The Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 (20-22 April, SwissTech Convention Center, Lausanne, Switzerland) convened stakeholders across the buildings and construction value chain: government officials who develop building policies working alongside academics advancing research, private sector and AEC leaders implementing solutions, financiers mobilising investment, and civil society—bridging the gap between policy commitments and on-ground implementation.
Building on the success of the first Global Forum on Buildings and Climate held in Paris in 2024, the Summit focused on emerging markets and developing economies where built environment growth is most significant. With 468 attendees from 64 countries, the Summit focused on emerging markets and developing economies, with just under 30% of attendees from the Global South—where built environment growth will be greatest—driving action to transform the sector into a driver of environmental sustainability through holistic approaches that seamlessly integrate resilience and socio-economic factors.
The three-day programme featured high-level plenaries with government and industry leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America; the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) Technical Meeting advancing international cooperation on national climate commitments; academic showcases; and cross-disciplinary workshops addressing implementation barriers in urgent housing needs, self-construction, climate-resilient design, circularity, digital solutions and AI, building electrification, gender equity, and urban planning.
Visit the main Summit website for comprehensive information about the event, programme, and participation opportunities.
Read the Summit Recap: globalabc.org/news/sustainable-buildings-and-construction-summit-in-review
Key Links
Read the Summit Recap: globalabc.org/news/sustainable-buildings-and-construction-summit-in-review
Browse the Summit Photos: flickr.com/photos/globalabc/albums/
Summit Website & Full Programme: sustainable-construction.org
Frequently Asked Questions: sustainable-construction.org/register/faqs/
Media Kit: trello.com/b/aTZsu2mf/sustainable-buildings-and-construction-summit-2026
Contact: [email protected]
Sponsors & Partners
We are grateful to our sponsors for their support in making this Summit possible and helping to make participation accessible to practitioners from around the world, parituclarly those from emerging markets and developing economies.
Arup | Autodesk | AIA | CNBM - Simona | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Heidelberg Materials | Holcim | RICS | Saint-Gobain | Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC | Trane Technologies
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Thank you also to our media partners, Buildings & Cities and Construction 21, for helping amplify the outcomes of this important gathering.
More Information
- Top 10 Focus Themes of the Summit
Learn about key summit themes →
Ten key themes shaped the agenda:
1. Urgent Housing Needs – Addressing the global shortage through equitable, sustainable solutions.
2. Sustainable Urban Planning – Featuring new paradigms like the “infinite city.”
3. Resilient Infrastructure – With a spotlight on post-disaster recovery and climate adaptation.
4. Sustainable Construction – Rethinking materials, recycling, and life-cycle approaches.
5. Academic-Policy Collaboration – Bridging research and real-world implementation.
6. Innovative Building Materials and Techniques– Including technologies, 3D printing, and vernacular methods.
7. Financing Green Construction – Exploring public-private mechanisms to scale innovation.
8. Global South Engagement – With academic partnerships in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
9. Youth and Future Leadership – Elevating next-generation voices in architecture and planning.
10. Breakthrough Coalitions & Roadmaps – Aligning on pathways for decarbonization and resilience.- Who Was There?
468 delegates from 64 countries attended the summit. Delegated included:
- Government officials and city mayors
- Researchers and academics from top institutions
- Private sector innovators and engineers
- Architects, urban planners, and financiers
- NGOs and international organizations
- Students and emerging professionals in the built environment
- What took place
💡 Build Capacity and Co-Create Solutions
• Academic Showcases – Discover the latest research and innovations by EPFL students and leading international universities.
• Hands-On Workshops – Dive into practical sessions on materials innovation, climate-resilient design, building retrofits, future-ready urban planning, and advanced digital tools.
• Solution-Focused Roundtables – Collaborate across sectors to co-create actionable solutions for a sustainable and resilient built environment.
Explore the full programme →
🌍 Shape the Future of Climate Action in the Built Environment
• High-Level Opening Ceremony – Hear from government leaders across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, alongside industry trailblazers and international champions of sustainable construction.
• Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) Technical Meeting – Advance global cooperation among 48 countries and 17 observers committed to climate action in the buildings sector.
🤝 Connect with the Global Sustainable Buildings Community
• Dynamic Networking Spaces – Build valuable relationships during energizing coffee breaks and relaxed evening receptions, fostering informal yet impactful exchanges.
- Information Webinars
Participation Briefings Recap: In October 2025, we hosted two participation briefings to introduce organisations to opportunities for engaging with the Summit. These sessions will focus on our Call for Implementation Projects, with a particular emphasis on projects from the Global South.
Access Webinar Resources here
The briefings covered:
- Summit programme overview and workshop opportunities
- How selected projects can be showcased at the Summit
- Access to speaking opportunities, dedicated meeting spaces, and networking with global leaders and EPFL academics
- Ways for organisations working on building-related projects to contribute to the transformation of the buildings and construction sector
- Venue Information
SwissTech Convention Center, EPFL
Lausanne, Switzerland- Contact
Email: [email protected]
Learn more about the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 here: sustainable-construction.org/
