The 14th EmiratesGBC Annual Congress urges bold collaboration and local action to align the UAE’s built environment with 1.5C climate goals.
UAE: The 14th EmiratesGBC Annual Congress, held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, brought together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to tackle one of the UAE’s most pressing challenges: aligning the built environment with the global 1.5°C climate target. Under the theme ‘Mission to 1.5C: Be Bold on Buildings’, the two-day event underscored the pivotal role buildings play in the nation’s path to Net Zero by 2050.
Organised by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) in partnership with ESM and supported by Bearys Global (Platinum Sponsor) and Green Way Environmental Consultants (Gold Sponsor), the congress aimed to spark real impact through local initiatives and practical innovation. Key discussions revolved around emissions reduction, renewable energy, AI-optimised operations, climate finance, and smart policy shifts—all framed within the UAE’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
Four central themes guided the sessions: UAE Commitment through NDCs, Climate Finance, Efficiency and Resilience, and the Building Breakthrough. EmiratesGBC Chairman Khaled Bushnaq opened the event with a call for collaboration and bold action, stating, “Fourteen years of convening change-makers has shown that progress is only possible through unified, purpose-driven effort.”
The congress featured over 50 speakers and 250 participants, with case studies, technological showcases, and data-driven tools highlighting the way forward. Among the highlights were the launch of the EmiratesGBC Market Brief 2024, a presentation by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on UAE’s 3D Digital Twin platform, and insights from the Dubai Land Department on its sustainability-integrated Smart Residential Rent Index.
The event also explored how the Building Breakthrough initiative and upcoming MENA Green Building Awards can further empower UAE stakeholders to pursue carbon neutrality in both new and existing buildings.
With a focus on localised, measurable outcomes—including goals like 80% emissions cuts by 2035—the Congress reaffirmed its position as the UAE’s premier platform for driving sustainability in construction and urban development, calling on all sectors to step up for a climate-resilient future.
