Dear GBCs and Partners,

I’m delighted to be writing to you today in my new role as Interim CEO at the World Green Building Council.

Last week we published the WorldGBC Annual Report 2017/18: Building a Better Future which outlines the achievements of our global movement in the past year. I'm proud to see we have continued to grow in influence and impact around the world, thanks to your outstanding leadership. Our global voice and local capacity have positioned the green building movement, I believe, at an all-time high. I have no doubt that we are uniquely positioned to scale up all the necessary solutions to address climate change and foster sustainable development in the built environment, towards building a better future.  

As outlined in the report, we have implemented many impactful initiatives which are helping us better support you, our Members, whilst advancing inspiration and deeper transformation. I am very excited about our plans for 2019, as we continue to focus on our collective work to progress our shared objectives.

Thank you for your ongoing support and active involvement. I look forward to working with all of you in 2019.

Yours sincerely,

Cristina Gamboa, Interim CEO, World Green Building Council

To download the WorldGBC Annual Report 2017/18: Building a Better Future, click HERE.

How healthier homes make a healthier planet

Last week at COP24, WorldGBC published a new guide outlining actions to make homes healthier for people and planet. Produced as part of WorldGBC's Better Places for People project, the Healthier Homes, Healthier Planet guidetakes a combination of the latest research into air quality, thermal and acoustic comfort and lighting and translates it into simple, low-cost and practical strategies to make the home environment healthier for both people and planet. Our key message is that homes and buildings across the world must be sustainable for people and planet. By publishing this guide, we hope this information will empower homeowners and occupiers to invest in a healthier home. To download the Healthier Homes, Healthier Planet guide, click here. For more information about the guide or the Better Places for People project, contact Catriona Brady [email protected]

COP24: WorldGBC represents green building and construction movement

Over the last two weeks, WorldGBC and members of our network attended the COP24 climate talks in Katowice, Poland to remind leaders to recognise the vital role of the buildings and construction in delivering on the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. During COP24, the GlobalABC published the 2018 Global Status Report. The report calls for scaled-up ambition to decarbonise the built environment, highlighting how dramatic action from governments, cities and business is needed if the global buildings and construction sector is to cut its carbon footprint in line with international agreements. Read the report here. To see a list of COP24 events where WorldGBC and members participated, click here. For more information, email Georgie Eldridge [email protected]

Regional Spotlight: Europe Network

Last week, over 20 countries from WorldGBC's Europe Network signed an open letter urging the European Commission to recognise the vital role of the built environment sector in delivering a climate neutral Europe. The letter was published the same day the European Commission’s vision for a climate neutral Europe was outlined at COP24. In the letter, WorldGBC Europe urges the European Commission to work with countries, cities, companies and citizens to deliver renovation strategies needed for the climate transition, and stresses that addressing the full life-cycle potential of buildings in addition to operational emissions is critical to achieving a net zero emissions economy. The letter also expresses the belief that the European Commission’s Level(s) framework has the potential to galvanise actors across the construction value chain to tackle these issues. For more information, contact Audrey Nugent [email protected]

WorldGBC Member Value Survey: the results

We are pleased to be able to now share with you the findings of the 2018 Member Value and Impact Survey (MVS). The MVS 2018 results have been analysed and put into a presentation pack on Basecamp which includes the trends and challenges GBCs foresee, policy wins and changes in sources of revenue. These valuable findings will enable us to demonstrate our collective impact and also highlights ways we, WorldGBC, can provide further value to GBCs. The information you provided will be used to guide our focus in 2019-2020. Our Annual Report 2017/18 also includes examples of the leading work that GBCs are doing, since you asked us to promote the work of GBCs and share examples of regional and global best practice. Thank you again for sharing your feedback this year. We welcome your feedback on the findings around the campfire on Basecamp. For more information, contact Cristina Gamboa [email protected]

What a year! See you in a bigger, better 2019! 

As 2018 draws to a close, we've been reflecting on what an incredible year it's been for our green building movement (see our annual report) and are looking ahead to another impactful year for green building in 2019. To see what WorldGBC currently has in the diary, please see this latest calendar graphic. Remember to check our website and social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. Additionally, for all Member GBCs, don't forget to visit our Members' Area on Basecamp for additional updates, key information and live message threads. You can find exclusive documentation on Basecamp, as well as regional and project-focused content and communications materials. Please note the WorldGBC offices will be closed between 24 December 2018 to 2 January 2019. We look forward to working with you in 2019! For more information, contact Georgie Eldridge [email protected]

New partnership set to generate sustainable recovery and reconstruction in MENA

Earlier this month, WorldGBC's MENA Regional Network and Chatham House signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commence efforts to encourage reconstruction efforts that foster environmental and social sustainability in war-torn countries across the Middle East and North Africa. The initial one-year knowledge and cooperation partnership will focus on developing a strong plan to research and raise awareness of past experience, local cultural practices and inspiring adaptive examples; coupled with intensive cross-sector dialogue to develop geographically appropriate principles and practical guidelines for sustainable post-conflict reconstruction. The collaboration will lay the essential groundwork for a regional agenda in which the re-built environment contributes to healthy, resource-secure and climate-resilient societies.

For more information, contact Mohammad Asfour [email protected]

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