Buildings Breakthrough. Interim Report: Definition and principles for Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings (NZERBs)

Report by WorldGBC (2025) | Policy, Insurance, Standards

Curator: Michael Zuriff

Washington, USA

This post is accessible to all readers.

Why we recommend it: Concerted global initiatives such as the Buildings Breakthrough generate environmental, economic, and social gains by accelerating building decarbonization. A unified framework allows countries to align policies while adapting them to local conditions, supported by shared data and guidance through the ICBC. Environmentally, it reduces emissions across entire building lifecycles, encourages low-carbon materials, and strengthens public health. Economically, it decreases operating costs, enhances energy security, and spurs innovation and green employment. Socially, it builds resilience, improves safety and equity, and supports sustainable housing for vulnerable communities.

Key takeaways:

₋ The Buildings Breakthrough, launched at COP28 and coordinated by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), is an intergovernmental framework aimed at accelerating the global transition to near-zero emission and climate-resilient buildings by 2030. Endorsed by leading countries and supported by international organizations, the initiative focuses on five priority actions to foster enabling environments for national policies on building decarbonization and resilience. Its outputs include recommendations, evidence, and insights which are shared with members of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC) to support commitments made in the Declaration de Chaillot.

- In May 2025, the Steering Committee introduced a qualitative definition of Near-Zero Emission and Resilient Buildings (NZERBs) and a set of “Building Blocks” essential for their realization. These were refined through public consultations and are designed to be flexible across diverse economic contexts. The framework targets national governments, aiming to establish common principles that facilitate high-level political dialogue and policy comparability, while allowing for context-specific pathways.

- The NZERB definition emphasizes energy efficiency and minimized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across a building’s lifecycle. It also highlights the building’s ability to meet functional and technical requirements, protect occupants, and preserve social, economic, and environmental value against current and future hazards.

- The Building Blocks are structured to guide emissions reduction and resilience enhancement. They begin with operational emissions—GHGs released during the building’s use phase—and energy efficiency, which involves reducing energy consumption while maintaining performance. The framework prioritizes low-carbon energy sources and the elimination of fossil fuels, citing their significant environmental and health impacts. It also promotes low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants to reduce climate impact from cooling systems.

- Embodied emissions are addressed across three stages: upfront emissions from construction and materials manufacturing; emissions from renovation activities; and end-of-life measures, which include strategies for decommissioning or repurposing buildings with minimal environmental and social disruption.

- Sufficiency is another key principle, advocating for building designs that meet human needs without excess, thereby reducing resource and spatial demands.

Resilience is treated as a multidimensional concept encompassing structural integrity, energy and water systems, climate adaptability, occupant safety, and operational continuity. Given its context-specific nature, resilience requires comprehensive assessments to tailor strategies to local environmental conditions and hazard profiles.

- Three types of assessments support resilience planning:

• Resilience Assessment: A continuous process to identify and prepare for shocks and stresses, balancing system criticality with investment needs.

• Risk Assessment: Evaluates localized hazards and their potential impacts, including climate-related risks and demographic shifts.

• Vulnerability Assessment: Determines a building’s susceptibility to hazards and the social, economic, and environmental consequences for users and communities.

- Resilience measures combine technical and policy solutions at building, community, and national levels. Examples include elevating structures to avoid flood zones, enforcing building codes, and restricting construction in high-risk areas.

- The next phases of the Buildings Breakthrough will develop indicators and measurement frameworks, followed by policy recommendations to help governments implement NZERB strategies effectively.

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