2023 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Beyond foundations - Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector

Abstract

The 2023 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction indicates a significant lag in the sector's progress toward the Paris Agreement's net-zero carbon targets by 2050. To address this, the report provides targeted recommendations: For governments, the urgent need is to develop and enforce climate action roadmaps for buildings and construction, with 161 nations still pending. Building energy codes must be strengthened to enhance efficiency, and despite economic hurdles, investment in building decarbonisation should increase. Policies should also aim to reduce embodied carbon through sustainable practices and materials and promote retrofitting to significantly reduce energy consumption. Private sector actors are encouraged to integrate climate action roadmaps, channel investments into energy-efficient and net-zero carbon buildings and undertake retrofits to lower emissions. They should also be mindful of their social impact, promoting justice and equity regarding access to and affordability of housing. Researchers and NGOs play a crucial role in supporting the creation of climate action roadmaps with evidence-based research. They should collaborate in developing data frameworks to support decarbonisation, raise awareness with media and through strategic communications and push for policy changes. Cross-sectoral collaborations are vital to enhance the decarbonisation impact. These steps are critical for realigning the buildings and construction sector with global climate goals, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future.