The World Green Building Council claims we’re one step closer to net zero as it launches the fifth edition of its annual Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) Status Report showcases breakthrough actions on advancing in net zero buildings.
The global green building council organisation hopes the report will deliver greater awareness around the urgency and achievability of net zero buildings.
The report details actions now being taken by governments, businesses, and the 35 green building councils across the globe to decarbonise the built environment. The information is also packed with examples of industry collaboration and accelerated actions that need to be taken to address emissions from the industry.
While the built environment industry still faces challenges in scaling up solutions and ensuring all buildings are fit for purpose while minimising their impact on our planet, the organisation has been pushing out work, resources, and case studies to help the industry reach its much-needed breakthrough. Resources include access to finance, electrification, offsets, existing buildings, embodied carbon, benchmarks and more.
Accelerating a breakthrough
Since the previous year, the report highlighted some of its bigger achievements:
- The net zero carbon buildings commitment has since gathered 175 signatories, 140 of which are businesses, which account for a $400 billion annual turnover, and 20,000 assets across 75 countries that have taken action to decarbonise their portfolios
- 22 national whole life carbon (WLC) decarbonisation roadmaps have been published or are developing with GBCs, with more being produced externally
- Signed on five regional networks equipping the industry with resources to accelerate decarbonisation
- Due to the established built environment as a critical climate sector in the upcoming UN Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai on 6 December, 2023
- Established nine global program partners accelerating industry action and overcoming barriers to net zero through innovative business activities
Rising importance
With WorldGBC now connected with their GBC members, partners and commitment signatories, actions towards achieving breakthroughs in decarbonising the built environment at a local, regional and global level is the organisation’s focus.
In the past month, the UN High-Level Climate Champions announced a critical tipping point as 20 per cent of the world’s key building and construction actors joined the race to zero.
This came after the WorldGBC and its network showcased action solutions from the sector at the UN Climate Summit COP27 last year, launching 19 built environment initiatives.
This year, the ANZ report will support the WorldGBC team as they continue to establish buildings and built environments as a critical climate solution while changes are being spearheaded by their supporters in their respective local markets.
A GBC action timeline will be established based on examples from the report, including the leadership action of Kenya GBC, Chile GBC and India GBC.
Cristina Gamboa, chief executive officer of the WorldGBC said:
“This report once again highlights the game-changing achievements from the
leading work of our GBCs, program partners and Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment
signatories, who are driving solutions and demonstrating that the industry is ready for bolder
ambition.
“In the run-up to the UN Climate Summit COP28 in Dubai, UAE, the world’s first Global Stocktake
year should serve as a reminder for governments to reflect on how their actions and policies will
help them achieve the goals they signed up for under the Paris Agreement.
“We know that the solutions exist for a decarbonised future, and our network is ready to support
industry and government to ensure that pledges, commitments and promises are turned into
action that is delivering the change at a scale that our world demands.”