A Global Lens: Where Sustainability Meets Equity
The Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 is grounded on a simple conviction: true sustainability can only succeed when it is inclusive, fair, and rooted in local realities. The Summit will provide a platform for leaders and innovators committed to advancing the built environment as a key driver of climate action and human wellbeing. As cities expand and construction demand surges, especially across developing economies driven by population growth, the challenge is not just to build more just to meet basic needs, but to build better. This global Summit will foster exchange of knowledge across domains and cultural contexts, combining pragmatic first hand knowledge with cutting-edge innovation to create implementable and scalable solutions suited for varied local contexts.
Please note that this is the Preliminary Programme and is subject to some change. Below, you’ll find detailed session descriptions. You can scroll through the full programme directly on this page, via the embedded PDF, or download the complete document to view it offline here.
The core theme for each workshop are outlined above. For full session titles and additional details, please visit the Workshops section.
7.30 – 8.45
Registration and Welcome Coffee
8.45 – 10.00
High-Level Opening
The built environment accounts for nearly half of global emissions, from both operations and construction. As urbanization accelerates, especially in emerging economies, today’s decisions will lock in tomorrow’s impact. Transforming the sector is critical to cut emissions and drive sustainable development.
Prof. Stéphanie Lacour, Vice-President for Support to Strategic Initiatives, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Amb. Christian Frutiger, Vice-Director General, SDC, Switzerland
Mr. Augusto Henrique Alves Rabelo, National Housing Secretary, Ministry of Cities, Brazil
Ms. Banu Aslan, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Turkiye
Mr. Wei Wang, Inspector-General,Ministry of Housing and urban-Rural Development, People’s Republic of China
Mr. Frank Wolke, Head of Division, BMUKN, Germany
Mr. Yves-Laurent Sapoval, Co-Chair of GlobalABC and Chair of ICBC, Ministerial delegate forsustainable cities, Urban Envoy, Ministries of Territories, Ecology and Housing, France
Mr. Hongpeng Lei, Chief of the Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division, UNEP
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
10.00 – 10.30
Coffee Break
10.30 – 11.25
Setting the scene: Planetary Boundaries and the Built Environment
This plenary will explore planetary boundaries and the built environment, address population growth and global equity, highlight inclusive and resilient development, and discuss how to act effectively amid political pushback.
Living within planetary boundaries
Prof. Dr. Joyeeta Gupta, Professor of Climate Justice, Sustainability and Global Justice, University of Amsterdam
Building healthy cities in emerging economies
Ashok Lall, Internationally Acclaimed Architect and Founder, Ashok B Lall Architects, New Delhi, India
Key considerations for sustainable built environments
Mariam Issoufou, 2025 UNEP Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision Founder & Principal, Mariam Issoufou Architects
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
11.25 – 12.25
The Affordability Solution
This panel discussion will promote and debate sufficiency. A Sufficiency-First approach leads to optimizing demand while ensuring equitable, better living conditions across diverse cultural contexts. It does so through actionable levers to cut material consumption energy needs, and pressure on natural resources.
Mr. Frank Bertelsbeck, Program Manager, Energy Efficiency, Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, BeCool project
Mr. Felix Akhello, Kisumu County’s Chief Heat Action Officer, Kenya GlobalABC Steering Committee
Mr. Ouk Navann, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
Ms. Nazakat Azimli, Program Manager, Laudes Foundation
Moderators
Ms. Judy Zakreski, International Code Council SVP, Adaptation Hub leader
Mr. Cédric Borel, A4MT CEO, Global ABC Sustainability Hub Co-Chair, Sufficiency Action Hub leader
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
12.25 – 12.30
Overview of Day 1 Workshop Topics and their ambitions
12.30 – 13.30
Lunch Time
13.30 – 15.30
Click above for information on all workshops including venue and session descriptions.
15.30 – 16.00
Coffee Break
16.00 – 17.00
Workshops Takeaways – Panel discussion
Workshop leads and co-leads present three actions that have come out of each workshop
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
17.00 – 17.10
CLEAR (Coalition for Life Cycle Emissions Alignment and Reporting) Launch
A new global initiative designed to accelerate decarbonisation across the built environment by driving global alignment on whole life carbon measurement, reporting, and reduction.
Founded by RICS, WBCSD, and GBDI
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
17.10 – 17.30
Pitch Presentations
Flash/rapid elevator pitch style presentations by projects, start-ups and students.
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
17.15 – 18.45
GlobalABC Technical Coordination Group
By invite only
VENUE: Seminar Room 2
17:15 – 18.15
Chemicals and Construction through the lens of Circularity
This session will explore the intersection between chemicals management and circularity in construction, with a focus on:
• How chemicals affect reuse, recycling, and material recovery • Where chemicals act as barriers to circular construction • Trade-offs between performance requirements (e.g. fire safety, hygiene) and chemical risk reduction • Opportunities to enable safe circularity through better material design, data, and standards • Country experiences in eliminating hazardous chemicals from construction supply chains
VENUE: Seminar Room 3A
17.15 – 18.45
Financing and Capacity-building for locally led climate action in the buildings sector
This session, co-led by UNEP, the GlobalABC Subnational Action Group (ICLEI, UNEP and UN-Habitat) and Working Group 2 of Local2030 Coalition, explores how global commitments to scale up climate and adaptation finance can support cities and regions to embed Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in construction and lower emissions of the buildings sector.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3BC
18.00 – 19.00
Networking Cocktail Reception
08.00 – 08.45
Welcome Coffee
State of the Art of Sustainable Construction
08.45 – 09.00
Sustainable Built Environment Continuing Education
This session will feature the announcement of the launch of the Sustainable Built Environment Certificate of Advanced Studies
EPFL-CWSC, ENPC & Partners
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
09.00 – 09.40
Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Construction: Global Insights and Action Levers
This explores the latest findings from the 2026 Sustainable Construction Barometer, offering a comprehensive overview of global perceptions, challenges, and progress in the shift toward more sustainable building practices.
Amb. Antonio da Costa,International Advisor, Ministry of Cities, Brazil
More speakers to be announced soon
Moderator: Illya Azaroff, President of the AIA American Institute of Architects
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
09.40 – 10.30
The Growth Reality: Upfront embodied emissions and urban planning
Design for decarbonisation. Focus on material and construction choices that can fulfil growing demand while decarbonising.
Principles and potential of scaling bio-based construction
Prof. Michael Ramage, Director, Center for Natural Material Innovation, University of Cambridge
Best-in class technologies to enable development and decarbonise construction
Prof. Karen Scrivener, Director, Laboratory of Construction Materials, EPFL
Low Carbon Cement Expansion Realities
Mr. Hakan Gurdal, Area CEO Africa, Mediterranean, and West Asia, Heidelberg Materials
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee Break
11.00 – 11.30
Design for resilience
Smarter and green urban planning and design options for resilient urban communities and cities. Examples from Southeast Asia as well as analysis of spatial growth, densification, material use, and CO2 emissions in African cities based on satellite mapping and scenario modelling.
Resilience through the built environment
Ms. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Landscape Architect, CEO of Porous City Network
Mapping Built Up Growth Densification Patterns in African Cities Using Satellite Data
Dr. Magnus Andersson, Associate Professor Urban Studies, Malmo University
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
11.30 – 12.25
Panel discussion – Growth Reality: Upfront embodied emissions and urban planning
This panel discussion will highlight the necessary dialogue on subnational action on how those actors are making the best design, construction, material choices and decisions according to their local realities.
Ms. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Landscape Architect, CEO of Porous City Network
Dr. Magnus Andersson, Associate Professor Urban Studies, Malmo University
Mr. Bin Wang, Vice President, CBMI SINOMA CNBM
Dr. Aziza Chaouni, Laboratory of South-North Sustainable Construction and Conservation, EPFL
Mr. Kennedy Matheka, Deputy Director, Buildings Safety & Climate Resilience, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development, Kenya
Mr. Alfred Kwame Nuako Berkoh, Principal Planning Officer, Ministry of Works and Housing of Ghana
More speakers to be announced soon
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
12.25 – 12.30
Overview of Day 2 Workshop Topics and their ambitions
12.30 – 13.30
Lunch Time
13.00 – 13.25
Launching the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction in May2026: opportunities and tools for engagement
VENUE: Seminar Room 3BC
13.30 – 15.30
Click above for information on all workshops including venue and session descriptions.
15.30 – 16.00
Coffee Break
16.00 – 17.00
Workshops Takeaways – Panel discussion
Workshop leads and co-leads present three actions that have come out of each workshop
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
17.00 – 17.30
Pitch Presentations
Flash/rapid elevator pitch style presentations by projects, start-ups and students.
Justin Taylor, Autodesk • Daniel Kuchuk, Bern University of Applied Sciences • Max Veeger,TU Delft
• Patrick Crombez, DAIKIN Europe • Andreas Eigenheer, Bern University of Applied Sciences • Toby Pear, Article25
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
Intergovernmental Council of Buildings and Climate Breakout Sessions
17.15 – 18.15
Unlocking retrofit finance at scale: How Property Linked Finance can mobilise investments for sustainable buildings
This session is designed to explore how Property Linked Finance (PLF) can help unlock capital for scaling building retrofits by addressing key financing barriers such as affordability, short loan tenors, and investor risk. Through real-world examples, live polling, and interactive discussions, participants will assess the applicability of PLF in their contexts and identify practical steps toward implementation.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3BC
17.15 – 18.15
World Championship for Energy Savings – Platform Launch & Championship kick-off meeting
The session will also provide an overview of the ongoing work in endorsing countries, showcasing how these approaches can be replicated by additional ICBC members as they move forward in establishing their own national WCES initiatives. Presenting the platform and its timeline to endorsing countries will be key to ensure a successful award ceremony at COP31.
VENUE: Seminar Room 2
18.00 – 19.00
Networking Cocktail Reception
08.00 – 08.45
Welcome Coffee
08.45 – 09.40
Rethinking the Blueprint: Sustainable Design Meets Circularity
An exploration of how sustainable, circular design can reshape and regenerate the built environment, while addressing the challenges of moving beyond conventional approaches. Through the lens of resilience, it highlights pathways toward more adaptive and inclusive solutions that protect communities and enhance long-term quality of life.
Mr. Will Arnold, Head of Sustainable Materials, Useful Simple Trust
Ms. Pamela Wackett, Director, KPF
Mr. Kinya Seto, Director, Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO, Lixil
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
09.40 – 10.30
Panel discussion – Low carbon construction and zero emission ambitions and practices – the case of China
This session will bring together perspectives from policy, private sector, and academia to learn more about the low carbon construction and zero emission ambitions and practices of China.
Mr. Wei Wang, Representative Ministry of Housing, Urban, and Rural Development
Prof. Wei Xu, Chief Scientist, China Academy of Building Research
Mr. Xiaolong Xu, Chief Engineer, Center of Technology Innovation for Green and Low-Carbon Building
Mr. Jingshan Wu, Secretary-General, China Association for Building Energy Efficiency
Ms. Yanbing ZHAO, Program Director, Low Carbon Cities Program, The Energy Foundation
Mr. Zhongmin XUE, Vice president, China National Building Material Co. (CNBM)
Dr. Andre Ullal, Project Manager ZEB China
Moderator: Mr. Hongpeng Lei, UNEP
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee Break
11.00 – 11.45
Panel discussion – From Concept to Construction – how collaboration drives market transformation
A critical discussion to understand that leading businesses can bring visibility to real-world progress and evidence of market readiness and innovation, and therefore inspire policy action; and vice-versa ambitious and science-based policy can provide the enabling environment for businesses to go further
Mr. Antonio Carrillo, VP, Sustainability, Holcim
Mr. Kazuma Koyama, CSR and Global Environment Center Senior Manager, Daikin
Ms. Marta Bouchard, Sustainability Solutions Director, Autodesk
Mr. Nazrul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Bangladesh
Moderator: Bex Porter, Associate Engineer and Low-carbon Design Leader, Arup
Introduction: Roland Hunziker, Director Built Environment, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
11.45 – 12.45
Panel discussion – Consolidating Global Perspectives and Local Realities
Climate action takes place at the subnational level. This closing panel will discuss key takeaways from the Summit’s discussions and focus on key actions and on‑the‑ground solutions to enable effective, multi‑scale strategies towards sustainable, inclusive built environments.
Prof. Carlos Bohorquez, Engineer, Planification Department, Medellin
Ms. Helene Chartier, Director of Urban Planning and Design at C40, France
Mr. Hubert Zan, Manager-Energy Efficiency Regulation, Ghana Energy Commission
Ms. Aarti Nain, Advisor on Urban Cooling and Extreme Heat Mitigation to UNEP and to the National Institute of Urban Affairs at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of India
Ms. Gulnara Roll, Chief of Sectoral Transition Section, United Nations Environment Programme
Dr. Rue Munemo, Research Associate, EPFL Centre for Worldwide Sustainable Construction
VENUE: Auditorium A (Plenary Hall)
12.45 – 13.00
Official Closing of the Summit
formal proceedings conclude, with side events continuing
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch Time
13.30 – 15.30
Toward a Common Language & Infrastructure for Product Carbon Data: EPDs, PCFs, DPPs, and the Road to Harmonization
Building Transparency and UNIDO/IDDI invite key stakeholders in product-level carbon accounting and reporting to a focused working session at the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit.
VENUE: Seminar Room 4
13.30 – 15.30
Advancing Culture and Heritage in the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Agenda
The event increased awareness of heritage decarbonization solutions and the advancements made to integrate cultural heritage into UNFCCC frameworks and actions (e.g. COP and GCAA), expanded dissemination of the Heritage Now! campaign and toolkit pre-launch, and broadened the coalition of organizations signatory to HN! and participating in the implementation of PAS.
VENUE: Seminar Room 1
13.30 – 15.30
Responsible Sourcing of Building Materials: From Due Diligence to Market Uptake
How can responsible sourcing of construction materials move from ambition to real market uptake? This interactive workshop brings together leaders from industry, finance, policy, and certification to explore practical pathways for credible and scalable solutions.Through expert insights and discussion, the session will address the current state of responsible sourcing, the role of certification and due diligence frameworks, and the incentives needed to drive change across the value chain.
Speakers include: representatives from the Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), the Coalition for Responsible Sand and Silicates, WWF, Bellona, Holcim, and financial sector stakeholders.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3BC
13.30 – 14.30
Emerging Economies on Implementing Net-Zero: Insights, Lessons, and Action
Global Buildings Performance Network
Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) works by enabling a global network of local experts to drive building decarbonisation from the bottom-up. This session showcases that approach in action, giving the floor to GBPN’s experts from China to share frontline insights on implementing net-zero buildings in an emerging economy context. Keynote presentations from the China Academy of Building Research will cover China’s policy roadmaps and targets, progress on electrification, and technical pilots on building energy performance and grid flexibility from the Hainan province. Attendees are invited to network informally, exchange experiences from their own contexts, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The session offers a window into what scalable, locally-led climate action in the buildings sector looks like in practice.
VENUE: Seminar Room 2
14:00 – 15.30
Re-imagining the Materials Transition: Roundtable on Carbon Management and Carbon as a Resource for Building Materials
Roundtable Focus: Buildings and Construction Industry, Private Sector and Innovation
Operating under Chatham House rules, this roundtable will explore how industry and research can accelerate innovation and value chain creation around carbon as a feedstock in construction.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3A
14.00 – 15.30
Bio-based Materials Working Group: Member Exchange and Acceleration Plan Deep Dive
The GlobalABC Bio-based Materials Working Group brings together a diverse network of actors working across policy, industry, finance, and research to advance bio-based materials in the built environment. As activity continues to grow across regions, there is value in creating space for members to reconnect, share ongoing work, and identify opportunities for alignment.
This session combines an open exchange between members with a focused discussion on the Building for Forests Acceleration Plan, as a shared framework to help coordinate and scale efforts.
VENUE: Meeting Room CD
14.00 – 15.30
BeCool India Experience: Regulations and technologies for Passive Cooling in Developing Countries
This session will present strategies, derived from learnings of UNEP-SDC BeCool India Project, to accelerate extreme heat adaption and thermal comfort through passive cooling.
VENUE: Meeting Room AB
14.30 – 16.00
EPFL Lab Tours
Sign-up for the lab tours will be available during registration.
VENUE: EPFL Campus
Intergovernmental Council of Buildings and Climate Breakout Sessions
14.00 – 16.00
ICBC technical meeting
This ICBC in-person technical meeting will bring together the country-wise designated Senior Representatives for the very first time. It will provide a dedicated platform to exchange experiences and best practices between the ICBC members and observer.
By invitation only
VENUE: Seminar Room 5
15.00 – 16.30
Advancing on a Global Implementation Programme on Chemicals in Buildings and Construction
The Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), adopted in 2023, establishes a global commitment to the sound management of chemicals and waste across sectors. Target D6 calls for major economic sectors to develop and implement sustainable chemicals and waste management strategies by 2030.
The buildings and construction sector is one of the most materials- and chemicals-intensive sectors globally, with chemicals present across the entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to demolition and waste management. Despite progress on climate and circularity, chemicals remain an under-addressed dimension of sustainability in construction.
Hazardous chemicals in construction materials can pose risks to human health and the environment and can limit the effectiveness of circular economy approaches by constraining reuse, recycling, and material recovery. Addressing these challenges requires improved transparency, identification of priority chemicals of concern, development of safer alternatives, and integration of chemicals considerations into lifecycle approaches and sectoral decision-making.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3BC
16.30 – 17.30
Policies for Blended Cements and SCMs in Cement Production
The discussion will build upon the ICBC country pledge on blended cements and SCMs in clinker production, inviting governments to support the scale up of these materials to reduce clinker content and GHG emissions.
VENUE: Seminar Room 3A