Zero Carbon Buildings for All Initiative Launched at UN Climate Action Summit
Developing and industrialized countries commit to decarbonize their building sector to achieve massive CO2 reductions
September 30, 2019 -- All buildings must be net zero carbon by 2050 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, but fewer than 1% of buildings are today. Closing this gap will require dramatically enhanced ambition and execution of more efficient buildings and renewable energy supply. Zero Carbon Buildings for All, a multi-partner global initiative endorsed by the UN Secretary General, was featured at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit last week.
Buildings operations account for 28% of energy-related CO2 emissions, making them among the largest contributors to climate change. The good news is that improving buildings is also one of the most proven, cost-effective climate mitigation solutions available. Improved buildings often feature the latest in architectural design and enhance the quality of life, health and productivity of people living and working in them.
Zero Carbon Buildings for All will leverage the leadership of government, industry and civil society to both secure commitments to ambitious targets (national policy roadmaps to decarbonize new buildings by 2030 and existing buildings by 2050) and mobilize significant funding (at least $1 trillion in Paris Agreement-compliant buildings investment in developing countries by 2030).
The national governments announcing their commitment to Zero Carbon Buildings for All include an impressive cross-section of developing and industrialized countries: Kenya, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
An analysis found that if Zero Carbon Buildings for All were to succeed in just 10 economically and politically diverse countries, avoided emissions by 2030 would be 432 million tons CO2e annually – equivalent to 5% of today's global energy-related emissions.
This joint initiative represents a step change in the ambition of policymakers, advocates and the private sector, and will unite leaders across sectors in a strong international coalition to decarbonize the building sector and meet climate goals.
Financial institution supporters include African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Denmark), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, and others.
Private sector leaders have also stepped up to offer technical expertise, including world-class building design firms like Gensler and BuroHappold, and building technologies firms like ROCKWOOL Group and Saint-Gobain, among others.
Civil society partners include the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, Global Environment Facility, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Program for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Urban Land Institute, World Economic Forum, World Green Building Council, World Resources Institute, and others.
These commitments join those galvanized by complementary efforts like the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment and the Global Alliance for Building and Construction’s Global Call.
“The World Green Building Council's global network vision is to transform the built environment, make it healthier and more sustainable,” said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council. “This requires eliminating both operational and embodied carbon emissions by 2050. We are delighted to be a partner in the Zero Carbon Buildings for All initiative, as an extension of the foundations laid by the work of our 70 Green Building Councils driving this market transformation. The buildings and construction sector can act and must respond to the climate emergency.”
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