GlobalABC Annual Report 2025: 10 years of Global Action for Zero-Emission and Resilient Buildings

In 2025, GlobalABC focused on strengthening the policy, institutional and technical foundations needed to accelerate the transition to a zero-emission, resilient and affordable built environment. Through its global membership of more than 400 members, including 71 countries, the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC), and its Hubs and Action Groups, the Alliance supported governments and stakeholders to advance climate ambition, strengthen enabling environments, and integrate buildings and construction more effectively into national and international climate processes.

A key priority during the year was supporting countries to incorporate buildings and construction into climate planning and policy frameworks. Technical assistance, guidance and stakeholder engagement contributed to progress on NDC development, climate action roadmaps, implementation planning and sector-specific policy development in countries including Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Senegal. GlobalABC also advanced practical tools, recommendations and frameworks on priority topics such as sustainable materials, climate finance, adaptation, procurement, and near-zero emission and resilient buildings.

A major milestone was the operationalisation of the ICBC as the principal political platform for international cooperation on buildings and construction. Through ministerial and technical engagement, governments advanced common priorities, endorsed and acknowledged GlobalABC tools and recommendations, and strengthened international coordination on sector transformation. Complementing this work, GlobalABC's Hubs and Action Groups developed guidance, recommendations and implementation tools while fostering collaboration between governments, industry, financial institutions, academia and civil society.

The Annual Report presents GlobalABC's activities and achievements in 2025 against its strategic objectives and programme priorities. It covers progress in political engagement and international cooperation, national climate planning and policy development, technical guidance and knowledge products, stakeholder collaboration, and implementation support across the buildings and construction sector, reflecting the Alliance's progress over the reporting period and its continued commitment to transforming the sector.

The Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings - Shared Definitions, Indicators, Frameworks, and Policy Guidance for Implementation report was developed under the Buildings Breakthrough Priority International Action on “Standards and Certification”.

This landmark report represents a significant step forward in supporting the global transition towards Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings (NZERBs). It provides a common, practical framework to guide governments, cities, and industry in aligning climate mitigation and resilience objectives across the building sector. Building on the 2025 Interim Report, this final report moves from principles to implementation. It introduces:

• A consolidated definition of NZERBs;
• Core building blocks covering operational and embodied emissions, energy efficiency, low-carbon energy, refrigerants, sufficiency, and resilience;
• A harmonised set of indicators and metrics aligned with existing standards and certification systems;
• Comprehensive policy guidance to support national and local implementation.

The framework emphasises a harmonised yet flexible approach, enabling countries to define targets in line with 1.5°C-compatible pathways, local conditions, and capacities, while improving comparability across jurisdictions. It also promotes a shift toward measured, real-world performance and integrates climate resilience as a central pillar alongside decarbonisation.

The report was developed under the Buildings Breakthrough* –launched at COP28, and coordinated by the UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC)– with technical leadership from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC). It reflects extensive international consultation and collaboration across governments, industry, and civil society. The Buildings Breakthrough aims to make NZERBs the global norm by 2030, and this report provides a critical tool to help translate that ambition into action.

_{*NB: Following recent governance adjustments within GlobalABC, coordination of the Buildings Breakthrough is now integrated into existing GlobalABC structures. Intergovernmental dialogue is convened through the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Construction (ICBC), while progress across priority areas is advanced through GlobalABC working groups and reflected in the NZERB Plan to Accelerate Solutions (PAS). The Buildings Breakthrough was co-led by France and Morocco, endorsed by 29 countries, supported by the European Commission, and engaged over 30 initiatives.}
 

The buildings and construction sector is central to achieving global climate targets. Representing approximately 37% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, it must be largely decarbonized by 2050, while its climate resilience must be urgently enhanced. Achieving this transformation requires a massive scaling-up of investment, yet the current gap stands at a minimum of $100 billion annually. However, bridging this financing gap is not simply a matter of mobilizing more capital; there are critical shortfalls in the structure and capacity of international institutions to promote and finance Near-Zero Emissions and Resilient Buildings (NZERB).

In response, this study, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear (BMUKN), in partnership with and with the support of UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) Secretariat, provides a landscape overview of NZERB financing and technical assistance facilities to identify institutional gaps and formulate recommendations for a more effective approach. 

To gather information, a survey was conducted to assess two tiers of institutions and facilities that support NZERB investment using a standardized template. The analysis reveals a fragmented and reactive financing landscape. Except for a few dedicated facilities, NZERB projects represent a very small portion of the portfolios of large financing institutions, which generally lack specific frameworks for supporting them.

The survey identified several critical gaps:
• Strategic and knowledge gaps: A lack of strategic focus within major institutions, reinforced by poor data and the absence of standardized definitions, metrics, and monitoring for NZERB.
• Institutional and actor gaps: No central coordinating body to guide the NZERB ecosystem, coupled with limited access for the private sector and low engagement from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) due to high transaction costs.
• Financial and pipeline gaps: A reliance on inadequate financial instruments (grants and loans) that fail to scale investment, a weak project pipeline, and a bias toward energy projects with clear financial returns over those with non-monetized resilience benefits. 
 

To address these gaps, the study proposes an integrated framework to scale NZERB investment, built on three pillars (see Figure 2):
• Pillar 1: Standardized NZERB criteria and investment mechanisms
• Pillar 2: Viable and locally adapted business models
• Pillar 3: Local capacity for implementation and financing
 

The analysis concludes that the key is not a lack of capital, but the need to maximize access to current financing mechanisms through a more coordinated and standardized approach. This will involve catalytic action to coordinate with international agencies, financing institutions, and national implementing partners. Key recommendations include promoting market development by fostering alignment between green building standards and climate finance taxonomies; de-risking investment through guarantees and blended finance; building local capacity within regulatory bodies and financial institutions; and strengthening institutional coordination to build a robust ecosystem for NZERB investment.
 

Kenya Buildings & Construction Roadmap provides a shared vision for decarbonising the buildings sector through innovative stakeholder-led bottom up practices, collaboration, partnerships, and accountability. It demonstrates what can be achieved when public and private sectors work together towards a common goal – to create an industry that builds responsibly and sustainably.

The Global Buildings Performance Network are honoured to work alongside Kenya State Department for Public Works, Architectural Association of Kenya, research institutions, and industry partners to accelerate this transformation. By aligning our actions with Kenya’s national goals and focusing on implementable actions and measurable outcomes, we can deliver real change, today and for generations to come.

Learn more here: https://gbpn.org/towards-sustainable-kenya/

The Catalogue of Climate Solutions for Buildings is a cornerstone of the Buildings Breakthrough's Priority Action B4, led by the Solar Impulse Foundation launched at COP30 on November 13.

The Catalogue of Climate Solutions for Buildings shows that the transformation of the building sector is not a distant ambition but a reality already underway. Featuring over 90 real-world cases from more than 40 countries across six continents, it demonstrates that deployment is possible today - covering every stage of the building life cycle, from design and construction to operation and end-of-life. It showcases a wide spectrum of technologies, from advanced digital tools and renewable systems to locally adapted, low-tech approaches, alongside the policies, financial mechanisms, and collaborative initiatives that make their implementation possible. Developed by the Solar Impulse Foundation, lead organisation of the UNEP-hosted Buildings Breakthrough initiative, this work is a landmark deliverable for this coalition of over 30 governments and 30 NGOs working to make near-zero emission and resilient buildings the new normal by 2030.

Learn more about the Catalogue of Climate Solutions for Buildings here: https://solarimpulse.com/publications/catalogue-of-climate-solutions-for-buildings

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21.

UNEP has releasing a new COP30 Factsheet Series exploring the most critical adaptation and mitigation themes shaping today’s global climate agenda. The series equips readers with clear, accessible insights into the debates, decisions, and expected outcomes across priority themes.  

Designed to help negotiators, policymakers, journalists, and observers navigate the road to Belém, each factsheet takes stock of where we stand today and—crucially—previews what to expect at the conference. What issues are rising up the agenda? Where is progress being made? What major outcomes could emerge from the negotiations?

This factsheet covers the buildings and construction sector. Additional topics covered in the series include finance, the Baku–Belém Roadmap, mitigation work programme, adaptation loss and damage, technology negotiations, and key sectors such as cooling, forests, transport, and more. 

The construction sector in Mexico is a fundamental pillar of the national economy. It accounts for approximately 7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs around 4.5 million people. The construction market in Mexico is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% between 2025 and 2034, according to expert reports.

Not only is the construction sector crucial to urban development, but it also faces a significant challenge: the need to adopt sustainable practices. With growing urban development and demand for infrastructure, the opportunity arises to transform construction with a more responsible and energy-efficient model.

In this context, GBCI Mexico, PEEB Cool, SUMe and THREE Environmental Consulting collaborated in the development of the Green Financing Guide for Sustainable Buildings. This resource seeks to connect the financial and construction sectors, promoting the use of financial instruments that facilitate the development of sustainable buildings. The guide is presented as an essential tool for builders, developers and other stakeholders, providing access to clear information on green financing options and compiling case studies and success stories that demonstrate the economic benefits of such practices.

Main objectives

The guide has two main objectives: to boost the development of sustainable buildings through the promotion of green financial instruments and to encourage the creation of financial models that accelerate the sustainable building market in Mexico. This effort is crucial, considering that the construction sector is one of the largest consumers of natural resources, energy and generators of waste.

In addition, the guide details the current situation in Mexico regarding the applicable legislation and sustainable taxonomy, as well as how sustainable building certifications complement the available financial instruments. It includes a compendium of financing tools, an overview of the process for obtaining green financing and relevant contacts for evaluating projects.

Participants

The guide was developed with the participation of eight commercial entities, Banorte, BBVA Mexico, Banco Inmobiliario Mexicano (BIM), HSBC, Mifel, Sabadell, Santander and Scotiabank, and three development banks, Bancomext, International Finance Corportation (IFC) and NAD Bank, as well as important Mexican organizations that have benefited from green finance instruments such as Fibra Uno, Fibra Macquarie and Vinte and other confidential participants.

The guide will be updated annually, with the aim of reflecting market developments and increasing the participation of financial institutions. This initiative represents a significant step toward the integration of sustainable practices in the urban development of Mexico, contributing to the creation of more resilient and responsible communities.

Commissioned by UNEP as host of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), in collaboration with Cues Foundation and Offsetfarm, and supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), this report highlights the urgent need to address embodied carbon in five key construction materials—cement, aluminium, steel, bricks, and glass.

These materials account for over 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 9% of emissions in the buildings and construction sector. With the sector responsible for 37% of global CO₂ emissions and 34% of energy demand, urgent action is needed to reduce its climate impact. Transitioning to low-carbon materials could lower emissions in some building types by 19–46%, yet data gaps remain around the emission profiles and costs of such alternatives.

This report also examines 28 carbon credit methodologies, with a focus on 10 that directly address embodied carbon. 

To meet global net-zero targets, estimated to require $9.2 trillion in annual investments, the report underscores the importance of mobilizing finance—including through carbon markets—to scale up the adoption of low-carbon building materials and close existing methodological gaps.

In 2024, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) continued to strengthen its position as the leading global platform for a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient built environment. Membership rose to 339, including 42 countries—with a 19% growth from low- and middle-income countries—while the Alliance expanded its impact through high-level convenings, strategic partnerships, and the launch of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC). From publishing flagship reports and roadmaps to coordinating COP29’s Buildings Pavilion and mobilizing private sector action, GlobalABC is driving systemic change across the buildings sector worldwide.