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T1 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026 - Key Messages
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
YR 2026
FD 2026-05
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/49532
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/49532
NO The buildings and construction sector represents 11–13% of global GDP1, contributing around; it employs roughly 9% of the global workforce2, spanning construction, renovation, demolition, and civil engineering; its environmental footprint is equally significant; the sector is responsible for around 37% of global CO₂ emissions and nearly 50% of global material extraction—the largest of any sector. In 2024, global building floor area reached 273 billion square metres, growing by 1.7% in a single year; residential buildings account for 77% of total floor area and around 70% of buildings’ energy demand, placing housing at the heart of both economic growth and climate action.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 17, 2026