Why is it in the news?
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (Buildings-GSR) 2024, jointly published with the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC).
| About GlobalABC
· Founded at COP21, it is a leading global platform for all built environment stakeholders committed to a common vision of achieving a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient buildings and construction sector.
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Key findings of the Report
- Building and Construction Sector (BCS) accounts for approximately 21% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
- In 2022, buildings were responsible for 34% of global energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Notably, India attributes 40% of its CO2 emissions to buildings.
- Urgent action is needed to decarbonize the BCS to limit global warming to 1.5°C (as per the Paris Agreement) and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, primarily by reducing embodied carbon in building materials.
Various Initiatives taken to promote sustainable practices in the BCS
- Declaration de Chaillot: A document adopted at the first-ever Buildings and Climate Global Forum, aimed at fostering international cooperation to address climate challenges within the building sector.
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU): Introducing zero-emission standards for new buildings by 2030.
- Buildings Breakthrough Initiative: Introduced by France and Morocco at COP 28, aiming for near-zero emission and resilient buildings by 2030.
- Clean Heat Forum: An initiative initiated by the UK.
- India has launched its first city-specific Zero Carbon Buildings Action Plan (ZCBAP) in Nagpur and enacted the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, which provides for Energy Conservation and Sustainability Building Code.
