Buildings are responsible for 35 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and 32 per cent of global energy demand. While progress has been made on reducing operational carbon, solutions for reducing embodied carbon emissions arising from construction, maintenance, and demolition have lagged far behind. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partners are supporting countries to accelerate a transition towards circular, low-carbon, and resource-efficient built environment. 

Through the creation of enabling frameworks for sustainable materials, the project fosters responsible acquisition and use of building materials, stimulates local market development, and supports countries in raising their climate ambition within the buildings and construction sector, with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany).