Foundations of Fairness - why the Global Status of Buildings Determines our Climate and Housing Future

Buildings shape our everyday lives, offering shelter, warmth, and spaces to live, work, and connect. Yet 2.8 billion people worldwide still lack adequate living conditions. At the same time, buildings account for 35% of energy-related CO2 emissions, accelerating the impact of climate change, especially on vulnerable urban populations. By 2050, the number of urban poor exposed to dangerously high temperatures could be 7 times higher than today. Any attempt to meet the demand for safe and adequate housing – whether by building, renovating or repurposing buildings – must follow a decarbonisation and adaptation pathway, or it risks harming the very people it aims to protect. That pathway should be built on informed decision-making, and this event will present new information relevant for such decisions. This event launches the 10th edition of the Global Status Report on Buildings and Construction (GSRBC), a flagship assessment tracking worldwide progress on buildings decarbonising. We will present the report’s key findings and a new global data platform of comprehensive, action-oriented evidence, showcasing granular data and tailored insights about cities, regions and countries’ efforts towards climate neutrality and resilience. A panel discussion with speakers from local, national and international institutions will follow exploring how international cooperation can translate data insights into action, and support effective climate mitigation and adaptation worldwide. More than a decade after the Paris Agreement, progress on buildings is stalling despite numerous initiatives (e.g. Buildings Breakthrough, Déclaration de Chaillot, Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate, Global Cooling Pledge). Since 2015, energy intensity in buildings has declined at only half the pace required to meet 2030 climate targets; the share of renewables in buildings has increased at just one quarter of the necessary rate. As we gather evidence of progress, data-driven decisions, better governance and focused cooperation need to fuel the next stage of decarbonisation and resilience efforts. The event will emphasise the construction sector's role as a driver of transformation, showing that a climate-safe, affordable and resilient housing requires changes in how buildings are designed, financed, built and operated. Data and insights will underpin action by enabling accountability, supporting evidence-based policymaking and aligning participants around shared objectives.