WorldGBC Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2022 Accelerating Decarbonisation: Policy & Legislation Policy is showing signs of ratcheting up in line with industry potential, embracing the energy transition and introducing codes to improve building performance. In Montreal, Canada, a “zero-emission” threshold will come into effect as early as 2024 for buildings of less than 2,000 square metres, and as early as 2025 for building permit applications of 2,000 square metres and more. In April 2022, The Washington State Building Code Council voted to adopt a new energy code that will require new commercial buildings to be built with high-efficiency electric heat pumps for water and space heating from July 2023. The code will save energy for building users through improvements to building envelopes and efficiency. The code is projected to slash eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050. A coalition of 33 US states and local governments was announced by President Joe Biden in January 2022, with aims to reduce building emissions within their respective jurisdictions through roadmaps, policy creation and forming a community of practice. This is a significant announcement as the coalition members account for approximately 20% of the nation’s building stock. And more than 50 cities and counties across the state of California are considering policies to support all-electric new construction. As part of the “Executive Order on Catalysing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability’’ signed by President Biden in December 2021, the Buy Clean Task Force was established. This taskforce focuses on recommendations for reducing carbon emissions of the construction phases of federal buildings. This is the first federal-level recognition of the significance of reducing carbon at other life-stages of a building. In China, the city of Qingdao, a member of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, is taking actions to reduce emissions from buildings, and between 2008 and 2021 has implemented energy saving measures across more than 38 million square metres of property, benefitting around 470,000 households and reducing carbon emissions by 510,000 tonnes CO 2 e per year. Increased energy prices combined with the uncertainty on supply, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has prompted The European Commission to develop a plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels before 2030, a particular focus on reducing energy demand and accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. PAGE 34
Download PDF file