WorldGBC - Global Update (Jun 2019)

Get involved in World Green Building Week 2019!

Dear GBCs and Partners

Welcome to the May edition of the Global Update newsletter.

Yesterday on World Environment Day, WorldGBC launched the much awaited campaign materials for World Green Building Week 2019 (23-29 September). World Green Building Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of green buildings as one the most effective means to achieving a range of global goals, such as addressing climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities, and driving economic growth.

This year’s theme #BuildingLife focuses on reducing carbon emissions from all stages of a building’s lifecycle.
The goal of the campaign is to highlight the need for the sustainable production, design, build, use, deconstruction and reuse of buildings and their materials. Thank you to all of those who took part in the consultation to refine the creative concept and messaging. The resources provided will help Green Building Councils, your members, and WorldGBC partners prepare for the week.  

Available resources include:

• How to get involved guide - Find out the many ways you can participate in the week
• Social media posts - Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram using #BuildingLife and #WGBW2019
• Posters - Print and share the posters in your building
• Website banner - Use the banner on your own website
• WGBW2019 logo - Use the logo on your own marketing materials
• Email signature - Spread the word about WGBW2019 on email
• PowerPoint template - Host a presentation at an event
• Photography templates - Create your own photo visuals
• My #BuildingLife Pledge poster - Tell us what action you’re taking individually or as a business or organisation to build a better future
• Brand guidelines - Guidance on how to use the materials

We hope to involve as many GBCs and partners as possible to help us make this the biggest and most impactful World Green Building Week yet! We'll be hosting some webinars throughout June, July and August (find details here) to explore ways to participate in the week. In the meantime, please do get in touch with us and let's talk through some ideas. For more information about World Green Building Week, contact Angela Howarth - [email protected]

GBCs advancing net zero globally

Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) Status Report 2019 to highlight leadership action helping to shift the market towards net zero carbon operational emissions in buildings. The release marks two years since From Thousands to Billions was published in May 2017, a call to action report on coordinated action from businesses, governments and NGOs towards achieving 100% net zero carbon buildings by 2050, and this report showcases the market leadership in putting this into practice. The report features action from across WorldGBC's network of Green Building Councils, including the 24 GBCs participating in the global Advancing Net Zero project, as well as signatories to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and some of our key partners. In addition to releasing the report, WorldGBC announced reaching over 50 signatories to the Commitment. You can find the full list of current signatories here, and details of the latest signatories here. For more information, contact Victoria Burrows - [email protected]

BUILD UPON2: Scaling up city renovation

Last month, WorldGBC's European network in collaboration with eight cities and partners announced the launch of BUILD UPON2, the next phase of the world’s largest collaborative project on building renovation. The project will empower cities to join forces with national governments and industry to decarbonise their existing building stock by 2050. BUILD UPON 2 will strengthen the effectiveness and implementation of the national building renovation strategies required by the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The following eight pilot cities will actively be involved in the project: Velika Gorica, Croatia; Budaörs, Hungary; Dublin, Ireland; Padova, Italy; Wroclaw, Poland; Madrid, Spain; Eskişehir, Turkey, and Leeds, UK. The cities will work with their national GBC to develop and test a multi level renovation impact framework containing a suite of milestones and measurable progress indicators including: emissions reductions, increased employment and improved health. For more information, contact Audrey Nugent - [email protected]

WorldGBC & UN-Habitat sign MOU

In May, WorldGBC, UN-Habitat and Chatham House signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 1st UN-Habitat Assembly to develop a regional agenda for sustainable recovery, regeneration and reconstruction for the Arab region. The MoU will lay the groundwork for a regional agenda for sustainable recovery, regeneration and reconstruction in which the rebuilt environment contributes to healthy, resource secure and climate resilient societies. This regional agenda will be aligned with principles of sustainable development and build back better anchored in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030, the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and other global agendas. Research into past experience, local cultural practices and inspiring adaptive examples will be coupled with intensive cross sector dialogue to develop geographically appropriate principles and actionable guidelines for sustainable post conflict reconstruction in Arab cities. For more information, contact Mohammad Asfour - [email protected]

Cleaning up buildings & construction globally