In a year when climate leadership was tested, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) network chose to lead.
WorldGBC's Annual Report 2024/2025 shows that momentum for sustainable buildings continues to grow, even amid political headwinds and sustainability backlash in parts of the world. More than two thirds of Green Building Councils (GBCs) report increasing adoption of sustainable building principles across their markets, clear evidence that leadership is translating into real-world delivery.
The report highlights the scale and influence of the global GBC network, which in 2025 grew to 85 Green Building Councils, representing more than 51,000 member companies and reaching close to 80% of the global population. Collectively, the network now spans 91% of global GDP, positioning buildings at the centre of climate, economic, and social solutions.
From leadership to measurable impact
Across 2025, WorldGBC and its members delivered tangible outcomes that demonstrate how coordinated action across policy, finance, and industry can transform markets.
Advocacy and roadmap efforts contributed to policy changes in 30 countries, positively affecting around 565 million people, while 90,000 professionals were trained in sustainable building practices. Through GBC-led certification programmes, more than a cumulative 5 billion m² of building space is now certified globally.
Financial systems are also shifting. Seventy per cent of GBCs report increased sustainable finance activity, and over half are actively contributing to the development of national or regional taxonomies, reinforcing the role of buildings in directing capital towards climate-positive outcomes.
Together, these results reflect a growing convergence between governments, businesses and financial institutions, increasingly working through local GBCs to deliver impact on the ground.
Building the Transition: turning ambition into delivery
At the heart of this progress is Building the Transition, WorldGBC's flagship programme under its 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, which aligns policymakers, businesses, and financial institutions behind shared pathways for decarbonisation and resilience.
In 2025, this approach strengthened global alignment on Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings through the Buildings Breakthrough, while the NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings supported increased ambition and implementation, with more than 40 countries now using the tool and regulation changes already adopted by five governments.
WorldGBC's Plan to Accelerate Solutions (PAS) for COP30, encompassing our work on transition roadmaps and the Buildings Breakthrough, was recognised by global climate leaders and the COP30 Presidency as a stand-out initiative, placing the built environment at the heart of implementation-focused climate action and demonstrating how sector leadership can directly support national delivery.
Advocacy also took centre stage at COP29 in Baku and COP30 in Belém, where WorldGBC mobilised its network around the call to #BeBoldOnBuildings, showcasing how sustainable buildings can protect communities, reduce costs, and strengthen economies.
Industry leadership stepping up
Industry leadership continued to advance throughout the year. Signatories to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment reported more than 1 million tCO e reduced, alongside significant improvements in energy and emissions intensity across their portfolios. These results underline a critical message from the report: the solutions exist, and leading businesses are already implementing them at scale.
Looking ahead to 2026
Reflecting on the year ahead, WorldGBC CEO Cristina Gamboa said: "We are not just constructing buildings; we are shaping the future of communities, economies, and ecosystems. The cities and companies that embrace sustainability today will be the ones that thrive tomorrow."
With new philanthropic funding secured, WorldGBC will partner with the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) to co-develop and implement additional national roadmaps across multiple regions, strengthening government partnerships and accelerating action on decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience.
The Chair of the WorldGBC Board of Directors, Matthew Bell, added: "Progress happens when everyone plays their part, and 2026 is shaping up to be a year of bold action."
As WorldGBC looks ahead, the focus is clear: implementation at scale, stronger impact tracking, and continued support for members to lead locally while shaping global outcomes.
