The first ever Buildings and Climate Global Forum concluded with the adoption by representatives of 70 countries of the Declaration de Chaillot, a foundational document for international cooperation that will enable progress towards a rapid, fair, and effective transition of the sector.
The Forum, which brought together over 1,400 participants and representatives of 70 countries in the French capital, was dedicated to the decarbonisation and climate resilience of buildings. According to the latest Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, released this week by UNEP and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the building and construction sector represents over a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. The report indicates that in 2022, the sector accounted for 37 per cent of global operational energy and process-related Carbon emissions.
Mr. R. A. M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhuri, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Housing and Public Works led the Bangladesh team on the forum. He explained the actions taken by the government led by Sheikh Hasina, Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina has created a 100 million USD fund under Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041 from our own resources to combat climate change. In terms of disaster management and adaptation, Bangladesh is regarded as a model – he added.
In the Declaration the signing ministers recall that with the acceleration of climate change, buildings will increasingly be exposed to climate-related risks, particularly affecting developing countries and cities.
The signatory ministers of the Declaration emphasize the still inadequate volume of renovations and constructions of sustainable buildings, widening the gap between the sector’s trajectory and the goal of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 1.5°C by 2100. They also denounce the continued investment in systems and buildings with excessive carbon intensity and the overexploitation of natural resources for construction material production, which contributes to biodiversity and environmental degradation.
In the face of the climate emergency, a swift transition of the buildings sector is a direct requirement to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement. It is essential to construct this transition with all stakeholders, with a shared vision of cooperation and coordination.
The ministers committed to:
Implementing roadmaps, regulatory frameworks, and mandatory building and energy codes to move towards carbon-neutral buildings; Implementing an appropriate financial framework with financial and fiscal incentives, and regulatory tools to increase the share of resilient, near-zero emission, and affordable buildings; Promoting the adoption of labels, standards, and certifications; Leading by example by adopting ambitious policies regarding public procurement; Promoting the production, development, and use of low-carbon, durable, and cost-effective construction materials; Promoting collaborative value chains, as well as research and development of innovative solutions; Improving skills by strengthening local know-how, considering mitigation and adaptation strategies; Developing multi-level governance, coordination among different stakeholders, and a more participatory approach to ensure coordination of implementation; And developing tools and regulatory frameworks to collect and share data and best practices.
To ensure the implementation of these commitments, the ministers pledge to utilise all international forums such as the G7, G20, G77, and climate COPs to further incorporate the specific issues of construction and buildings. They announce the establishment of an “Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate” coordinated by the GlobalABC to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the goals and means of the Declaration.
The Declaration de Chaillot represents a decisive step in the operational implementation of the Paris Agreement. For the first time, government representatives have agreed on a common declaration to engage an entire value chain of the sector in the transition. The participation of over 1400 stakeholders from this value chain at the first-ever Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris on 7 and 8 March is the first tangible translation of this unprecedented mobilisation.
