Building for a sustainable future: the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GABC) supporting partners to deliver against multiple Sustainable Development Goals

Urban development will require massive construction and building.Numbers are well known. Buildings are responsible for over 30% of GHG emissions as a sector, as well as over 30% of resource use. This figure is growing rapidly and could reach 50% of CO2 emissions by 2050. Rapid urbanisation, especially in emerging economies will accelerate this impact. Harnessing the projected potential of 80% of CO2 emission reductions by 2050 will be critical in implementing the Paris Agreement. SDG 11 calls for adequate, safe and affordable housing for all. Building homes for the 2.5 m projected additional people on the planet and tackling the existing quantitative and qualitative housing deficit, provides a formidable opportunity to make investments climate-proof from the outset. Returns on investment make also the refurbishment of the building stock a good business. But contributions of actions go well beyond SDG 11, and include SDGs 1, 3, 7, 12, 13, and 15. The urban challenges we face will not be met without taking into consideration this need and assuring an affective transition to sustainable buildings and constructions. Business asusual is not an option. The buildings and construction sector is an economic powerhouse. It represents more than 50% of global wealth. The sector also offers one of the most cost effective and an economically beneficial path for reducing energy demand and associated emissions while at the same time supporting adaptation and resilience to climate change. Many solutions are available. Proven policy, finance and technology actions exist. In this context, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC) was launched by 20 countries and over 60 organizations at COP21, as part of the Lima Paris Action Agenda (LPAA), to scale up actions to help realize the huge potential for the buildings and construction sector to reduce its emissions throughout its life cycle, while harnessing multiple benefits including air quality and better health.