The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is to focus on end-to-end carbon emissions created across the building and construction industry for World Green Building Week (23-29 September 2019)
WorldGBC will highlight the need for the sustainable production, design, build, use, deconstruction and reuse of buildings and their materials
Buildings and construction together account for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when upstream power generation is included.
Operational emissions from buildings account for 28% overall, while the remaining 11% are attributed to embodied carbon emissions, which refers to carbon that is released during material manufacturing and the construction and demolition process.
The issue of addressing embodied carbon emissions is becoming increasingly important to the building and construction industry as major organisations look to achieve net zero carbon along the entire lifecycle of a building.
A detailed report put together by WorldGBC will outline the pressing issues around embodied carbon in the industry, presenting a vision for a net zero carbon construction future and a call to action to transform processes right along the planning and construction supply chain.
The report will help to raise awareness of this vital issue and will highlight examples of leadership and best practice from across the sector.
The report will be released during World Green Building Week in September 2019.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council said: “This year’s focus for World Green Building Week on the full lifecycle of buildings is key to promote innovation and accelerate the abatement of emissions from buildings, which stand at 39% of total emissions worldwide.
“The construction industry will find in the campaign ways to address the carbon footprint of buildings and identify how to accelerate market transformation. Only by having an end to end understanding can our green building movement truly help contribute to the decarbonisation of the built environment.”
Niklas Nillroth, vice president environment & sustainability Volvo Construction Equipment, commented: “Within Volvo Construction Equipment we are excited to participate in this year’s campaign dedicated to total emissions reduction.
“Volvo has partnered with WorldGBC since 2016 and this has given us insights and opportunities to share our own sustainability findings and initiatives. We truly believe that partnerships in the construction value chain is a prerequisite for success in reducing total emissions. The World Green Building Week is a great opportunity to take this to the next level.”
Stephen Smith, executive director of Multiplex, added: “We need specific, evidence-backed actions from all stakeholders in the construction industry to generate positive, sustainable outcomes for our people, our communities and our environment.
“Embedded sustainability efforts clearly result in a positive impact on business performance and Multiplex is very proud to be leading the way.”
