+IMPACT MAGAZINE ISSUE 26

REPORT
REPORT
BUILDING
the
TRANSITION
On 11–15 September 2023 – World Green Building Week – the
WorldGBC and its network of over 75 Green Building Councils
united in a call to the global green building community for total
systemic transformation of the building and construction sector.
WORDS & IMAGES WorldGBC
before countries submit updated Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs) in 2024. WGBW23 also led
into the UN’s 2023 SDG Summit (18–19 September)
and therefore pinpointed 11 of the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals that are essential to catalyse
a sustainable built environment.
Throughout the week, WorldGBC’s network also shared
examples of #BuildingTheTransition across three themes:
The Energy Transition
The energy transition is about more than switching
to renewable energy. We’re talking about a complete
systemic change – accelerating the uptake of built
environments that reduce energy demand, store and
share clean energy, and produce more energy than they
use. It’s investing in clean technologies and driving
economies of scale. And it’s deep retrofitting existing
buildings to be exceptionally energy-efficient.
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC)
is the largest and most influential localregional-global
action network, leading the
transformation to sustainable and decarbonised
built environments for everyone, everywhere.
Now in its 15th year, the campaign World Green
Building Week 2023 (# WGBW23) was the most successful
yet as Green Building Councils (GBCs) around the world
hosted events, joined in the campaign on social media and
took part in a unified message to demonstrate that through
systems change thinking, and leveraging local solutions,
we can transition to sustainable built environments.
The #BuildingTheTransition campaign called upon
the global building and construction sector to accelerate
the transition to secure an energy-efficient, regenerative
and just future for all. In one week, over 120 events
were hosted across 35 countries, including South Africa.
The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA)
hosted a Wednesday Wine event, presented by the Western
Cape Department of Infrastructure, in which guests
had the opportunity to gain insights into the evolution
of the 9 Dorp Street project from the perspective of the
department’s internal certification team.
The distinguished panel of speakers included Dr
Gavin Kode, Deputy Director-General of the Western
Cape Department of Infrastructure; Tracy Davids,
Deputy Director of the Immovable Asset Management
Directorate; Ebrahim Jakoet, Mechanical Engineer
in General Infrastructure; and Karl-Robert Gloeck,
Chief Architect in Health Infrastructure. They shared
invaluable stories and lessons learned on their journey
to achieving a 4-Star Green Star Existing Building
Performance V1 certification.
GBCSA
FAR-REACHING IMPACT
With a social media reach of 6.5 million, 85% of GBCs
taking part and over 20 press features around the world, the
campaign demonstrated the power behind a unified voice.
The campaign tied into events and political
action taking place on the global stage too. At the
UN Climate Summit COP28 taking place in Dubai,
UAE, (30 November – 12 December 2023), the world’s
first Global Stocktake will result in a review of the
collective goals agreed upon under the Paris Agreement,
highlighting areas of progress and identifying key gaps
At the GBCSA gathering were, from left: Ian Haupt,
Chief Mechanical Engineer at the Western Cape
Government’s Department of Transport and Public
Works; Ebrahim Jakoet; Gavin Kode; GBCSA CEO Lisa
Reynolds; Tracy Davids; and Karl-Robert Gloeck.
The Regenerative Transition
How do we advance regenerative principles in the built
environment from niche to normal? Our planet’s resources
give us life, but they are not infinite. Humans and the built
environment must exist together within a cycle of natural
systems. That means not just protecting biodiversity, but
also prioritising its restoration, embracing nature-based
solutions, and creating a thriving circular economy across
the entire building value chain.
In one week, over 120 WGBW23 events
were hosted across 35 countries.
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