'More and faster': U.N. calls to shrink buildings' carbon footprint

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Japan Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The United Nations has urged countries to rapidly reduce carbon emissions from buildings, which are responsible for 34% of global CO₂ emissions and consume 32% of global energy
• A new UNEP report warns that emissions have risen 5% over the past decade instead of falling by the needed 28%.

🔭 The context: Despite slight progress since 2023 due to green policies and electrified heating, only 19 countries have detailed building emission targets under the Paris Agreement
• Energy-related emissions, renewable energy use, and energy efficiency retrofits remain far below necessary levels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Buildings are a major driver of climate change, including through construction materials like steel and cement
• Accelerating decarbonisation in this sector is critical to meeting global climate targets and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions

⏭️ What's next: The UN calls for zero-carbon building codes by 2028 in top-emitting countries and urges all nations to enhance regulations within a decade
• Renewable energy use in buildings must grow sevenfold, and investment in energy efficiency needs to double by 2030

💬 One quote: "The good news is that government actions are working. But we must do more and do it faster," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen

📈 One stat: Direct and indirect CO₂ emissions from buildings now need to fall more than 10% annually — over twice the originally projected pace.

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