Buildings and Construction Sectors Partner to Achieve Paris Goals in the Built Environment
Marrakesh, 10 November 2016 - The Buildings and Constructions sectors are partnering to contribute to the well-below 2°C scenario outlined in the Paris Agreement, underlined in today’s Global Climate Action day on Cities and Human Settlements at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco.
The buildings sector, representing 223 billion square meters built, is one of the main sectors concerned by climate change. Buildings represent 50% of the world assets value, 20% of GHG direct and indirect emissions, and are exposed to higher climate risks. As such, buildings have the largest potential for a cost-effective mitigation of Greenhouse Gases.
The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GABC), in coordination with the Governments of Morocco and France, ICLEI, the UN Climate Change Secretariat, and UN Environment held an action event on transition towards efficient, low-emission and resilient buildings at COP-22 in Marrakech. The event showcased and discussed the actions and progress currently being made, both by countries and by non-state actors to transition the buildings sector to dramatically contribute to the well-below 2°C scenario outlined in the Paris Agreement.
The GABC also presented at this event the “Global Status Report,” looking at the current situation of the buildings and construction sector. This is a preliminary version of its future yearbook outlining on the transition towards low-GHG and resilient real estate. In addition, the “Global Roadmap” was showcased, summarizing the main overarching goals, steps and agenda that the global building sector could share. It creates a common vision and the framework for collaboration towards a low-GHG and resilient real estate pathway.
The “Global Roadmap for Action of Cities and Regions for Climate” calls for the strengthening of the capacity to support project preparation and funding, the integration of local and regional dimensions in the global financial ecosystem and support capitalization, the transfer of knowledge and practices and access to available funding sources and their engineering.
In 2017, a seminar will be organized to discuss the financing of such buildings and shall explore the topics of guaranteeing the environmental performance of such investments and couple technical assistance with investments.
For more information on the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction and information on the action event on transition towards efficient, low-emission and resilient buildings, please visit: http://www.globalabc.org
About Global Climate Action
France and Morocco's global climate champions have set out their detailed agenda to boost cooperative action between governments, cities, business, investors and citizens to cut emissions rapidly and help vulnerable nations adapt to climate impacts and build their own clean energy, sustainable futures.
Message from the Champions
“A year after COP 21, the great dynamic of climate action is now growing strong. As we all gather to Marrakech time has come to start to take stock of what has been achieved during the last year. To be consistent with the long-term goals, all actors will have to work together, not only to achieve the national targets of the NDCs, but also to go further and bridge the gap of emissions. This sense of urgency should guide us all into accelerating immediate efforts and delivering ambitious action. We must identify what concrete policy options and what tools we will have to mobilize in the short term. The science is clear: the path towards achieving the long-term goals should bring us to peaking GHG emissions by 2020. This is a challenge, and we are not there yet. On the current trends, we will be in 2030 between 11 to 14 GT above Paris-compatible pathways. The purpose of these days is to strengthen all efforts and take them to the next level to stay on track for the objectives: stay well below 2°C and if possible 1,5°C, increase adaptation and resilience capacities and reorient financial flows. It is our responsibility, as champions, to make the link between the real world and the COP process. Political leaders from all around the world should hear and be inspired by the solutions at our reach.”
For information about Global Climate Action:
UNFCCC:Matthew Phillips | mphillips@unfccc.int| +212 (0) 688 006 615
Contact for champion Hakima El Haité: Anne Testuz | anne@atestuz.com |
+212 (0) 6 34 61 64 37
Contact for champion Laurence Tubiana: Marie Jaudet | marie.jaudet@cop21.gouv.fr | +33 (0)6 64 40 22 46
Follow the Global Climate Action
On the web: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/climate-action/
On social media: @UNFCCC @COP22 @LaurenceTubiana@HElHaiteCop22
On live-stream: http://unfccc.cloud.streamworld.de/upcoming