Construction sector to fight climate change

The construction sector has pledged to speed up the fight against climate change with the launch of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.

The alliance, which gathers 18 countries and 60 organisations, was announced at the Lima to Paris Action Agenda Focus on Buildings. Members include the International Union of Architects (UIA), the World Green Building Council, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC).

Countries who have signed up include Austria, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and United States of America,

The buildings and construction sector is responsible for 30 percent of global CO2 emissions but it also has the potential to avoid 3.2Gt CO2 by 2050 through mainstreaming today’s available state-of-the-art policies and technologies. Reducing energy demand in the building sector is one of the most cost-effective strategies for achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions.

Action will include:

·         minimising energy demand

·         greening the construction value chain,

·         integrating renewables through district energy

·         implementing integrated building design and urban planning

·         engaging financing institutions

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