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We stand united to keep #BuildingTheTransition to achieve total decarbonisation of the built environment.
We have joined together with our global network of Green Building Councils, Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment signatories, partners and other supporters to present an Open Letter to political leaders and policymakers at COP28. Through this joint action, we aim to demonstrate the critical role of the built environment in tackling global heating, champion the activity being implemented by our network, and provide a call to action for policymakers to step up and deliver the regulatory change the world needs.
Read our policy briefing paper on how to work with governments to support the implementation of a decarbonised, circular and resilient society.
COP28 and the Action Agenda
The UN’s 28th annual climate change conference (COP28) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November – 12 December 2023.
As the world’s first Global Stocktake will be concluded at COP28, this COP provides a critical moment to curb extreme weather events and transition to a sustainable and resilient future.
The Global Stocktake takes place every five years, and evaluates the world’s progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and where there are gaps to accelerate climate action.
The two-week COP28 Action Agenda is designed for a diverse range of stakeholders around specific solutions that must be urgently scaled to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees, build resilience, and mobilise finance.
Our global network of Green Building Councils can make the COP28 Action Agenda a reality. Not only can we, but we already are. How? Through driving an energy efficient, regenerative and just transition in the building and construction sector.
So what does that look like
- For governments – our Green Building Councils are working with local and national governments to realign their policies to facilitate the transition to sustainable built environments.
- For businesses – we are working alongside industry to leverage sustainable and innovative solutions, technologies, and ambition that already exist to give confidence for bolder building regulations.
- For the finance community – we are demonstrating that by joining the sustainable transition of the built environment, and investing in fossil-fuel-free and resilient buildings, they can mitigate the risk of stranded assets and early economic obsolescence.
Our calls to action for COP28
Governments
Governments can have confidence that Green Building Councils are ready to support you to deliver ambitious building policy; and confidence that industry is already demonstrating that the market can deliver the transformation that ambitious policy is asking for. It is feasible because our business leaders are already doing it, so let our network support you.
Call to action:
- Partner with your local Green Building Council
- Use our network’s “Global Policy Principles for Sustainable Built Environments” as guidance to develop building policies that accelerate a sustainable transition
- Read our COP28 Policy Briefing to find out how Green Building Councils are influencing the negotiations at COP
Businesses
Industry leaders need confidence that sustainability actually improves their bottom line, and continue to showcase leadership action by decarbonising their buildings and their businesses. Together we can send a demand signal to policymakers that the building and construction sector has the ambition to implement sustainable solutions at scale.
Call to action:
- Partner with your local Green Building Council
- Take accelerated action to decarbonise your buildings and business now by:
- Joining a climate initiative such as our Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and the UN’s Race to Zero.
- Set near term targets by 2030 and long term targets by 2050 (at the latest)
- Publicly report and publish data and decarbonisation progress
- Read WorldGBC’s “Beyond the Business Case” report to understand why you can’t afford not to invest in a sustainable transition
Finance
Those who own or are investing in fossil fuel based, or buildings prone to climate change impacts, will eventually be owners of stranded assets, and therefore are exposed to the risk of early economic obsolescence. In order to address the physical and financial risks climate change poses, as well to meet future energy efficiency standards and market expectations as part of a sustainable transition, Green Building Councils are working alongside national finance sectors to ensure sustainable finance policies are fit for purpose and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Call to action
- There is a gulf of sustainability practices and policies between the built environment industry and the finance sector – the two sides need to talk to each other (better) to get the money flowing.
- Contact your local Green Building Council to help bridge the gap between industry, finance sector and regulation in the country you operate in.
Join one of our climate initiatives
The Buildings Breakthrough is an initiative led by France and the Kingdom of Morocco and endorsed by 20+ countries. This will improve the enabling environment for climate action activities of Green Building Councils to continue delivering the goals of the breakthrough at speed and scale.
In fact three of WorldGBC’s key climate action programmes – BuildingLife, the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and Advancing Net Zero are recognised as key initiatives that support the delivery of the Buildings Breakthrough.
Solutions in action
The collective work of our network is already implementing sustainability solutions that can be scaled. Visit our case study library to see practical examples from Green Building Councils and industry leaders around the world.
Supporters
Together, we are a united network of partners and companies committed to achieving a shared goal of total decarbonisation of the built environment. Supporters of our Open Letter include: