Highlighting Sustainable Building Policies in 66 Cities Around the Globe
More than half of the C40 cities featured have enacted green building policies
(Washington, D.C.) April 2, 2015 – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in partnership with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and the World Green Building Council (WGBC), released a compendium of briefs. It showcases the sustainability, building energy use, and climate change policy work of cities across the globe.
Approximately 74 percent of the cities examined are implementing incentives for a greener built environment. They recognize the need to reduce their carbon footprints and enhance residents’ quality of life. These incentives often include financial assistance for sustainable construction practices, tax breaks for eco-friendly buildings, and grants for renewable energy installations. Also, 61 percent have enacted municipal green building policies. These set standards and guidelines aimed at promoting energy efficiency, resource conservation, and overall sustainability in construction projects. Moreover, 49 percent are pursuing sustainable community policies. These not only address environmental concerns but also foster social equity and economic viability. They ensure that all community members benefit from the shift toward more sustainable practices. Through these combined efforts, cities are taking significant strides toward building greener, more sustainable urban spaces that prioritize the well-being of both the environment and its inhabitants.
Best Policies
The research covers an assessment of policies, plans, projects, and programs in 66 C40 cities. Categories include city-wide sustainability initiatives, private sector green building incentives, and green codes. They also cover sustainable community development, energy benchmarking, green schools, green affordable housing, and sustainable transportation measures. Additional data points on the uptake of green building certified projects are included where applicable. Collectively, nearly 5,000 projects in these cities have achieved LEED green building certification.
“This report shows that C40 cities, representing 500+ million people and one quarter of the global economy, are taking bold and innovative steps to improve the long-term sustainability of their municipal and private building infrastructure. These efforts benefit urban citizens. These initiatives not only focus on eco-friendly construction practices and energy efficiency but also aim to enhance the quality of life for residents. Furthermore, as these cities embrace advanced technologies and sustainable materials, they set a benchmark for others. This demonstrates that it is possible to achieve economic growth while prioritizing environmental stewardship and social equity. By engaging with local communities and stakeholders, C40 cities are fostering collaboration. This leads to innovative solutions, ensuring that urban environments are resilient, inclusive, and equipped to face the challenges of climate change.”
The compendium of briefs can be found at http://www.usgbc.org/city-market-briefs and http://www.c40.org/research.
