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The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment

The Commitment calls upon business, organisations, cities, states and regions to take urgent, ambitious and immediate climate action towards decarbonising the built environment. The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment) challenges business, organisations, cities, states and regions to reach net zero carbon in operation for all assets under their direct control by 2030, and to advocate for all buildings to be net zero carbon in operation by 2050. The Commitment provides a framework to develop globally ambitious yet locally relevant, flexible and universally viable solutions for buildings within their portfolio, city, state or regional boundary. It sets actions to reduce energy demand and achieve net zero carbon through renewable energy and offsets (as a last resort).

Activity period 2018–present
Last CoAct update 2025
Web URL https://www.worldgbc.org/thecommitment
Output effectiveness
0.62
Accountability Index
0.44
Inclusiveness Index
0.47
Num. actors 176
Functions Knowledge production, Knowledge dissemination, Standards and norms, Campaigning, Participatory management, Policy planning
SDGs 3 7 8 9 11 12 13 15 17
Themes human settlements, industry
Policy focus Mainly mitigation
Sectors Construction, Information and communication
Implementation countries Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Norway, Philippines (the), Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, United Arab Emirates (the), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland (the), United States of America (the)
Target Target type
By 2030, the operational portfolio emissions of the Commitment signatories will be at net zero, saving approximately 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 (tCO2e) that year Emission reduction target
City, State and Region: Enact regulations and/or planning policy within jurisdictional control to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 and all buildings by 2050 and/or Commit to owning, occupying and developing only assets that are net zero carbon in operation by 2030 Other target
Business, Organisations: Commit to owning, occupying and developing only assets that are net zero carbon in operation by 2030 Other target