A major new international report released today (April 17) sets out a practical, globally aligned framework to accelerate the transition to Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings (NZERBs), marking a significant step forward in global efforts to decarbonise the built environment while strengthening climate resilience.
This report was developed under the Buildings Breakthrough*, operating under the Breakthrough Agenda framework, and through a collaboration led by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and coordinated by the UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). It responds to the urgent need for clearer definitions, consistent metrics, and actionable policy guidance to transform the buildings sector this decade.
Buildings are responsible for over one-third of global energy-related emissions and are increasingly exposed to climate risks, from heatwaves and flooding to storms and wildfires. The new report, Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings: Shared Definitions, Indicators, Frameworks and Policy Guidance for Implementation, provides governments, cities, and industry with a common foundation to address both mitigation and adaptation together.
"This report turns ambition into action," said representatives of the Buildings Breakthrough leadership. "By aligning definitions, indicators and policy pathways across countries, it gives governments a clear roadmap to make near-zero emission and resilient buildings the global standard."
From principles to implementation
Building on the 2025 Buildings Breakthrough Interim Report, which established a shared definition and guiding principles for NZERBs, the newly launched final report moves decisively toward implementation. It translates high-level ambition into measurable indicators, metrics, and policy recommendations that can be adapted to national and local contexts.
At its core, the report defines a Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Building as one that is highly energy efficient, minimises greenhouse gas emissions across its entire life cycle, and is designed to withstand current and future climate hazards while safeguarding social, economic, and environmental value.
To operationalise this definition, the report introduces a set of core building blocks, covering operational and embodied emissions, energy efficiency, low-carbon and fossil-fuel-free energy, refrigerants, sufficiency, and climate resilience. These building blocks are supported by indicators and metrics aligned with leading international standards and certification systems, providing a bridge between policy, regulation, and market practice.
A harmonised yet flexible approach
Rather than prescribing uniform numerical thresholds, the framework emphasises harmonisation without uniformity. Governments are encouraged to set targets at national or subnational level, aligned with 1.5°C-compatible pathways, local climate conditions, and grid decarbonisation trajectories. This approach supports global comparability while recognising different development stages, data availability, and capacities.
The report also calls for a progressive shift from design-based assessments to measured, real-world performance, encouraging disclosure of verified energy use and emissions to close the gap between intended and actual building outcomes.
Integrating mitigation and resilience
A distinctive feature of the report is its equal emphasis on climate resilience. Aligning with emerging global adaptation frameworks, it sets out processes and indicators for assessing risk, vulnerability, and resilience across the building life cycle. From hazard mapping and resilience assessments to building codes and retrofits, the guidance highlights how resilient buildings protect lives, maintain critical functions during extreme events, and deliver long-term economic and social benefits.
The report recognises that adaptation and mitigation are deeply interconnected and stresses the importance of addressing trade-offs early in building design and policymaking to ensure durable climate solutions.
Policy guidance to accelerate change
To support real-world uptake, the report offers comprehensive policy recommendations across governance, regulation, finance, data, and capacity-building. It outlines a phased approach that moves from voluntary benchmarking to mandatory reporting, minimum performance standards, and ultimately whole-life carbon limits.
Key recommendations include strengthening building codes, aligning public finance and procurement with NZERB principles, mandating life-cycle emissions reporting, expanding access to climate-risk data, and investing in workforce skills and institutional capacity.
A collective milestone for governments
The report is the result of an extensive international consultation process involving governments, industry bodies, standards organisations, and civil society from across regions. It reflects input from a dedicated Steering Committee and a wide plenary group, underscoring the collaborative ethos set under the Buildings Breakthrough.
With endorsement from dozens of countries and support from more than 30 initiatives, the Buildings Breakthrough target aims to make NZERBs the global norm by 2030. Today's launch provides a critical tool to help turn that goal into reality.
As countries prepare to strengthen national climate plans and building policies ahead of forthcoming global stocktakes, the report offers a shared language and a practical framework to align ambition, policy, and implementation accelerating the transformation of the world's buildings toward a low-emissions, resilient future.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council, said:
"This report marks an exciting turning point for the Buildings Breakthrough 2030 targets, moving us decisively from ambition to implementation."
"For too long, the sector has been shaped by fragmented systems and competing frameworks. By bringing them together, this report creates a shared global language that governments, cities and industry can use to align action and scale solutions."
"Buildings are on the frontline of the climate transition and this framework gives countries the tools to deliver near-zero emission and resilient buildings at scale unlocking real climate impact, stronger communities, and long-term economic value this decade."
* NB: Following recent governance adjustments within GlobalABC, coordination of the Buildings Breakthrough is now integrated into existing GlobalABC structures. Intergovernmental dialogue is convened through the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Construction (ICBC), while progress across priority areas is advanced through GlobalABC working groups and reflected in the NZERB Plan to Accelerate Solutions (PAS). The Buildings Breakthrough was co-led by France and Morocco, endorsed by 29 countries, supported by the European Commission, and engaged over 30 initiatives.
