Buildings significantly contribute to climate change, accounting for approximately 34% of global carbon dioxide emissions and 32% of energy consumption—surpassing sectors like transport and agriculture. This impact arises from two main sources: operational emissions from heating, cooling, and lighting, and embodied emissions from the production of construction materials like steel and cement.

With the global building floor space expected to double by 2050, particularly in developing regions, the sector’s emissions could escalate if current practices persist. Although emissions plateaued in 2023, the sector remains off track to meet the 2050 decarbonization goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

To mitigate these emissions, several strategies are recommended:
Enhancing Energy Efficiency: Implementing higher energy performance standards, retrofitting existing buildings, and utilizing efficient appliances can reduce operational emissions.

• Adopting Renewable Energy: Increasing the use of renewable energy sources in buildings is crucial.
• Reducing Embodied Carbon: Utilizing sustainable materials and improving manufacturing processes can lower the carbon footprint of construction materials.
• Policy Implementation: Governments can develop and enforce climate action roadmaps, align building codes with zero-emission principles, and incentivize investments in building decarbonization.

Initiatives like the Buildings Breakthrough, led by France and Morocco, aim to make near-zero-emission and resilient buildings the norm by 2030. Achieving these goals requires coordinated efforts from governments, industries, and individuals to transform the building sector into a sustainable and climate-resilient one.

Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)