The Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 took place in Lausanne from 20 to 22 April, bringing together participants from 64 countries for three days of plenaries, workshops, and technical exchanges. Co‑organised by UNEP’s Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction and EPFL, the event focused on accelerating the transition to a decarbonised and climate‑resilient built environment.

Discussions covered a broad range of issues relevant to the transition of the built environment, including embodied carbon, product‑level data, and circular-economy approaches. Sessions also examined passive cooling strategies, the role of green finance in construction practices, and links with renovation, procurement, disaster resilience, and sustainable urban planning.

High‑level speakers from governments, academia, and civil society examined policy frameworks, technical solutions, and implementation challenges. The summit highlighted the need to align expertise, regulation, and financing to support the sector’s transformation, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies where construction growth is expected to be highest. 

_{Source of the picture: UNEP / Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC)}