2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Towards a Zero‑emission, Efficient and Resilient Buildings and Construction Sector

The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction is a comprehensive assessment published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It is authored by a multidisciplinary team including Ian Hamilton, Harry Kennard, Oliver Rapf, Judit Kockat, Sheikh Zuhaib, Zsolt Toth, Margaux Barrett and Caroline Milne, who bring expertise from academia, research institutes and international agencies. The report evaluates the sector’s contribution to climate change, tracks progress toward decarbonisation, and outlines policy and investment pathways for a zero‑emission, efficient and resilient built environment.

Buildings and construction account for roughly 30 percent of global final energy demand (≈ 135 EJ in 2021) and about 27 percent of operational CO₂ emissions (≈ 10 Gt CO₂). When embodied emissions from materials such as concrete, steel and aluminium are added, the sector represents around 37 percent of total global energy‑related CO₂ emissions. Global floor‑space grew by about 1 percent in 2021, reaching over 242 billion m², indicating continued expansion of the built environment.

In 2021, operational energy demand rose by 4 percent compared with 2020, while CO₂ emissions increased by 5 percent, surpassing the 2019 peak. The Global Buildings Climate Tracker recorded a decarbonisation index of 8.1 points (out of 100), roughly half of the level needed to stay on the Paris‑aligned pathway (≥ 17.1 points for 2021). Investment in energy‑efficiency rose by 16 percent, reaching about USD 237 billion, yet the sector remains off‑track for the 2050 net‑zero target.

As of September 2022, 79 out of 196 countries (40 percent) have building energy codes that are mandatory or voluntary; only 35 percent have mandatory codes covering any building type, and 26 percent cover both residential and non‑residential buildings. Recent code updates include Georgia’s adoption of the EU directive 2010/31/EU, new drafts in Kenya and Trinidad & Tobago, and strengthened codes in several U.S. states (e.g., California, Washington, New York). The European Union and the United States have introduced zero‑energy appendices and stretch codes to accelerate performance.

Seventy‑four green‑building certification systems exist globally; fourteen are tracked in the Climate Tracker. Cumulative certification growth was 19 percent in 2021, reflecting expanding market demand for energy‑efficient and low‑carbon buildings. Notable schemes include LEED, BREEAM, EDGE, DGNB and national programs such as Egypt’s Green Pyramid and Kenya’s Green Mark.

Global investment in building energy efficiency grew by 16 percent in 2021, with Europe, North America and parts of Asia leading the spend. Germany’s KfW bank alone invested €37 billion in 2021. The United Kingdom allocated £1 billion to public‑sector decarbonisation, while France’s France Relance provided up to €4 billion in loans for retrofits. Despite these advances, total annual investment remains insufficient to meet the estimated USD 230 billion needed each year to achieve the 2050 pathway.

Africa contributes about 6 percent of global energy demand and less than 3 percent of CO₂ emissions, yet 56 percent of its population lives in informal housing. The continent’s building stock is projected to double by 2040, with most new construction occurring in cities. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia are developing or enforcing building codes, and several nations have set net‑zero building targets (e.g., South Africa by 2030, Kenya by 2035). Local material strategies—earth blocks, sand‑bag houses and biobased insulation—are highlighted as cost‑effective pathways to sustainable housing.

Embodied emissions from construction materials represent a growing share of total building emissions as operational energy improves. Concrete, steel and aluminium together account for roughly 6 percent of global CO₂ emissions; bricks and glass add another 2‑4 percent. Strategies to reduce embodied carbon include low‑clinker cement (LC3), recycled aggregates, biobased timber, and circular reuse of demolition waste. The report stresses the need for whole‑life‑cycle accounting in future codes and standards.

The report calls for mandatory, performance‑based building energy codes worldwide, accelerated investment in retrofits (target 2.5 percent of existing stock per year by 2030), broader adoption of green certification, and policies that internalise embodied carbon costs. It also highlights the importance of data transparency, material passports, and stakeholder collaboration to enable rapid decarbonisation of housing across Europe and beyond.