. The Commitment forms part of The Climate Group’s global EP100 initiative, bringing together a growing group of energy-smart companies doing more with less, to improve their energy productivity. On signing up to the Commitment, Keva, Avison Young UK and Lemay became members of EP100.

Find out more about the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.