The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is proud to announce that five Green Building Councils (GBCs) and two Affiliate Partners have joined the global network bringing the total to over 85 GBCs driving sustainability in the built environment worldwide.
Including Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Mongolia, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, the new members are represented across all five of WorldGBC's regions Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) demonstrating the truly global momentum behind green buildings.
A growing global movement
In 2023, the building sector accounted for around one third of global emissions, placing them at the heart of the climate challenge and the solution. The WorldGBC network is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. GBCs collectively cover 60% of the world's building stock, influence 65% of global GDP, and operate in nations that produce 72% of built environment emissions.
This makes WorldGBC the world's largest and most influential network dedicated to the sustainable built environment uniting industry leaders, policymakers and innovators to deliver practical solutions.
Introducing the new members
The seven new GBCs and Affiliate Partners represent a diverse mix of countries and contexts, but all share a common vision to transform their building sectors for the benefit of people and planet.
- Green Building Council Algeria (GBC Algeria) (Affiliate Partner)
- Ethiopian Green Building Council (ETGBC)
- Green Building Alliance Ghana (GBA Ghana)
In Africa, three organisations are joining the WorldGBC network. GBC Algeria (which also spans into the MENA region), EtGBC and GBA Ghana bring fresh momentum to a region that will see unprecedented growth in the coming decades. According to the United Nations, Africa's population is projected to be 2.47 billion in 2050 (25.6 % of global population). Within the Africa Regional Network of 13 GBCs and two partners, these new members will help accelerate the transition towards zero carbon, resilient, and equitable communities, guided by the Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment' to build The Africa We Want'.
Fairouz Ramli, Founder & CEO, GBC Algeria:
"We joined the World Green Building Council through the Algeria GBC because buildings account for 44% of our national energy use a challenge we cannot face alone. We need a platform that unites the entire value chain and drives collaboration not only in Algeria, but across the MENA region, Africa and globally. The council will also be a bridge from our past to our future: Algeria is rich in ecological construction, from the Casbah to Beni Yezguen, and now it is time to renew this history with a modern spirit in harmony with people and the planet. My ambition is to see Algeria emerge as a leader in sustainable building, where tradition and innovation come together to shape a greener future for all."
Liku Solomon, Managing Director and Co-Founder, ETGBC:
"We are honoured to join the WorldGBC network as the Ethiopian Green Building Council, bringing Ethiopia's commitment to sustainable development to the global stage. With our country's rapid urbanisation and growing population, ETGBC is dedicated to promoting energy-efficient, resilient, and equitable building practices that align with the Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities. Together with WorldGBC, we aim to transform Ethiopia's built environment to support thriving communities and a healthier planet."
Cyril Nii Ayitey Tetteh, Director, GBA Ghana:
"It is an absolute honour for Green Building Alliance Ghana to join the World Green Building Council network. As we move towards a greener future for our nation, we know that this can only be enhanced by the strategic collaboration and support of our global peers. We look forward to working together."
- Honduras Green Building Council (Honduras GBC)
In the Americas, Honduras GBC joins the Americas Regional Network (ARN), already rich in diversity. With 16 national GBCs and two partners, the network is tackling shared challenges of rapid urban growth, resource pressures, and climate vulnerability. The new entry strengthens collective efforts to ensure the built environment underpins a high quality of life for communities, today and in the future.
- Mongolian Green Building Council (MGBC)
Across Asia Pacific, home to 60% of the world's population and some of the fastest-growing cities, Mongolian Green Building Council (MGBC) becomes part of the dynamic Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) of 17 GBCs and four partners. From rapidly urbanising centres to vast rural regions, MGBC will contribute to advancing sustainable solutions that balance growth with resilience.
Batgerel Tseren, Executive Director, MGBC:
"Joining the World Green Building Council is a transformative milestone for Mongolia. Our country's harsh climate inspires innovation in building design and materials, and this membership connects us to global expertise while showcasing our BestGER rating system to the world. We are committed to making sustainable, energy-efficient, resilient, and healthy buildings the standard, creating a construction sector that strengthens communities, drives national progress, and contributes to a greener, more sustainable planet."
- Belgian Green Building Council (Belgian GBC)
The Europe Regional Network (ERN) unites 25 national Green Building Councils and seven Regional Partners across EU and non-EU countries to drive sustainable building practices. Through action, advocacy, and collaboration across the sector, the ERN accelerates the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and high-performing built environment at the heart of Europe's future.
Gilles Vanvolsem, Managing Director, Belgian GBC:
"Belgium needs more efficiency in driving the sustainability transition. With the Belgian Green Building Council, we want to build a common language across sectors, regions, and Europe anticipating regulation, facilitating collaboration across the value chain, and sharing Belgian best practices while learning from others."
- Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia (SPSA) (Affiliate Partner)
In the MENA Regional Network, SPSA supports a region of more than 350 million people where the urban population is set to double by 2050. Alongside 10 GBCs and two partners, SPSA will help shape solutions to the region's pressing demand for high-quality, low-impact buildings that enhance economic and social wellbeing.
Dr. Mohammed S. Al-Surf, Founder & President, SPSA:
"As the Founder & President of SPSA, I am proud to join the MENA Regional Network to collaborate with fellow Green Building Councils in advancing sustainable, low-impact building solutions. Aligned with Saudi Arabia's ambitious vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, we are committed to addressing the region's rapid urban growth by promoting practices that enhance both economic and social wellbeing for future generations."
Looking ahead
With every new GBC, the movement strengthens. Growth is not only in numbers, but in the power of collaboration mobilising industries, shaping ambitious policy frameworks, and driving the shift to buildings that are zero carbon, healthy, resilient, and equitable.
Dominika Czerwinska, Engagements and Implementation Director, WorldGBC, said:
"We are thrilled to welcome seven new Green Building Councils and Affiliate Partners into the WorldGBC network. This milestone reflects the unstoppable momentum of the green building movement reflecting its value for people, the planet, and the economy.
"Each one brings their unique expertise, passion, and local leadership, that will strengthen our collective mission to deliver sustainable buildings. Together, we will push the boundaries of green building innovation, shape transformative policy frameworks, and spotlight national leadership not only across regions, but on the world stage."
With seven new GBCs and Affiliate Partners spanning every region, the WorldGBC network is better positioned than ever to share expertise, amplify collective advocacy, and drive systemic change in the building sector. Find out about your local GBC here.
