CAGBC at WorldGBC’s Global Solutions Forum in London

For many countries committed to reducing carbon emissions, 2030 is a significant target. The World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) recent Global Solutions Forum, held in London on June 24-27, highlighted how there is just over 2,000 days until the building sector must half its emissions.

The Forum brought together 52 Green Building Councils (GBCs) to exchange ideas and find new solutions to the climate challenge. CAGBC, a founding member of the WorldGBC, was represented by President and CEO Thomas Mueller and Chief Commercial Officer Brent Gilmour. Sessions echoed the idea that the built environment is a critical climate solution on the global stage.

The announcement that WorldGBC will be taking a leading role in Buildings Breakthrough Priority Action 1 was a highlight of the Leadership Summit. By focusing on voluntary industry ‘Standards and Certification’, this priority will drive the pursuit of greener building practices and operations. First announced at the COP28 in Dubai and endorsed by 27 countries, including Canada, the Buildings Breakthrough facilitates international collaboration between governments and industry to make near-zero emissions and resilient buildings the new normal.

WorldGBC, alongside the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), will convene a working group of national GBCs, key international organizations, and country representatives to build consensus around the defining the principles required for voluntary standards to deliver better buildings.

“WorldGBC’s leadership in the Buildings Breakthrough Priority Action places the onus on green building councils like CAGBC to drive collaboration in delivering local standards and certifications needed to advance resilient, zero-carbon buildings,” said Thomas Mueller. “Consistent application of standards and ratings is key in advancing industry action and improve outcomes, which requires GBCs to engage with governments, the building industry and the finance sectors.”

With the next COP in Azerbaijan looming, this year’s Forum considered sustainable finance and how it can support the scaling up of deep retrofits and new zero-carbon buildings. Sustainable finance solutions can help reorient capital flows and investment towards green building projects that advance global sustainability goals. Initiatives such as WorldGBC’s Sustainable Finance Taskforce help enhance collective learning and help establish consensus on proven solutions to make change happen.

“The importance of carbon as it relates to buildings has been paramount for achieving decarbonization objectives. What changed and was validated during the Global Solutions Forum was the shift in the global understanding of how carbon is now part of the opportunity and risk of real estate transactions and related financing decisions,” said Brent Gilmour. ” Green buildings drive business value and provide that critical intersection between carbon leadership and investment expectation for enhanced transparency and disclosure reporting.”

Get involved in World Green Building Week Sept. 9-13

The WorldGBC community will reconvene September 9-13, 2024, for World Green Building Week, a week-long campaign to unify the global building community around one mission: #BuildingTheTransition.

CAGBC members are encouraged to get involved by sharing their success stories. Take advantage of these localized assets to and involved in the #buildingthetransition campaign!