National and local leaders unite to decarbonize cities and buildings
Paris, 11 March 2024 — National and local leaders from around the world convened last week at the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in Paris to address the pressing challenges of climate change and urbanization. The forum, organized by the French Government, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (Global ABC), was held against the backdrop of increasing climate urgency and aimed at intensifying efforts towards the decarbonization of cities, with a specific emphasis on the pivotal role of the buildings sector.
Building upon the momentum generated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) where substantial progress was made in climate action, the forum brought together national, local, and subnational government leaders, as well as stakeholders from civil society and business sectors, to culminate in the adoption of the Declaration de Chaillot, endorsed by 70 governments. The Declaration, setting forth a vision for the decarbonization and resilience of buildings, represents a call to action for all stakeholders to implement roadmaps, regulatory frameworks, sustainable housing policies and financial incentives that pave the way for carbon-neutral buildings and affordable housing solutions.
UN-Habitat, as the United Nations agency mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, provided technical support to the Forum by bringing forward thematic discussions on adequate, affordable and sustainable housing, as well as the role of urban leadership in advancing the climate agenda.
Decarbonizing housing and urbanization
The nexus between cities and buildings is indisputable, with over half of the global population residing in urban areas – a figure expected to rise by 2.5 billion people by 2050, accounting for 68 per cent of the global population.
As the demand for buildings, especially for housing, escalates rapidly, buildings currently contribute to 37 per cent of global energy-related CO2 emissions – a figure projected to rise with increasing floor space. 2.8 billion people experience some form of housing inadequacy, ranging from homelessness to substandard and unsafe housing. Solutions that cater to the needs of people without exacerbating climate change, resource scarcity, and biodiversity loss must be developed and scaled up.
The way buildings are designed, located, built and operated not only shapes urban and economic growth, it also defines the daily lives of people, impacting their health, security, and overall well-being.
The Forum highlighted existing successful strategies and tools for adequate housing, notably through the United Nations Habitat Assembly Resolution on Adequate Housing for All, which emerges as a crucial means for transforming the housing sector through provision of a regular framework for collective action and knowledge sharing.
In addition, significant commitments to building decarbonization have been made – notably through initiatives such as the Buildings Breakthrough launched at COP28 and championed by France and Morocco. Endorsed by 28 countries, the initiative brings together national governments committed to achieving near-zero emission and resilient buildings by 2030.
Local is global
Systematic involvement of local governments, alongside other stakeholders in the buildings and construction value chain, is imperative for the successful development and implementation of policies and local actions to decarbonize and build resilience within the sector. At a closed-door meeting at the Forum, the deliberations of 20 local and subnational leaders culminated in the creation of the Local Leader outcome document, which outlines 10 key points detailing the role of local governments in decarbonizing the built environment, informing wider outcomes of the event including the Declaration of Chaillot.
Michal Mlynár, Acting Executive Director of UN-Habitat, announced that a ministerial roundtable will be held at the margin of the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) taking place in Cairo, Egypt, in November 2024 to carry forward the implementation of commitments undertaken within the Declaration de Chaillot.
Cities, the climate battleground
Recognizing the pivotal role of cities in the global climate battle, international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Sharm-El-Sheikh Implementation Plan emphasize the importance of multilevel governance and collaborative action. Initiatives like the SURGe Initiative at COP27, CHAMP at COP28, and the Subnational Climate Action Leader’s Exchange (SCALE) further underscore the significance of cooperative efforts in driving climate action at the local level.
As cities continue to expand, the imperative to decarbonize the built environment becomes increasingly urgent.