Thursday 28 March 2024
 
»
 
»
Story

World Green Building Council launches new sustainability strategy

DUBAI, September 1, 2020

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) network has launched its new strategy "Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere" with the backing from its 70 Green Building Councils and their +36,000 members. 
 
It is aimed at helping tackle the climate emergency, health and wellbeing and resource efficiency issues in the built environment across the globe.
 
According to WorldGBC, buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions and 50% of global material use. 
 
Around 91% of people and their families live where air pollution levels exceed World Health Organization limits. People spend 90% of their time indoors, so the quality of the indoor environment is critical in fighting infectious disease transmission. 
 
By 2050, the global population will increase to 9.8 billion and the world’s building stock will double, accelerating devastating environmental, social and economic impacts of the built environment, stated WorldGBC. 
 
WorldGBC CEO Cristina Gamboa said: "To tackle the world’s most pressing issues such as climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic, our new strategy establishes three ‘North Star Goals’ for our sector: Climate Action, Health & Wellbeing, and Resources and Circularity. To reach these goals, our network has outlined key milestones for 2030 and 2050 and seven impact pathways to achieve them."
 
"A sustainable future is the only future, and history will judge us tomorrow on what we do today. Together with our network’s leadership and solutions, we will continue to scale up collective action for net zero carbon, healthy and sustainable built environments," observed Gamboa. 
 
In the face of Covid-19, these efforts will enable the much-needed green and equitable economic recovery all around the world.
 
Based on climate science and the Global Goals of Sustainable Development (SDGs), the strategy tackles global warming, health and wellbeing and resource impacts to deliver quality infrastructure - a critical need for our planet, communities and economies in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. 
 
Emmanuel Normant, VP Sustainable Development, Saint-Gobain, said: I welcome the launch of the renewed WorldGBC strategy, Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere, developed around three essential areas – climate change, health and wellbeing, resources and circularity. 
 
This document, that is very aligned to Saint-Gobain’s approach, will be a key milestone to shape the buildings of tomorrow. Its North Star Goals will become a reality with significant training and information, voluntary commitments along the value chain and proactive advocacy towards policymakers.”
 
Harry Verhaar, Head of Global Public & Government Affairs and a VP at Signify, said:
"The launch of the World Green Building’s Council new two-year strategy “Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere” is a critical leadership program to guide the way towards the decarbonization of the global built environment."
 
"It is no coincidence that building renovation has been identified as a top priority of post-Covid-19 recovery programs around the world to boost jobs and economic growth and accelerate circular business models," stated Verhaar. 
 
"By coming together to urge the right course of action, we can stave off the worst effects of climate change, paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous, and better future for our planet," he added. 
 
Surbana Jurong Group CEO Wong Heang Fine said: "The WorldGBC’s new strategy is bold and sets the tone for sustainability in the coming decades."
 
"The step to decarbonising value chains reflects the next frontier for climate action, and it will initiate innovative and creative designs and applications for the built environment," he added.
 
As a leader in designing and delivering sustainable buildings and infrastructure, Surbana Jurong supports the new strategy and is committed to redefining cities and transforming them into sustainable and liveable spaces, where both present and future communities and businesses can thrive.”
 
DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) CEO Christine Lemaitre, said: "Since its establishment in 2007, the DGNB German Sustainable Building Council has been advocating for a transformation of the construction and real estate industry based on a holistic understanding of quality."
 
'For us and our members, “sustainability is the new normal” has been the goal for many years. With the newly-formulated strategy, the WorldGBC is taking up exactly this approach, which is why we absolutely support the activities," he noted.
 
Henrietta Budai, Secretary General (CEO), HuGBC (Hungary Green Building Council)
"HuGBC became an Established member of the World Green Building Council last year. However, we fully supported all strategies that have been developed in recent years."
 
"The new strategy formulates those missions and goals we also work for in Hungary. I think that resilience and speed is a key value when executing the strategy. We as national green building councils have to anticipate and also adopt quickly to the ever-changing challenges. We must work hard to support our stakeholders in accelerating the changes in mindsets and behaviours required for a better future," he added.
 
Canada Green Building Council President and CEO Thomas Mueller said: "The WorldGBC’s Sustainable Buildings for Everyone, Everywhere strategy echoes the pressing need to engage in meaningful climate action now, while also building healthier, resilient communities for the wellbeing of all Canadians"
 
It reflects our own commitments in Canada, where we rallied the industry to champion a green recovery that prioritizes green buildings. Investment in high performing, healthy buildings and retrofits can reignite recovering economies by providing skilled jobs, creating efficiencies through lower carbon emissions, and driving the innovation needed to pivot economies toward a low carbon future. To achieve this, we need collective action of the industry now, here in Canada and around the world.” 



Tags:

More Construction & Real Estate Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads