Achieving carbon neutrality demands smart buildings

When it comes to tackling the global threat of climate change, our world leaders need to take action in deciding which levers to prioritize. At COP26, for the first time, an entire day was dedicated to our global built environment, the management of our buildings. The significant role they play in achieving critical climate objectives is clearly moving up the agenda.

Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of global energy consumption and 33 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, putting them in the frontline of the fight against climate change. 136 countries now include increasing building efficiency or decarbonization in their climate goals, or Nationally Determined Contributions, compared with 88 in 2015. And more than 1,000 cities have now signed up to the ‘Cities Race to Zero’ commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.