Overview

The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) is an international, voluntary, multi-stakeholder partnership established in December 2015 at COP21 in Paris. Hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it brings together governments, businesses, civil society, researchers and international organisations.

Its mission is to advance a zero-emission, efficient and climate-resilient buildings and construction sector, supporting the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Mission and focus areas

GlobalABC promotes building decarbonisation, energy efficiency, climate adaptation, resource efficiency and sustainable construction. Its activities address operational and embodied carbon emissions, building materials, urban planning and the transition towards resilient infrastructure.

The alliance also supports sustainable finance through its Finance Hub, which promotes public and private investment in low-emission buildings. Its work addresses financing barriers, investment opportunities and policy measures supporting sustainable construction, particularly in emerging and developing economies.

Structure and governance

GlobalABC operates as a UNEP-hosted collaborative platform rather than a conventional corporate organisation. Its governance framework brings together member organisations, government representatives and specialist groups coordinating policy development, technical expertise and implementation.

Its activities are organised through thematic hubs and action groups, including finance and market transformation initiatives. Members collaborate through international partnerships, knowledge-sharing mechanisms and strategic frameworks that guide collective priorities.

Programs and offerings

GlobalABC publishes the annual Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, assessing sectoral emissions, energy performance, policies, technologies and investment trends. It also develops global, regional and national climate action roadmaps, technical guidance and progress-tracking resources.

Its Finance Hub provides investment-related guidance, including a Buildings and Construction Finance Roadmap Template. These resources help financial institutions, policymakers and developers assess financing requirements, identify investment barriers and support low-carbon building projects.

For sustainability practitioners, GlobalABC’s publications provide sector-specific evidence and frameworks for climate strategy, investment planning and policy alignment.

Mission & Vision

• Founded at COP21, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and with over 430 members, including 75 countries, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) is the leading global platform for all buildings stakeholders committed to a common vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector.
  A global advocate and a catalyst to action: The GlobalABC advocates for market transformation and focuses on catalysing action by defining a carbon neutrality strategy for the built environment; GlobalABC advocates the sector’s importance for global climate action through international high-level events, including climate COPs and Buildings Pavilion; GlobalABC coordinates the implementation work of the GlobalABC Hubs and Action groups, the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate and the NZERB PAS.
• A trusted platform to set targets and track progress: The GlobalABC tracks progress in its annual Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, and its Global Building Climate Tracker, a new index to track progress in decarbonization in the sector; GlobalABC co-leads the Human Settlements Pathway under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, which outlines the 2030 and 2050 decarbonization goals.
• The GlobalABC supports countries in setting priorities and measures based on their situation: The GlobalABC develops policy guidance and global and regional buildings and construction roadmaps outlining aspirational targets, timelines, and key actions for essential policies and technologies, and, offering a model for national and city-level buildings and construction roadmaps to support and raise the ambition of NDCs.
• The GlobalABC supports the private sector transition with priorities and strategies toward business models focused on decarbonising and increasing the resilience of buildings, including through its Market Transformation and Finance Hubs.