Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC)

In March 2024, the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris marked an important step for the building sector's role in global climate action. The event culminated in the adoption of the Déclaration de Chaillot, endorsed by over 60 countries, establishing the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC). This council brings together governments to collaborate on accelerating decarbonization and resilience in the building sector, aligning national actions with international climate goals. ICBC, officially launched at COP29, is coordinated by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and operates within the framework set forth in the Declaration.

Role and Objectives

The Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) serves as a high-level political framework fueled by the recommendations, evidence, and insights generated by the Buildings Breakthrough and the GlobalABC Hubs and Action Groups, among other relevant processes and initiatives.

Its primary functions include:

Facilitating International Cooperation: ICBC enables countries to exchange knowledge, share successes and challenges, and explore effective policies for sustainable building practices, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation.
Aligning Policies with Global Goals: Supporting the alignment of national initiatives in the building sector with the Paris Agreement’s objectives for decarbonization and resilience.
Review Progress: Reviewing the implementation of decarbonization strategies and climate resilience measures in the building sector, while fostering global collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Guiding Global Action: Developing policy recommendations, issuing common statements, and providing technical briefs to assist member states in advancing sustainable transformation in the building sector.

Troika Leadership

The ICBC's leadership comprises a troika, with France as Chair and Brazil and Kenya as Vice-Chairs, demonstrating a collaborative, global approach to sustainable buildings. As part of this leadership, Brazil will host the upcoming ministerial meeting at COP30.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention, France

"France is firmly committed to decarbonizing buildings, with ambitious energy efficiency regulations already in place. Now, a global mobilization is essential to address the climate challenges of this sector. The institutionalization of the ICBC under the Declaration de Chaillot represents a critical political milestone. Our ambition is to make the ICBC a key tool for ministers driving this transformation."

Jader Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil

"Aligned with our commitment to the Declaration de Chaillot, Brazil recognizes the construction sector's potential to mitigate climate change effects. Social housing programs are central to this vision. Through the new federal financial program (PAC), investments in slum redevelopment and social housing are key initiatives to support vulnerable families by improving and constructing residential buildings. Climate justice is inseparable from social justice, and local actors’ efforts are vital to reaffirming the goals of the Declaration."

Alice Wahome, Minister of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, Kenya

"Kenya is at a turning point in its efforts to combat climate change, particularly in the construction sector. With significant progress made under our Vision 2030 initiative, we aim to integrate climate considerations into building practices and promote green technologies. As part of the ICBC troika, Kenya is committed to enhancing coordination and international cooperation to ensure climate-conscious development."

Members and Observers

Governments that have expressed interest in joining ICBC and have endorsed the Déclaration de Chaillot are recognized as members. Those that have shown interest but have not yet endorsed the declaration participate as "Observer States." While Observer States can attend meetings, they do not have decision-making or governance roles.

ICBC Members: 46: Azerbaïdjan
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Gabon
Germany
Ghana

Greece
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kosovo
Latvia
Liberia
Lithuania
Malta
Mauritania
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands

New Zealand
Poland
Portugal
Samoa
Senegal
Somalia
Republic of Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Tunisia
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Zambia

Additionally, the following countries have endorsed the Déclaration de Chaillot and are in the process of formally confirming their participation in the ICBC: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Republic of Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan.
ICBC Observers: 16: Algeria
Burkina Faso
Dominican Republic
Eritrea
European Commission
Indonesia
Kiribati
Madagascar
Maldives
Mauritius
Nepal
State of Palestine
Republic of Moldova
South Africa
Suriname
Ukraine

Meetings

2024 - Institutionalization of ICBC

First Information Meeting: Held online in two sessions on 26 September 2024.
Second Information Meeting: Hosted by the OECD on 10 October 2024, as part of the 3rd OECD Sustainable Buildings Roundtable.
Institutionalization of ICBC: Achieved on 20 November 2024 at COP29 during the High-Level Roundtable on Green Construction, Energy Efficiency in Buildings, and Climate Resilience. Ministers and high representatives from Brazil, Estonia, France, the UK, Kenya, Lithuania, Tanzania, Uganda, and others participated in the event. You can download the summary report or watch the event recording below.

Watch again the ICBC Inauguration at COP29

Read the summary report of the COP29 Inauguration of ICBC: Click here

2025

ICBC Technical Meeting (25 March 2025): The first bi-annual technical meeting of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) in 2025 will convene senior representatives from member states and observers in a closed-door online setting. Following the official inauguration of the ICBC at COP29, and in coordination with the ICBC Troika (France, Brazil, and Kenya), the meeting will support ongoing efforts to define the Council’s priorities, engagement processes, and milestones for 2025–2027. It will provide a forum to advance the implementation of the Déclaration de Chaillot, share national priorities, exchange best practices, discuss reporting mechanisms, and coordinate next steps in preparation for COP30. For more on the session, including the agenda and further resources, please click here.

Experiences and best practices by ICBC members

2025

👉 Nordic lessons learned so far – what to consider when regulating embodied greenhouse gasses and how to improve resource efficiency in construction - Denmark.pdf

👉 Italy’s contribution to the discussion on the Chaillot Declaration - Italy. pdf

👉 Challenges in introducing Whole life carbon approach policy - Japan.pdf

👉 Strengthening the Regulatory and Incentive Framework to Promote Energy Performance of Buildings - Morocco.pdf

👉 Sustainable Cities - Innovation in Architecture and Renovation for Decarbonization - Spain.pdf

How to Join

Countries interested in officially joining ICBC and endorsing the Déclaration de Chaillot are required to complete the following steps. For any additional information or questions, please contact the GlobalABC Secretariat at [email protected], ensuring to include "ICBC" in the email subject line.

Download and complete the Endorsement Template

The template is available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Fill in all required information.

Submit the Completed Template

Send the completed document to [email protected], ensuring that [email protected] and [email protected] are copied (CC) on the correspondence.