Joint UNEP/Industry Sector Initiatives

• UNEP Finance Initiative
  
• Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Development
  
• Global e-Sustainability Initiative
  
• Advertising and Communication Forum
  
• Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative
  
• The International Cyanide Management Code for the Gold Mining Industry

Previous UNEP/Industry Sector Initiatives

• Automotive Forum

The building sector contributes to a large proportion of world GDP. Unfortunately it is also responsible for a great share of resource depletion, waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions. It is a key sector for sustainable development, both in terms of the considerable negative impacts it may cause if appropriate considerations are not given to the entire life span of buildings, but also for the important benefits it contributes to society, which can be extended and explored.

Against this background UNEP has decided to launch the Sustainable Building and Climate Initiative (SBCI). This global Initiative aims at addressing sustainability in the building and construction sector by:

1. Providing a common platform to all buildings and construction stakeholders for addressing sustainability issues of global significance, especially climate change;
2. Establishing globally acknowledged baselines based on the life cycle approach, with a first focus on energy efficiency and CO2 emissions;
3. Developing tools and strategies for achieving a wide acceptance and adoption of sustainable building practices throughout the world.
4. Promoting to key stakeholders the adoption of the above tools and strategies which will be evaluated through pilot projects.

SBCI brings together stakeholders from all phases of buildings' life span, such as material manufacturers, architects, estate developers, construction companies, maintenance and services companies as well as local authorities. It provides a common platform for these stakeholders to work together with UNEP and its partners to identify opportunities for change towards sustainability, and develop mechanisms for realizing those opportunities.

SBCI was launched in February 2006. Its work program will first focus on the decrease of built environment's contribution to worldwide CO2 emissions. Other areas will be defined according to SBCI members' interest.

For more information visit our SBCI pages.

To contact SBCI Secretariat:
Tel: +33 1 44 37 14 34
E-mail: sbci at unep point fr