The United Nations Finds Out That Emissions from Building Sector Stopped Rising for the First time Since 2020.

According to Inger Anderson, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Program "The buildings where we work, shop, and live account for a third of global emissions and third of global waste" hence the need to adopt ambitious climate action plans and nationally determined contributions(NDCs) for net zero buildings.

The key findings of an annual review of the buildings and construction sector, published by the UN Environment Program and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) on March 17, 2025 highlights the following as progress made on related global climate goals since the signing of the Paris agreement in 2015;

1. 2023 was the first year when continued growth of building construction was separated from associated greenhouse gas emissions, which have previously skyrocked.

2. The building and construction sector intensity has decreased by almost 10%

3. The renewable energy share in final energy demand increased by almost 5%

The report states that all these is achieved through adoption of mandatory building energy codes aligned with net zero emissions, mandatory performance standards, and energy efficiency investments.

Despite this achievement, the report emphasize on adopting additional measures such as circular construction practices, green leases, and use of low carbon materials to further reduce energy consumption and reduce overall emissions.

According to the report the building and construction sector remains the key driver of the climate crisis, it is dependent on materials like cement and steel that is responsible for a global emissions of 18% and a major source of construction waste.

In conclusion the report stresses the need for governments, financial institutions and businesses to work together in other to double global building energy efficiency investments from the current 270 billion US dollars to 522 billion US dollars by 2030.

Interested in further reading?, Access the full report on https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/emissions-building-sector-stopped-rising-first-time-2020-un-finds

Photo Credit: Meta AI

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