As COP29 begins in Baku, the World Green Building Council is appealing for support for a campaign to press governments and industry to deliver a decarbonised world.
As global leaders convene at the UN COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan for two weeks dedicated to negotiations on how the world tackles the climate crisis, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is calling for concerted action for governments, stakeholders and the wider construction sector to be bold on buildings and commit to actions that will get the world back on track to achieve essential climate targets.
WorldGBC is calling for support for its #BeBoldOnBuildings campaign and urging stakeholders to be a leading voice in a united call to action to governments and industry to deliver what is needed to achieve a decarbonised and resilient world.
Speaking ahead of COP29, Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: “The shared goal of global leaders at COP is to negotiate an outcome that will fulfil the Azerbaijani presidency goals of ‘enhancing ambition’ and ‘enabling action’ to ensure that the world is put back on track to a 1.5°C emissions trajectory.
“We know we are not currently on track. Yet the sector holds immense potential for climate action, offering over 40% of the solutions needed to double energy intensity improvements by 2030. And right now, countries have an opportunity to set themselves up for a breakthrough for the built environment.
“This COP29, we’re making sure the voice of our network is heard, so we are inviting the industry to join us in our COP29 #BeBoldOnBuildings campaign and be a leading voice in our united call to action to governments and industry to deliver a decarbonised and resilient world.”
WorldGBC is calling on parties to be bold on buildings and commit to actions in the following four areas:
- Enhance ambition with Nationally Determined Contributions (country national climate action plans).
- Enable action through climate finance.
- Strengthen resilience with adaptation planning.
- Increase commitment to the UN’s Buildings Breakthrough initiative.
The WorldGBC encompasses more than 80 green building councils accelerating action and implementing solutions across the globe working through five regional networks covering Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East & North Africa.
Th council works with businesses, organisations and governments to deliver on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Through a systems change approach, WorldGBC challenges ‘business as usual’, stimulates market change and champions best practice to deliver on the 2030 decarbonisation and sustainability goals for the buildings sector.
Click here to find out more about the #BeBoldOnBuildings campaign.
