Accelerating and supporting the implementation of climate and sustainability pledges, particularly in developing and emerging economies, is the goal of the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit (SBCS 2026) that takes place on 20-22 April in Lausanne, Switzerland. PEEB and seven of our partner countries will join the Summit to discuss and showcase needs, challenges, opportunities and tools available to rapidly achieve their climate and sustainable development goals.
The SBCS isthe most significant international gathering for buildings and construction of this critical year on the road to COP31 in Antalya. Co-organised by EPFL and UNEP as host of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the Summit will bring together more than 700 government officials, researchers, practitioners, financiers, and international organisations.
A sector at a critical crossroads
According to the latest GlobalABC Global Status Report, buildings consume 32% of global final energy and are responsible for 34% of global CO₂ emissions. By 2060, the world’s building floor area is expected to double with the largest share of growth in emerging markets and developing economies, precisely the regions most exposed to climate risk and least equipped with the policy frameworks and finance instruments needed to build differently. That is why developing and emerging economies will be the focus of the SBCS 2026.
Investment in energy-efficient buildings remains critically behind. In 2023, global investment in building energy efficiency stood at approximately USD 270 billion which is roughly half of the USD 522 billion needed annually to stay aligned with Paris Agreement goals.
Building national capacity, connecting finance and policy
PEEB works with 21 partner countries around the globe for a large-scale transformation of their buildings sector through its programmes PEEB Cool, PEEB Med and PEEB ASEAN.
Seven of these countries will participate in the SBCS 2026: Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, and Tunisia. The work they are bringing to Lausanne spans from developing greenhouse gas emissions baselines and building inventories that direct climate finance where it is most needed, to strengthening building energy efficiency codes and energy performance standards that make high-performance construction the legal norm. Digital tools for monitoring and enforcement, integration of energy efficiency into national housing and urban planning frameworks, and access to carbon markets for buildings are also among the areas these countries are actively advancing with PEEB’s support.
Energy efficiency requires learning by doing and from experience. The summit represents a rare and valuable opportunity for officials from ministries of housing, energy, and environment, staff from national energy agencies, and advisors working on PEEB implementation to present their experience and learn from peers facing comparable challenges in different contexts.
Showcasing country experience shaping global thinking
Together with facilitating this cross-country exchange, PEEB is co-organising two workshops at the SBCS 2026, where partner country practitioners will establish direct dialogue with the global buildings community.
Monday 20 April, 13:30–15:30
Turning NDCs into Action: Strengthening Implementation in the Building Sector
Co-led with the UNFCCC, the World Green Building Council, EPFL, University College London, and Alexandria University, this workshop will address one of the most persistent gaps in climate policy: the disconnect between the nationally determined contributions or NDCs and meaningful buildings sector action.
The workshop will draw directly on PEEB country experience to generate practical recommendations. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) will share how buildings are being integrated into their national climate strategy and energy efficiency frameworks, which constitutes a concrete model of NDC implementation that other countries can learn from and adapt.
Tuesday 21 April, 13:30–15:30
Building Better for All: Advancing Gender Equity in the Built Environment
Co-led with GlobalABC and UNOPS, this workshop will dive into the importance of mainstreaming gender-responsive design a performance requirement.
The session will gather priorities for action, draw on case studies from across the globe, and formulate concrete recommendations for integration into the work of GlobalABC’s networks and member organisations. Two keynotes will frame the discussion from: Soraya Khalil, from Morocco’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and Manelle Ait-Sahlia, Deputy Director of Energy at AFD. Ms. Khalil will speak on the country’s direct experience from tackling gender in building and urban policies, while Ait-Sahlia will show why gender matters for accessing finance, and what PEEB is doing about this.
The outcomes of both workshops will feed directly into PEEB’s knowledge pipeline, informing future publications, training programmes, and policy guidance.
Join us in Lausanne or follow online
If you are attending SBCS 2026: join PEEB’s workshops on Monday, 20 and Tuesday, 21 April, send us a message to connect with members of our partner country delegations and secretariat team on-site, and reach out directly to arrange a meeting.
If you are following from a distance: subscribe to the PEEB newsletter and follow PEEB on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and stories from Lausanne throughout the Summit.