Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Time: 12:00 - 13:00 (UTC+4, Baku time)
Location: TBC
Event type: Urban Library - In-person / Hybrid (capacity of approx. 50 participants)
Registration link: https://events.unhabitat.org/
WUF13 Urban Library Event | Lead organiser: Ministères Territoires, Écologie, Logement - France
About the Event
Buildings shape our everyday lives, offering shelter, warmth, and spaces to live, work, and connect. Yet 2.8 billion people worldwide still lack adequate living conditions. At the same time, buildings account for 35% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, accelerating the impact of climate change, especially on vulnerable urban populations. By 2050, the number of urban poor exposed to dangerously high temperatures could be seven times higher than today. Any attempt to meet the demand for safe and adequate housing, whether by building, renovating, or repurposing, must follow a decarbonisation and adaptation pathway, or it risks harming the very people it aims to protect.
This event launches the 10th edition of the Global Status Report on Buildings and Construction (GSRBC), a flagship assessment tracking worldwide progress on buildings decarbonisation. The event will present the report’s key findings alongside a new global data platform offering comprehensive, action-oriented evidence, with granular data and tailored insights on cities, regions, and countries’ efforts towards climate neutrality and resilience. A panel discussion with speakers from local, national, and international institutions will follow, exploring how international cooperation can translate data insights into action and support effective climate mitigation and adaptation worldwide.
More than a decade after the Paris Agreement, progress on buildings is stalling despite numerous initiatives, including the Buildings Breakthrough, the Déclaration de Chaillot, the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate, and the Global Cooling Pledge. Since 2015, energy intensity in buildings has declined at only half the pace required to meet 2030 climate targets; the share of renewables in buildings has increased at just one quarter of the necessary rate. Data-driven decisions, better governance, and focused cooperation are essential to fuel the next stage of decarbonisation and resilience efforts.
The event will emphasise the construction sector’s role as a driver of transformation, demonstrating that climate-safe, affordable, and resilient housing requires changes in how buildings are designed, financed, built, and operated. Data and insights will underpin action by enabling accountability, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and aligning participants around shared objectives.
Key Objectives
- Launch the 10th edition of the Global Status Report on Buildings and Construction (GSRBC) and its new global data platform.
- Knowledge transfer and exchange on buildings decarbonisation and climate resilience.
- Share documented sustainable urban practices linking affordability, sustainability, and resilience in housing.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the event, please contact maliya.lazli@un.org.
