Buildings and climate change: status, challenges and opportunities

As one of the products of the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Initiative (SBCI), this publication outlines the salient features of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from building use and construction. The target for this study is to assess factors affecting the ability and willingness of the building and construction sector stakeholders to adopt energy efficiency and consequently greenhouse gas emission reduction measures. The objectives of the SBCI are to provide a common platform for all building and construction stakeholders to collectively address sustainability issues of global significance, and to establish globally acknowledged baselines for sustainable buildings and construction practices in particular based on the life cycle approach. The SBCI brings together stakeholders from all phases of buildings life span, such as material manufacturers, architects, real estate developers, construction companies, maintenance and services companies as well as local authorities.