Your lawyers since 1722

Becoming a Green Building Council

For over 20 years, WorldGBC has worked with our global network to unite stakeholders across the value chain and around the world to create change at scale. This network includes over 75 national Green Building Councils (GBCs) driving local action around the world, their 48,000 members, and over 70 other partner organisations, all collaborating for a better future.

And we have scale and shared ambition to target the total decarbonisation of the sector by 2050, and create equitable and inclusive communities with people at the centre. Globally, our network covers:

  • 60% of building stock
  • 65% of GDP
  • 60% of urban population
  • And the countries represented account for 72% of built environment emissions

If you’ve witnessed our international work, or have attended an event hosted by a GBC and would like to join our global movement by establishing a national GBC that is a recognised member of WorldGBC, here are three key steps:

1. Gather the right people and create a strong plan

Bring together key representatives from different parts of the building sector in your country and create a founding group who will initially lead the design and implementation of your GBC’s governance and business plan. Remember that a GBC is a not-for-profit, NGO, member organisation.

2. Develop operational capacity to pursue your plan

Create a steady and diversified revenue stream for your Green Building Council (for example, through membership) and hire staff to manage its day-to-day activities.

3. Drive change in your market 

Our most effective GBCs are our Established members – those which are delivering impactful and measurable sustainable building programmes on a national scale.

Becoming a successful GBC is not easy. But we are here to help at every step of the way.

If you would like to discuss how to set up a GBC, join as members of WorldGBC, or for further information on how to progress your GBC to the next level of membership, please contact Dominika Czerwinska, Director of Engagement and Implementation, via office@worldgbc.org.

For more information about what it means to be a member of WorldGBC, read our blog.

 

Membership applications

Please note that all membership applications go through several internal steps of review which can take between 2-4 months. What you can expect:

  1. Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by a senior member of the WorldGBC team
  2. A team member will reach out to you with feedback on your application which can include clarifying questions or requests for further information
  3. Any additional information provided will be reviewed by a senior member of the WorldGBC team
  4. If the application is deemed complete and ready, a Regional Chair will be consulted for any insights regarding your application (a full Regional Advisory Board or even members of our CEO Network may be asked for insights as deemed necessary)
  5. The senior management team will put a recommendation forward to the WorldGBC CEO for approval of the application
  6. Established status applications require the final approval of the WorldGBC Board

Annual membership dues

As with most member based organisations, WorldGBC charges an annual membership due to support WorldGBC’s capacity to deliver benefits and value to its members.

After much internal assessment and consultation with members, it was agreed that WorldGBC membership dues should be structured based on the size and capacity of a member GBC. The following table outlines the respective dues based on a GBC’s total annual revenue.

Total revenue for WorldGBC refers to the Green Building Council’s annual gross revenue or income (not profit), as Green Building Councils (GBCs) are not-for-profit organisations. This includes all revenue, such as grants and special projects, and is calculated before any deductions or taxes.

Level | Annual Revenue (USD) | Membership Dues (USD)
1 Less than $50,000 1,500
2 $50,000 – $100,000 3,000
3 $100,000- $150,000 6,000
4 $150,000- $250,000 9,000
5 $250,000 – $500,000 15,000
6 $500,000 – $1 million 20,000
7 $1 million -$10 million 25,000
8 $10 million – $25 million 35,000
9 More than $25 million 50,000

 

If you have any questions regarding membership dues please contact Dominika Czerwinska, Director of Membership and Regional Networks via office@worldgbc.org

Members Area

If you are a member Green Building Council of WorldGBC, and you’re looking for specific documents or guides related to membership, or governance and operations, then this is the place to find them. From guidance on good governance and business planning, to example member surveys, the Members’ Area is a repository for key WorldGBC and best practice “GBC” documents.

We use the Basecamp project management tool to store and organise these documents, and have shared a login with staff from member Green Building Councils.

If you have not received this invitation, or if you have any other questions, please contact office@worldgbc.org. Please note, as we are a small team, there may be a delay in our response to your enquiry.