Act fast to slash buildings' carbon footprint, urges UN

Emissions from sector up 5% in the last decade when they should have fallen 28%

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PARIS - Countries must move rapidly to slash CO2 emissions from homes, offices, shops and other buildings — a sector that accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas pollution, the United Nations said on March 17.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the building sector rose around 5 per cent in the last decade when they should have fallen 28 per cent, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).

It said emissions had plateaued since 2023 as climate policies began to have an impact, particularly green building standards, the use of renewable energy and electrified heating and cooling.

But the building sector still consumes 32 per cent of the world's energy and contributes 34 per cent of CO2 emissions, the report found.

"The buildings where we work, shop and live account for a third of global emissions and a third of global waste," said Ms Inger Andersen, executive director of Unep.

"The good news is that government actions are working. But we must do more and do it faster."