2023 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction

United Nations 2 years ago

The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (Buildings-GSR), a report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), provides an annual snapshot of the progress of the buildings and construction sector on a global scale. The Buildings-GSR reviews the status of policies, finance, technologies, and solutions to monitor whether the sector is aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. It also provides stakeholders with evidence to persuade policymakers and the overall buildings and construction community to take action. As outlined in the 2023 edition, the buildings and construction sector contributes significantly to global climate change, accounting for about 21 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, buildings were responsible for 34 per cent global energy demand and 37 per cent of energy and process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The 2022 update of the Global Buildings Climate Tracker (GBCT) paints a concerning picture: the gap between the current state and the desired decarbonisation path is significant. To align with the 2030 milestone, an annual increase of ten decarbonisation points is now required, a substantial jump from the six points anticipated per year starting in 2015. This year, the deep dive chapters are the following: Adaptation and resilient construction methods; Innovations in business cases as well as Nature-based solutions and biophilic design.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 8 hours ago



The UK construction industry faces a decisive transformation as policy, technology, and market forces converge to deliver genuine sustainable construction. The proposed Energy Independence Bill links national growth to renewable power and low carbon design, while the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill accelerates delivery of homes that meet stringent sustainability criteria. Achieving resilient energy-efficient buildings now demands more than incremental improvement—it requires a whole life carbon assessment approach, addressing both operational emissions and embodied carbon in materials to achieve net zero whole life carbon outcomes.

Digitalisation, supported by AI and data-driven lifecycle assessment tools, is beginning to reshape environmental sustainability in construction by improving forecasting, resource efficiency in construction, and life cycle cost management. This integration of smart data enables circular construction strategies and supports the circular economy in construction through better material reuse and end-of-life reuse in construction. Enhanced modelling underpins eco-design for buildings that minimise the carbon footprint of construction and reduce reliance on high embodied carbon components.

Public expectations reflect growing awareness of climate-resilient, low impact architecture. Climate-responsive design, including renewable building materials and low embodied carbon materials, is no longer optional for credible sustainable building design. Standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM v7 strengthen green construction performance benchmarks and promote sustainable building practices across both new developments and retrofits. The drive for carbon neutral construction now aligns with the broader goal of decarbonising the built environment through sustainable material specification and comprehensive building lifecycle performance analysis.

The sector must embrace life cycle thinking in construction to balance cost, performance, and environmental risk. Sustainable urban development depends on adaptive green infrastructure that supports net zero carbon buildings while addressing the environmental impact of construction. The path forward is clear: the future of the British built environment rests on measurable reductions in embodied carbon, credible lifecycle assessment, and a firm commitment to sustainable design principles that redefine eco-friendly construction for a climate-challenged world.

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