The building sector must transform or risk derailing global net-zero targets.  

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, a coalition of international researchers issued a Collective Call to Action urging rapid decarbonisation of the building and real estate sector. 

Changes in this sector are vital to achieving the Paris Agreement’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals, as it accounts for roughly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.  

Led by experts from the University of Melbourne, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, and Aalto University in Finland, the statement has been endorsed by more than 100 researchers and major organisations, including the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the Nordic Council of Ministers.  

Professor Greg Foliente of the University of Melbourne said it is a dual challenge: balancing socio-economic development and housing needs while operating within a fast-diminishing global emissions budget. 

He cited UN-Habitat 2023 estimates that three billion people will require safe and sustainable housing by 2030, underscoring the sector’s pivotal role in creating a “safe and just society”.

In Australia, buildings and infrastructure are responsible for nearly one-third of the nation’s direct carbon emissions, with their indirect impact exceeding half of total emissions. 

The Call to Action highlights a troubling gap between emissions reduction efforts and targets. 

Professor Thomas Lützkendorf of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology stressed that policy must be grounded in accessible, actionable science, particularly as nations navigate the dual demands of climate protection and adaptation.  

The researchers’ statement also advocates for equity in decarbonisation pathways, recognising that developing nations face unique pressures. 

Localised solutions must integrate considerations of social justice while aligning with global goals to ensure fairness and inclusivity.  

The researchers call for binding global targets, including net-zero operations for buildings by 2030 and lifecycle decarbonisation by 2035. 

“In the face of this global climate emergency, there is no option but to unite or perish,” the researchers declared. 

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