The 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will mark an important moment for translating climate commitments into implementation. 

Buildings sit at the centre of this implementation challenge. They shape energy demand, emissions, resilience, affordability and quality of life. They are also directly linked to some of the most urgent pressures facing countries and cities, including rapid urbanisation, extreme heat, housing needs, rising cooling demand, energy security and infrastructure investment.

Building on the momentum of previous COP Buildings and Cooling Pavilions, the UN Environment Programme-led Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and the Cool Coalition will once again convene partners around the buildings, construction and cooling agenda at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. In preparation for COP31 and building on the success of last year's webinar series, the COP31 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion Webinar Series will once again provide a platform to keep partners informed, engaged and aligned as the Pavilion programme develops. Each session will spotlight key initiatives and opportunities for collaboration on the road to Antalya.

Register for the webinar here.

This first webinar launches the COP31 International Sustainable Buildings Competition, a global initiative that brings together governments, industry leaders and practitioners to showcase and accelerate best practices across the entire building lifecycle. The competition supports the ambitions of the Déclaration de Chaillot by recognising practical solutions and measurable impact across the buildings sector.

The competition comprises two complementary tracks:

• YeS Honor Awards, designed by Türkiye and supported and coordinated by GlobalABC, celebrating excellence in sustainable building design, indoor environmental quality, materials and energy performance. The awards ceremony will take place during COP31 in Antalya.
• World Championship for Energy Savings (WCES), led by Action for Market Transformation (A4MT) and supported by GlobalABC and national governments, recognising buildings that achieve the world's most significant verified, metered energy savings.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how ambition can be translated into implementation while fostering international collaboration and recognising excellence across the buildings sector. This webinar will introduce both competition tracks, explain the application processes, and invite experts from across the GlobalABC and Cool Coalition networks to participate as applicants, partners and members of the international jury.

Objectives

• Launch the GlobalABC COP31 International Sustainable Buildings Competition.
• Introduce the YeS Honor Awards and their application process.
• Present the World Championship for Energy Savings (WCES) and opportunities for participation.
• Showcase how the competition supports the ambitions of the Déclaration de Chaillot.
• Invite experts to join the international jury and engage in the competition.

Resources

• Learn more about the COP31 International Sustainable Buildings Competition: here
• Submit your jury nomination (deadline: 10 July 2026): here

Register for the event here.

Agenda