Together, we need to halve buildings sector emissions by 2030

Buildings represent one of the largest and most cost-effective opportunities to remove carbon and save on energy use^*. But there is little consistency around how (or if) buildings are incorporated into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and are key to each country’s efforts to reduce national emissions.

To support countries in including buildings sector actions in their NDCs we have created 11 “frontrunner” criteria, as well as a prototype tool to showcase the front-runner commitments, and support the inclusion of and increase the ambition of buildings sector climate actions in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

^*Building and construction emits 37% of world GHGs (United Nations Environment Programme 2021) but simple design changes can halve emissions (PEEB 2020); retrofits, higher density rebuild and infill are net-negative energy (Stephan et al 2013); and, low carbon cement may only add 1% to construction cost (Rootzén and Johnson 2016) but materials are up to 58% of building lifecycle emissions (AECOM 2022).