2025 GlobalABC Annual Assembly, 7th April, 16:15-17:30 CET
B3 "Finance and Investment", facilitated by Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) & International Finance Corporation (IFC), co-leads of Finance Hub.
Round 1 (16:15-16:50 CET), with participation of the Adaptation Hub: Activities focusing on climate risk assessment, frameworks and insurance activities. Discussed activities:
- Mainstreaming physical risk assessments to accelerate resilience-focused investments
- Strengthening insurance for higher climate risks on real estate (including stranded assets)
- Reducing insurance barriers for NZERB construction: development of standardised risk frameworks and premium incentives
- Improving and accelerating certification processes for new low-carbon and climate-resilient technologies
- Developing green building finance taxonomies by central banks
Round 2 (16:55-17:30 CET), with participation from the Data Hub: Financing mechanisms and capacity building. Discussed activities:
- Defining best-practice guidelines to incentivise & derisk NZERB financing, and designing two NZERB financing facilities in pilot countries
- Strengthening capacity in local banks and lenders through a B3-led “train-the-trainer” series
- Matchmaking between local needs and international donors for buildings finance
- Supporting a global coalition of MDBs/DFIs with increasing commitments to NZERB financing
- ESCO model facilitation and standard contracts
- Developing templates and guidance for financing pipelines of NZERB projects
Overall Session Description: These two interactive rounds will address financing challenges for near-zero emission and resilient buildings (NZERB) by discussing potential new activities for the Buildings Breakthrough Priority International Action B3. Following the Chaillot Declaration's commitments to implement appropriate financial frameworks, the workshop will leverage expertise from the Finance, Data, and Adaptation Hubs.
The two rounds will host 15-20 participants with Anna Zinecker (PEEB) facilitating both rounds. The format includes brief video introduction of the activities by Vincent Guinaudeau (UNEP) followed by facilitated discussions, with participants working in small groups using flipcharts to identify priorities, potential partners, and implementation approaches for each activity.
Discussions will be structured around two questions:
- Confirmation that the discussed activities are particularly relevant to attract funding for NZERB in developing countries (11-min discussion)
- How can Hub members contribute to implementing these priority activities through funding, expertise, or coordination? (11-min discussion)
Findings will help narrow down the selection of priority activities for inclusion in the B3 workplan for 2025-2026, providing a tangible outcome from the sessions discussions.
The B3 working group strongly encourages participation from the following stakeholder groups:
- National and Governments (particularly those with experience in developing financing frameworks for buildings)
- Financial institutions and development banks
- Insurance sector representatives
- Investment funds and private finance organizations working in developing countries
- Organizations working on green building finance taxonomies or certification
- Organizations advancing resilience-focused investments
- GlobalABC Hubs/Working Groups, especially: Finance Hub, Data Hub, Adaptation Hub, Regional Hubs (particularly from emerging markets and developing economies)
Useful links: Buildings Breakthrough 2025 Delivery Plan; 11 new potential B3 activities (from consultations).
