Massive, untapped opportunities to address climate change, increase prosperity and clean up our air are standing right in front of us. Buildings and construction contribute close to 40 per cent of the emissions causing climate change.

Every week, an area of floor space the size of Paris is constructed, often locking in high emission infrastructure that will be with us for decades to come. Over the next 15 years around $ 95 trillion of investments will be needed in infrastructure.  In addition, 70% of the infrastructure needed by 2050 is yet to be built—a world-wide revision upwards of building codes and related measures within national climate plans can unleash innovation, implementation, exponential improvements and a far more sustainable future.

The 2018 Global Status Report– Towards a Zero-Emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector shines a light on actions happening in countries and communities everywhere, pinpointing wide-spread, smarter building codes as one key pathway to positive change. It further provides a snapshot of where the buildings and construction sector stands compared to where it needs to go, highlighting exemplary action to tackle this challenge and calling for others to share in these efforts to deliver on ambitions for a sustainable buildings and construction sector.

The full report is available at this link.