Marking World Green Building Day

“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), building-related greenhouse gas emissions could almost double by 2030,” says the Chair of both the WorldGBC and the Green Building Council of Australia, Tony Arnel, drawing attention to the role of buildings in mitigating climate change.

On Thursday 24 September, Melbourne played host to Australia’s World Green Building Day

activities, which coincided with a series of synchronised events around the globe to draw

attention to the role of buildings in mitigating climate change.

 

With the COP 15 negotiations in Copenhagen just around the corner, the World Green

Building Council (WorldGBC) is urging world leaders to ensure buildings play a central part in

any post-Kyoto framework.

 

“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), building-related

greenhouse gas emissions could almost double by 2030,” says the Chair of both the

WorldGBC and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Tony Arnel.

 

“This potential is not yet reflected in international priorities. For example, as of April 2009,

only 12 of the 4,500 projects in the Clean Development Mechanism pipeline were seeking to

reduce energy demand in buildings,” Mr Arnel said.

 

The WorldGBC is a coalition of 14 national green building councils, eight emerging councils

and over 30 applicant councils around the world. The network is transforming the global

property market and building industry through its endorsement of green building rating

systems, commitment to education and advocacy for the worldwide adoption of sustainable

building and construction practices.

 

“A sustainable built environment can – indeed, must – play a central role in the global

response to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The challenge is to realise the full

economic and environmental potential of the sector by overcoming some of the market

failures, skills deficits and institutional barriers that impede action. This must be urgently

pursued to ensure swift action on climate change,” Mr Arnel said.

 

A range of independent studies confirm that buildings certified by green building councils can

consume 85 per cent less energy and 60 per cent less potable water, and send 69 per cent

less waste to landfill than non-certified buildings. Certified green buildings also have a

superior market value – clearly demonstrating the enormous potential in the sector.

 

The WorldGBC has contributed to the development of buildings and climate change industry

call to action by the United Nations Environment Program Sustainable Buildings and

Construction Initiative (UNEP SBCI).

 

“Given that green buildings not only reduce GHG emissions but can also support economic

growth, reduce operating costs and improve urban environments, this platform has the

potential to bring together the twin agendas of action on global warming and alleviation of

urban poverty,” Mr Arnel said.

 

“Such a platform will be supported through the international aid programs of developed

nations, so that developing countries can also implement the platform.

 

“The member nations of the WorldGBC are undertaking a number of initiatives to highlight

the effectiveness of green buildings policies and the use of green building tools in reducing

GHG emissions, including the development of common carbon metrics between the leading

green building rating tools to enable consistent measurement of carbon savings from green

buildings,” Mr Arnel said.

 

The inaugural World Green Building Day was celebrated in Australia with the launch of a

new WorldGBC Asia Pacific Network in Melbourne.

 

As part of the day, the new WorldGBC Asia Pacific Network was officially launched by Bob

McMullan MP ,Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance.

 

Together, the member nations of the WorldGBC have joined forces to highlight the

effectiveness of green building policies and the use of green building tools in reducing

greenhouse gas emissions.

 

The GBCA hosted the launch of the WorldGBC’s Asia-Pacific Network and presented a panel

discussion of green building leaders on Thursday in Melbourne. The event was

held in one of Australia’s greenest buildings, The Gauge.

 

 

About the World Green Building Council

 

The WorldGBC is a coalition of 14 national green building councils, eight emerging councils

and over 30 applicant councils around the world. The network is transforming the global

property market and building industry through its endorsement of green building rating

systems, commitment to education and advocacy for the worldwide adoption of sustainable

building and construction practices.

Source: www.gbca.org.au