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In 2025, countries submit their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UN. Policymakers face a crucial moment to shape effective and ambitious targets for climate action on buildings in the years ahead up to 2035. How we address the built environment in those NDCs will determine if our buildings are to become an obstacle or an ally to climate action.
To support countries to rise to this challenge and opportunity, the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) have released a practical guide. The guide supports the development of bold NDCs by equipping policymakers, planners, and practitioners with a comprehensive framework to integrate ambitious climate actions within the buildings and construction sectors of their NDCs.
“NDCs for Buildings: Ambitious, Investable, Actionable, and Inclusive” introduces a structured, five-step approach that enables countries to tailor their NDCs based on national circumstances and market maturity. With options to address key areas such as building energy codes, renewable energy, retrofitting, and urban resilience, the guide helps decision-makers develop robust and practical climate commitments. The guide includes 27 enabling measures in finance, governance, capacity-building, equity, and digitalization, ensuring that these climate actions are supported by the resources and collaboration they require.
The guide was released on November 18 at COP29, and presented in two events:
Nationally Determined Contributions for Sustainable, Inclusive Buildings and Cooling: Time for Bold Action
High Level Roundtable: Green Construction and Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Climate Resilience
“NDCs need to be ambitious, but ambition looks different in each country”
Gregor Sahler (GIZ) highlighted that NDCs must set ambitious targets, and plan for the entire building lifecycle and integrate tools and means for their implementation. He presented the guide on behalf of GlobalABC and PEEB in the event “Nationally Determined Contributions for Sustainable, Inclusive Buildings and Cooling: Time for Bold Action”.
Country representatives welcome guide’s hands-on approach
Gulnara Roll, head of the cities unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, presented the guide at the High Level Roundtable on Green Construction and Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Climate Resilience. The guide’s concrete and detailed approach was welcomed by country representatives. Covering eight policy types and 42 specific measures, the guide encourages countries to customize their NDCs with strategies suited to their unique stage—whether building foundational policies, expanding existing frameworks, or achieving net-zero and high-resilience goals.
Download the guide here.
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