Working with the UN High Level Climate Champions and a coalition of leading NGOs, we are elevating the built environment as critical for a resilient and zero emissions future.
The Building to COP Coalition is a group of sustainability-focused built environment NGOs and organisations working together, alongside the UN High Level Climate Champions, to position the built environment as a critical sector for a resilient and zero emissions future at COP conferences.
We highlight existing solutions to accelerate this transition and amplify non-party leadership (e.g. businesses, cities and regions) to unlock the feasibility and viability of national policy frameworks.
The Coalition is united behind shared climate goals developed through the UNFCCC Climate Action Pathways as part of the Marrakech Partnership; with a strong focus on accelerating action to deliver the Built Environment 2030 Breakthrough Outcome.
The Coalition and #BuildingToCOP campaign was formed in 2021 in the lead up to COP26, to deliver on the dedicated Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day.
Now the Coalition’s focus is on COP28, and significantly the first “global stocktake” – a comprehensive assessment of global progress against the Paris Agreement goals.
At COP27 the Building to COP Coalition kept the focus on the built environment
Operational emissions from the built environment increased by 5% in 2021, compared to 2020 levels. At COP27, the BuildingToCOP Coalition and wider industry kept the focus on the built environment, with more than 200 events delivered.
The Building to COP Coalition rallied the sector, responsible for almost 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, around flagship events focused on the key themes of: Finance, Decarbonisation, and Adaptation & Resilience. Read the full list of initiatives launched at COP27.
The Race to Zero is the UNFCCC’s global campaign, rallying leadership across all sectors to support a zero carbon recovery, as well as building momentum to a decarbonised economy. The support of this campaign will send a resounding signal that collectively, businesses, cities, regions, and investors are united in meeting the Paris goals and creating a resilient economy.
The World Green Building Council, as representatives of a global-action network advocating for sustainable buildings, encourages all stakeholders from the built environment to join the Race to Zero — therefore showing your support and commitment to a sustainable, net zero economy.
WorldGBC collaborates closely with the national Green Building Council (GBC) hosting the COP to help deliver content and support their work programmes. Leading up to COP27, WorldGBC worked closely with EgyptGBC to ensure their work and the communities they represent were leveraged at the Summit. WorldGBC and our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have already started collaborating with EmiratesGBC in the lead up to COP28 in Dubai.
The Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day (CRBE Day) at COP26 brought together leaders from the private and public sectors to accelerate climate ambition for the built environment. On this day, we saw the announcement of 26 climate action initiatives from across the built environment system. The Building to COP Coalition powered more than 130 events across the two-week official and unofficial programmes of COP26, as well as the inspiring plenary events on 11 November 2021.
Together with the UN High Level Climate Champions and the UK Government, the Coalition developed the two Presidency Events —Accelerating Deep Collaboration, and Ministers and Mayors on buildings as a critical climate solution — and the MPGCA programming, which brought frontrunner party and non-party actors together to focus on the collaboration needed to advance the sector further and faster.