NAIROBI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The rapid adoption of a green ethos in the building and construction sector is key to minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and securing a climate-resilient future for humanity, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said in a report released Monday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024-2025 identified the building sector as a major driver of the climate crisis, contributing 34 percent of global carbon emissions in 2023.

While acknowledging modest progress in greening the construction sector, the report warned that financing bottlenecks, fragmented policies, and slow technology adoption undermine the quest to achieve net-zero targets.

According to the report, carbon emissions from buildings and the construction sector have increased 5 percent since 2015, slowing progress toward the 28 percent reduction target by 2030.

Meanwhile, the adoption of renewable energy and electrification to support heating and cooling systems has witnessed a positive trend, the UNEP report noted, hailing circular construction practices, such as material reuse and modular buildings, that have hastened the green transition.

According to the report, green building certifications have grown significantly, with 20 percent of new commercial buildings in richer economies achieving certification in 2023, up from 15 percent in 2020.

It underscored the role of forward-looking policies and laws, innovative financing, and appropriate technologies to promote the decarbonization and sustainability of the building sector in the face of climatic stress.

"With emissions reduction targets looming, stronger policies, investments, and cross-sector collaboration will be essential to unlock the full potential of the buildings and construction sector as a key driver of sustainable global development," the report added. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)