Press release 20 September 2021 9am BST
Nigel Topping, High-Level Climate Action Champion of UK for COP26 and Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of Office North-East Asia, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), unite with leaders from over 20 countries to back the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) annual World Green Building Week (WGBW) on 20-24 September 2021 to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals.
Now in its 12th year, the campaign has seen a record number of 59 events being organised by over 20 countries and organisations across the buildings and construction industry. The impact of the global built environment is immense; it accounts for around 40% of energy use, 10% of employment and 50% of all wealth. That is why WGBW events are championing examples of #BuildingResilience — a built environment that fosters resilience to climate change and for people and economies.
This year’s campaign ties into WorldGBC’s #BuildingToCOP26 campaign, supporting the UN’s Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO of World Green Building Council:
“With the built environment being recognised as a critical climate solution at the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at COP26, WGBW 2021 is an urgent call to the sector to act now, and ensure that we safeguard our communities, health and economies.
“Our entire global network has lent their voice to this call, and we are proud to be joined by climate leaders from COP26 and the United Nations. Join us this World Green Building Week, as we shine a light on how our holistic approach to #BuildingResilience can accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable built environments for everyone, everywhere.”
Nigel Topping, High-Level Climate Action Champion for UN climate talks, COP26:
“To tackle the climate crisis we need to place climate resilience on par with mitigation. How we design, manage and occupy buildings can do both: building communities and economies which can thrive, not just survive the impact of climate change. It is essential the Built Environment sector joins the #RacetoResilience. The more non-state actors demonstrate action on #BuildingResilience the more we can raise the level of ambition and action from state actors at COP26.”
Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of Office North-East Asia, UNDRR, said:
“Buildings are responsible for 38% of carbon emissions and can increase vulnerability if standards for disaster and climate risk are ignored. By 2050, the world’s building stock will double. This is an opportunity to get things right by embracing a holistic approach to sustainable buildings. Buildings should promote resilience – of the environment, of the people and of the local economy.
“I appeal to all cities and municipalities to join #BuildingResilience at the World Green Building Week and learn how the built environment can deliver healthy, equitable and resilient buildings, communities and cities.”
This year’s World Green Building Week (WGBW) campaign focuses on #BuildingResilience and highlights how the built environment can support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through three areas:
- #BuildingResilience to climate change
A resilient built environment combats climate change by generating its own affordable and clean energy. It also accelerates the adaptation and mitigation to the impacts of climate change on our most vulnerable regions and communities. - #BuildingResilience for people
Resilient built environments future-proof communities. They can provide healthy environments and fairer access to vital social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and green spaces. - #BuildingResilience for economies
Rebuilding a more resilient built environment ensures investment works harder, delivers long-term gains that grow green jobs, and bolsters economies through a just transition.
Join the campaign at www.worldgbc.org/WGBW2021 and follow us on @WorldGBC, #BuildingResilience and #WGBW21.
About World Green Building Week
World Green Building Week is the world’s largest campaign to accelerate sustainable built environments for everyone, everywhere.
Organised by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), it is led by our global network of 70 Green Building Councils and their 36,000 members.
Join us from the 20th-24th of September 2021 to find out how the Sustainable Development Goals are contributing to an inclusive and resilient net zero built environment.
About World Green Building Council
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) catalyses the uptake of sustainable buildings for everyone, everywhere.
Transforming the building and construction sector across three strategic areas—climate action, health & wellbeing, and resources & circularity — we are a global action network comprising 70 Green Building Councils around the world.
As members of the UN Global Compact, we work with businesses, organisations and governments to drive the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Through a systems change approach, our network is leading the industry towards a net zero carbon, healthy, equitable and resilient built environment.
Join us at World Green Building Week from 20 – 24 September 2021 to find out how working towards the Sustainable Development Goals can drive a resilient, net zero built environment for everyone, everywhere.
