WorldGBC - Global Update (Nov 2019)

Dear GBCs and Partners
 
Welcome to the November edition of the Global Update. The end of the year may be fast approaching but some key events and activities remain ahead for the green building movement before 2019 concludes.
 
On 19 November WorldGBC will launch the global Case Study Library. A joint initiative between Advancing Net Zero and Better Places for People, two of our global projects, the Case Study Library will be an interactive digital map that will be regularly updated to display the most cutting edge examples of sustainable building worldwide, and we hope this will be a valuable resource and reference for our Green Building Councils.
 
COP25 will now take place from 2-13 December in Madrid, Spain after the Chilean government were forced to cancel the climate summit after weeks of political unrest in Santiago, Chile. With climate change posing the greatest existential threat to humanity, it is heartening to see the vital talks will go ahead as planned. Moreover, it is encouraging to see countries working together in the spirit of multilateralism to advance action on the climate crisis.
 
However, due to this last minute change of location, WorldGBC will regretfully no longer be hosting our event ‘Turning climate ambition into investment opportunity' with ChileGBC. We are, however, continuing in our efforts to represent the green building movement at COP25 alongside GBC España. We will update you with more information as it becomes available. For more information, visit this page or contact Georgie Eldridge geldridge@worldgbc.org
 
Best wishes
 
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council

On 3-4 December in Brussels, join WorldGBC and 150 senior public and private sector leaders from across Europe at an inspiring and practical summit focused on 'Delivering net zero carbon buildings for all'. For Europe, delivering a new Green Deal for its citizens will mean cities and companies putting net zero carbon buildings and massive building renovation programmes at the heart of their climate action plans. The event promises to be the networking event of the year for low carbon building leaders, with speakers from ING, Redevco, Lidl, the City of Helsinki, Skanska, E.ON, Government of Croatia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Municipality of Padova and many more. It is organised by the European Green Building Councils, Buildings Performance Institute Europe and Climate Alliance under the BUILD UPON2 and Advancing Net Zero projects. Visit the event webpage for the full agenda and register here. For more information, contact James Drinkwater - jdrinkwater@worldgbc.org

WorldGBC is delighted to welcome American multinational technology company Google to serve on its Corporate Advisory Board, a select group of companies which are global leaders on sustainability, and which serve to guide WorldGBC on its strategy and activities. Google has a longstanding commitment to climate action and environmental stewardship. In 2018, Google achieved twelve consecutive years of carbon neutrality and, for the second year in a row, matched 100% of the electricity consumption of its global operations with renewable energy. Our partnership with Google will support our global network’s commitment to accelerating the transition to a sustainable and carbon free built environment. Their leadership in delivering technology solutions and their exemplary record in operational efficiencies and clean, zero carbon energy will continue to inspire many other businesses to take action now. For more information, click here. Find out more about WorldGBC's Corporate Advisory Board here.

The enormity of challenges our world is facing are unprecedented. Green Building Councils from across the MENA region are finding themselves at the forefront of the green movement in their countries. They are working on combating climate change, promoting resource efficiency and advocating for greener laws and regulations. As part of their sense of shared responsibility, most of MENA’s GBCs have supported the creation of a MENA Outreach Committee. Through this joint effort they aim to raise the profile of GBCs within the region and beyond through sharing information about news and activities. They see it as a platform for GBCs to exchange thoughts and ideas regarding outreach and communication and a means to promote events and conferences within the region and beyond. The first joint initiative was a MENA Regional Newsletter which was disseminated in September 2019 - you can read it here. To find out more about the MENA Regional Network, click here or contact Mohammad Asfour - masfour@worldgbc.org

In cooperation with an expert group, ÖGNI (the Austrian Sustainable Building Council) has defined new standards for measuring the social sustainability of buildings and identifies three focal points: a holistic view of the neighbourhood, the operation of buildings and flexibility. The new standards on social sustainability is one of a suite of new papers recently published by the Council. A second paper on 'Benchmarks in Operations' looks to convert 'comfort' into verifiable and comprehensible values. In addition to definitions for comfort ranges for criteria such as room air temperature, CO2, light quality or room humidity, it covers requirements for technical building equipment and its maintenance, and data monitoring and analysis. A third paper on 'Smart Cities' aims to define the term Smart Cities for urban development stakeholders, support and guide urban developers in their attempts to implement the Smart City concept, and develop a basis for the certification of Smart Cities. You can read all three position papers here.

We'll be co-hosting Advancing Net Zero Forums in Asia throughout November. On 13 November we'll be in both Hangzhou, China with China GBC and in Mumbai, India with Indian GBC, and in Hong Kong with Hong Kong GBC on 29 November. Better Places for People project head Catriona Brady will speak at the inaugural Global Health & Wellness Summit alongside Greenbuild on 19 November in Atlanta, US. WorldGBC Chair Lisa Bate will be at the HKGBC 10th Anniversary Event on 27 November in Hong Kong. Join us in Brussels on 3-4 December for the BUILD UPON European Leaders' Summit 'Delivering net zero carbon buildings for all.' During COP25 in Madrid, WorldGBC CEO Cristina Gamboa will be speaking at the World Climate Summit on 8 December. Meanwhile, WorldGBC will be a Programme Partner for the Sustainable Innovation Forum. For more information, visit our website calendar or contact Georgie Eldridge - geldridge@worldgbc.org

We're sad to be saying goodbye to Georgie Eldridge, our Marketing and Communications Manager in December 2019 and we are now looking for an amazing new candidate to take over the reins from Georgie. Are you creative and dynamic with a passion for the built environment? If you have what it takes to convince the world of the urgency and benefits of green building, then consider applying for our Marketing and Communications Manager vacancy (based in London, UK or Toronto, Canada). We're also recruiting for a Grants Officer to help us supervise the overall management of our current grants and to help us secure new ones. Do you have a head for figures and enjoy managing diverse grants? Then apply for our Grants Officer role today (based in London, UK or Toronto, Canada). Do you know any potential candidates? Please share our careers page and encourage them to apply with a CV and cover letter at office@worldgbc.org.

Our Green Building Councils
 

Our Corporate Advisory Board