Register for this Session Here
Register here to attend in person or online via livestream. When you receive your Eventbrite ticket, don't forget to add the event to your calendar.
This is an interactive session, in partnership with Saint-Gobain's Sustainable Construction Observatory and World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) at COP30. Let us know you’re interested by filling out this form.
Session Description
This session will explore two catalysts for sustainability in the building sector:
- Conceived at COP28, The Buildings Breakthrough unites countries and partners co-ordinated by UN GlobalABC to accelerate decarbonization and resilience. In support of this, an interim report with a new set of definitions and principles for near-zero emission and resilient buildings has been developed ahead of COP30 with lead partner WorldGBC through the Priority Action B1 [Standards and Certification] Steering Committee.
- Complementary to the goals of The Buildings Breakthrough, a new action paper will be launched by Saint-Gobain's Sustainable Construction Observatory at COP30. Developed with their community of global and local leaders, it outlines priority actions identified as having the greatest potential to drive impactful social, economic, and environmental transformation.
Together, participants will explore the objectives and ambitions of both initiatives as they move to implementation, in an interactive session inviting the perspectives and solutions of leaders from across the value chain.
Speakers
- Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain
- Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council
- Jo da Silva, Global Sustainable Development Director, Arup
- Eng. Maurice Akech, MBS, Executive Director, National Construction Authority, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development—Kenya
- Jamie Fergusson, Global Director, Climate and Nature, IFC
- Roxana Dela Fiamor, Global Policy Lead, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Philip Yang, COP30 Special Envoy for Cities and founder of Urbem
- Illya Azaroff, Architect and 2026 President, The American Institute of Architects
- Yves-Laurent SAPOVAL, Ministerial delegate for sustainable cities-Urban envoy, France
Agenda
Moderated by: Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson (Moderator and program host)
| Item | Presenters | Timing |
1. Moderated fireside chat | Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council | 20 mins |
2. Moderated panel discussion
| Jo da Silva, Global Sustainable Development Director, Arup Eng. Maurice Akech, MBS, Executive Director, National Construction Authority, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development—Kenya Jamie Fergusson, Global Director, Climate and Nature, IFC Roxana Dela Fiamor, Global Policy Lead, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) | 35 mins |
| 3. Facilitated interactive exchange with audience of participants | Philip Yang, COP30 Special Envoy for Cities and founder of Urbem Illya Azaroff, Architect and 2026 President, The American Institute of Architects | 25 mins |
| 4. Closing remarks | Yves Laurent Sapoval, Co-Chair of the GlobalABC, Chair of the ICBC Troika, and French Urban Envoy | 5 mins |
See what other events are happening at the COP30 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion.
