2023 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Beyond foundations - Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector

Abstract

The 2023 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction indicates a significant lag in the sector's progress toward the Paris Agreement's net-zero carbon targets by 2050. To address this, the report provides targeted recommendations: For governments, the urgent need is to develop and enforce climate action roadmaps for buildings and construction, with 161 nations still pending. Building energy codes must be strengthened to enhance efficiency, and despite economic hurdles, investment in building decarbonisation should increase. Policies should also aim to reduce embodied carbon through sustainable practices and materials and promote retrofitting to significantly reduce energy consumption. Private sector actors are encouraged to integrate climate action roadmaps, channel investments into energy-efficient and net-zero carbon buildings and undertake retrofits to lower emissions. They should also be mindful of their social impact, promoting justice and equity regarding access to and affordability of housing. Researchers and NGOs play a crucial role in supporting the creation of climate action roadmaps with evidence-based research. They should collaborate in developing data frameworks to support decarbonisation, raise awareness with media and through strategic communications and push for policy changes. Cross-sectoral collaborations are vital to enhance the decarbonisation impact. These steps are critical for realigning the buildings and construction sector with global climate goals, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future.

Advancing Sustainable Construction: Insights into Clay-Based Additive Manufacturing for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

“…Maria De Los Angeles Ortega Del Rosario 1,2,3 *, Melany Medina 1 , Rafael Duque 1 , Antonio Alberto Jaén Ortega 1,4 and Luis Castillero…”

“…This percentage could increase to 34% when the energy used to produce construction materials is also considered. Moreover, it represents 37% of energy-related CO 2 emissions and 21% of total greenhouse gas emissions [4]. Growing global concerns over climate change, the depletion of raw materials, and the substantial carbon and water footprints associated with conventional materials have catalyzed a vigorous and ongoing quest for strategies and technologies to mitigate these challenges and enhance the AEC industry's sustainability [5].…”

“…Their production and use still entail substantial energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, underscoring the need for continued research and development to pursue more sustainable construction methodologies and materials that align with environmental conservation goals. Moreover, using low-carbon and energy-efficient materials is paramount in decarbonization strategies [4], and thus, currently, it still exhibits great challenges to be compatible with the sustainability and resilience necessary in cities [21].…”

“…Using low-carbon and energy-efficient materials is paramount in decarbonization strategies [4], which remains a great challenge for concrete. Even if it is used coupled with AM, it is believed that it can increase the sustainability of the AEC industry since structures could be shaped in forms that can efficiently weigh between mechanical performance and material use, increasing productivity.…”

Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Impact of an Electrochromic Glazing on the Energy Use and Indoor Comfort of an Office Room

“…Buildings account for a high energy consumption, and consequently, high CO 2 emission levels [1]. A significant amount of the consumed energy [2] is used to provide heating and cooling, along with artificial lighting, to indoor spaces.…”