A global perspective on decarbonization

Early in March, France hosted the Buildings and Climate Global Forum, a follow up to COP28 where 28 countries supported the Buildings Breakthrough. A thousand organizations involved in the buildings sector and 80 ministerial delegations from various governments were invited, the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) was among them.

As the first Buildings and Climate Global Forum dedicated to the decarbonization and climate resilience of buildings, the Forum aimed to establish a general framework for the international cooperation and commitment required to advance the decarbonization, adaptation and resilience of the buildings sector by 2050.

Participating in international events enables CAGBC to explore leading practices, share insights on Canadian innovation, and better understand the global pressures shaping the real estate sector. While in Paris, CAGBC President and CEO Thomas Mueller participated in pre-forum events, including appearing on a panel on rehabilitating buildings during the Construction21 Symposium “To COP or not to Cope.” He also facilitated discussions in a workshop organized by the USGBC, UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Enniscourt Forum exploring how policy can advance low-carbon, resilient communities and promote better quality of life.

Thomas also moderated a plenary Forum discussion panel called “Multilevel Action to Strengthen the Declaration de Chaillot.” The declaration was released at the Forum and was signed by 70 countries, including Canada. The Buildings Breakthrough 2024–25 priority actions were also announced which focus on: Standards and Certifications, Demand Creation, Finance and Investment, Research and Deployment, and Capacity and Skills.

“It was a pleasure to participate in important discussions happening in and around the Forum,” said Mueller. “The sharing of leading practices, approaches and challenges can help all nations accelerate the transition to zero-carbon, resilient buildings. The shift in focus on buildings on a global scale will have a significant impact on the Canadian market, as seen by the proliferation and growing adoption of international reporting standards. By participating at the global level, CAGBC can share Canadian innovation on zero carbon buildings and provide a better line of sight on decarbonization efforts required for our building sector in the near future.”

What’s in the declaration?

The “Declaration de Chaillot” is the first global framework on the decarbonization of the built environment, committing signatories to establishing and implementing decarbonization and resilience pathways for buildings.

Aligning with the Paris Agreement, and leveraging policies and other measures, the Declaration advances the consideration of a Whole Life Carbon approach for construction and retrofits. Other priorities included focusing on resilience as an outcome, advancing the retrofit, repurposing or reuse of existing assets and low-carbon building material use, as well as minimizing impacts on the environment. Energy was also an important consideration, as the electrification of buildings will require greater efficiency and the adoption of passive performance measures.

From a policy perspective, the Declaration reinforced the importance of ensuring building codes reflect the aspirations of the Paris Agreement. Voluntary standards and rating systems are also recognized as important mechanisms to advance innovation in domestic real estate markets. Policy levers were also seen as important to establish financial frameworks to accelerate low-carbon building and retrofits and promote the production and use of low-carbon materials.

“The Declaration spells out how governments can lead the transformation through progressive procurement policies, financial supports, and investments in workforce capacity building,” said Mueller. “I am pleased at Canada’s progress in this area, with the Building Retrofits Financing Initiative, the Greening Government Strategy which prioritizes zero carbon buildings for government-owned and leased buildings, and the pending Green Building Strategy. The Declaration underscores the importance of voluntary standards and certifications such as LEED and the Zero Carbon Building Standards, which help the building sector advance more quickly on implementing and verifying their sustainability goals and actions.”

What does it mean for Canada?

As a signatory to the Declaration, the commitments will impact policies related to buildings at the federal level along with provincial and municipal governments. In Canada, this includes federal policies such as the coming Green Buildings Strategy, Buy Clean initiatives, and the Greening Government Strategy. For the private sector, it will mean a shift toward increased expectations from government and investors on achieving, measuring, and disclosing carbon performance and resilience measures for real estate assets and portfolios. Project financing strategies and tools along with a green taxonomy will be critically important in advancing decarbonization in the real estate sector. A green taxonomy was recommended to the Minister of Finance as part of the pre-budget consultations.

“Coming out of Paris, it was clear that Canada is on the right path, and in some areas, like zero carbon building construction and retrofit, leading internationally,” said Mueller. “But there is still much work to be done in driving building retrofit through transition planning and unlock the value of green buildings for innovation, economic growth, and resilience. As we look at the Declaration, I’m encouraged to see how well CAGBC’s programs and standards align to international best practices and climate goals.”