Net-Zero Buildings Can Become the Norm: New Report Shows How to Take Action

The pathway to truly net zero buildings is laid out in a new report which shows property owners and policymakers how to take action now to meet emissions targets. 

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), supported by global sustainable development consultancy Arup, released “Achieving net-zero buildings: An action plan for market transformation.”   

The built environment sector is responsible for 37% of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide, more than the entire transportation sector, making the transition to net-zero buildings a crucial response to climate change. Authors warn that reducing these emissions is essential to reaching the cuts needed for to hold global average temperature rises well under 1.5°C in line with the Paris Accord. 

“Achieving net-zero buildings” outlines a clear 12-step Action Plan for governments and industry to successfully move the market towards delivering net-zero buildings at the scale and pace required to meet global climate targets. 

It shows how a lack of a clear, universal definition of net-zero buildings and a lack of national policies is holding back progress and constraining private sector investment in building transformation. 

The report also lays out how governments and the industry must work together to make net zero buildings the norm. It is intended for the full built environment value chain: business, national and regional policymakers, NGOs, industry bodies, the property sector, and academia.  The 12-step Action Plan is intended to apply to corporations as well as inform regional and national policy 

It calls for a fundamental shift from compliance-based regulatory frameworks— which only focus on influencing the design and construction of buildings— to performance-based standards, which aim to reduce the operational energy consumption of buildings in use, as well as their design and construction.  

Accompanying the Action Plan are 16 case studies from around the world, highlighting practical pathways for achieving net-zero emissions across various building types and sectors.   

Key recommendations for achieving net-zero buildings are: 

• Definition: Establishing a consistent understanding of what constitutes a net-zero building. 

• Transparency: Ensuring that building performance is clearly communicated, whether through voluntary disclosure or regulatory policies, to demonstrate alignment with net-zero emissions thresholds. 

• Performance floor: Implementing mandatory minimum operational energy performance requirements to drive change across the market. 

• Incentives: Aligning certifications and incentives around a consistent definition of net-zero in order to enhance the financial and market value of net-zero buildings, encouraging widespread adoption. 

We can change what we expect from buildings, and net-zero needs to become the expectation. Based on examples from around the world, we illustrate the practical actions that organizations and regulators can take to incentivize the achievement of truly net-zero buildings. – Roland Hunziker, Director Built Environment at WBCSD

We need net zero buildings to rapidly move from a novelty to the norm. We are on the cusp of a large-scale transition, but property owners and developers are held back by a lack of understanding about what makes a net zero building in reality. This new report shows how to unlock the change that is desperately needed across the entire supply chain if we are to hit global emissions targets. – Stephen Hill, Associate Director from Arup

By presenting an actionable blueprint for the large-scale transition to net-zero buildings, alongside real-world case studies, the report provides both a roadmap and confidence that this transition is not only possible, but already underway.  

To mark the occasion of the launch, WBCSD and Arup will host a webinar on April 30, 2025. The webinar will feature key speakers and provide an in-depth look at the publication’s findings, as well as a live Q&A session. 

Register here for the launch webinar.