COP28: construction sector contributes 21% of global emissions

Speakers at the COP28 conference shared the statistic that the buildings and construction sector accounts for 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Dedicated to reducing this amount, over two dozen countries have formed The Buildings Breakthrough, a partnership which is committed to the vision that resilient buildings with near zero emissions will be the ‘new normal’ by 2030 – leaving just six years and a matter of days to change the industry.

Andrew Surtees, co-founder of Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP), said: “Where last year’s COP27 seemed to be largely defined by the implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the financial commitments made by several, it’s more than likely we’ll look back on COP28 as the year of fossil fuel debates.

“The UK is joining countries such as the US, France, Germany, and China to form the partnership. Together, the 27 countries represent slightly over half of global greenhouse gas emissions and just more than a third of the world’s population, joining the battle against unsustainable building practices.

“One element of the partnership is the International Code Council’s Building Capacity for Sustainable and Resilient Building Program, which calls on governments to commit to mandatory building regulations and resilient codes that align with climate targets.”

Surtees highlighted that there is only so much that one individual can do on their own, so country leaders joining together in this way to enforce updated standard practices around the world is a huge step.