Earth Today | ‘Do more, quickly’
Report calls on building and construction sector to progress emissions reduction
Published:Thursday | May 1, 2025 | 12:06 AM
A NEW report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has noted marginal progress in the building and construction sector over the past year to limit greenhouse gas emissions that heat up the planet and trigger climate change impacts.
“Increasing adoption of renewable energy and electrification, especially for heating and cooling systems, has been a positive trend. In addition, green building certifications grew significantly, with 20 per cent of new commercial buildings in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries achieving certification in 2023, up from 15 per cent in 2020,” revealed the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024-2025: Not just another brick in the wall.
“Circular construction practices, such as material reuse and modular building, are also gaining ground, with recycled materials accounting for 18 per cent of construction inputs in Europe,” it added.
Still, a collaborative publication of UNEP and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, the report said much remains to be done if the Marrakesh Partnership global goal of net zero carbon new buildings by 2030 and all buildings by 2050 is to remain in reach.
Net zero emissions is where the amount of emissions from greenhouse gases that are put into the atmosphere through human activity is the amount that is removed or offset.
To get there, the report has proposed, among other things, the harmonisation of building codes, scaling of low-carbon material and increasing equitable access to green financing as part of a suite of recommendations to enable the sector to accelerate progress.
“It is essential to strengthen local standards and regionally harmonise building codes and energy and emission performance requirements. Expanding equitable and gender-inclusive access to green financing, such as green bonds and concessional loans, will enable more widespread adoption of sustainable design and operation practices, along with renewables and digital systems,” it said.
“Promoting gender equity in these efforts ensures diverse perspectives and inclusive solutions, fostering innovation and creating more sustainable and equitable urban environments. Increased investment in research and development is crucial for scaling low-carbon materials and advanced construction technologies,” the report added.
It also championed workforce development programmes that address skills and gender gaps, and the equipping of professionals with the expertise for green construction.
“Such efforts can support bringing more diverse participation in the workforce, including encouraging women’s participation in training and leadership roles,” it noted.
This is together with incentivised circular construction practices, including material and building reuse and waste reduction, in order to reduce the sector’s embodied carbon footprint.
“The transition toward a resilient, efficient and zero-carbon buildings and construction sector is under way, but sluggish, with some small encouragement in 2023 and 2024. However, significant gaps remain in achieving global climate emission reduction and climate resilience targets,” the report said.
“A coordinated effort among policymakers, industry stakeholders and financial institutions is needed to meet the challenges and unlock the sector’s full potential. By leveraging innovation, harmonising regulations and fostering collaboration, the sector can play a central role in shaping a sustainable future,” the publication added.
UNEP boss Inger Andersen, for her part, has encouraged countries to do more but also to do so with urgency.
“The buildings where we work, shop and live account for a third of global emissions and a third of global waste. The good news is that government actions are working. But we must do more and do it faster. I encourage all countries to include plans to rapidly cut emissions from buildings and construction in their new nationally determined contributions (NDCs),” she said in a UNEP release on the subject last month.
NDCs, meanwhile, are individual country commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among the climate change impacts from emissions are extreme hurricane and drought events, sea level rise and coastal erosion, together with the associated threat to public health, food and water security.