United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
2022
🌍 Context and Publisher The "Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction" (Buildings-GSR) is a key publication produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and is part of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). This report serves as an annual assessment of the global progress within the buildings and construction sector, evaluating the effectiveness of policies, financing, technologies, and solutions in relation to the goals set by the Paris Agreement. It aims to equip stakeholders with evidence to influence policymakers and drive action within the construction community. 🏗️ Key Findings and Challenges The 2022 Buildings-GSR identifies significant disruptions and challenges confronting the buildings sector. It highlights that despite a notable increase in investments aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, the total energy consumption and CO2 emissions from buildings surged in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, buildings’ energy demand rose by approximately 4% from 2020, reaching 135 exajoules (EJ), marking the steepest increase in the last decade. Furthermore, CO2 emissions from building operations reached a historic high of around 10 gigatons (GtCO2), reflecting a 5% rise from 2020 and exceeding the previous peak in 2019 by 2%. 📉 Decarbonization Status The report unequivocally states that the buildings and construction sector is not on track to meet the decarbonization targets set for 2050. There is an increasing gap between the sector's current climate performance and the required decarbonization pathway, raising concerns about the future sustainability of the sector. 💰 Economic Factors Affecting Investment The report also points to external economic factors such as global energy price volatility and rising interest rates, which are expected to hinder investments in building decarbonization. These financial challenges may impede the efforts of governments, households, and businesses to transition towards more sustainable building practices. In conclusion, the 2022 Buildings-GSR provides essential insights into the current status and future trajectory of the buildings and construction sector, emphasizing the urgency for enhanced actions and investments to align with climate goals.
United Nations Environment Programme
The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (Buildings-GSR) is a flagship publication of the UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). The Buildings-GSR provides an annual snapshot of the progress of the buildings and construction sector on a global scale and reviews the status of policies, finance, technologies, and solutions to monitor whether the sector is aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. It also provides stakeholders with evidence to persuade policymakers and the overall buildings and construction community to take action.
What is new in the 2022 Buildings-GSR?
Buildings and construction: disruptions and challenges facing the buildings sector in 2022
Global Building Carbon Tracker: Are we on track towards the Paris Agreement Goals?
Updates on building codes and building decarbonisation in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Status of investment in building energy efficiency
Deep dive on:
- Africa (regional focus)
- Building materials (topical focus)
The 2022 Buildings-GSR finds that despite a substantial increase in investment and success at a global level lowering the energy intensity of buildings, the sector’s total energy consumption and CO2 emissions increased in 2021 above pre-pandemic levels. Buildings energy demand increased by around 4% from 2020 to 135 EJ – the largest increase in the last 10 years. CO2 emissions from buildings operations have reached an all-time high of around 10 GtCO2, around a 5% increase from 2020 and 2% higher than the previous peak in 2019.
The buildings and construction sector is not on track to achieve decarbonization by 2050. And the gap between the actual climate performance of the sector and the decarbonization pathway is widening.
Global energy price volatility and rising interest rates are likely to hamper investment in building decarbonization by governments, households, and businesses.