About

UKGBC is the membership-led industry network radically transforming the sustainability of the built environment. We represent the unified voice of our industry’s current and future leaders who are working together to deliver a just transition across the sector, in response to the climate and nature crises.

670+ Members

100+ Innovative Start-ups

50+ Keystone Members

Powered by over 700 member organisations from across the value chain, UKGBC is at the forefront of positively influencing policy, identifying the pathways required to propel the sector forward sustainably and driving the solutions to transform our buildings, communities, cities and infrastructure so that people and nature thrive.

Our Mission

To radically improve the sustainability of the built environment, by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained, repurposed and operated.

Our Vision

A built environment that enables people and planet to thrive by:

Mitigating and adapting to climate change

Reducing carbon emissions, and making our communities resilient to the changes we already face.
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Eliminating waste and maximising resource efficiency

Embracing a Circular Economy and material reuse at a systems level.
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Embracing and restoring nature and promoting biodiversity

Working towards a nature positive built environment in the face of an ecological crisis.
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Creating long-term value for society and improving quality of life

The transition to a sustainable built environment must be just and equitable.
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What we do

At UKGBC, we collaborate to advocate, enable and inspire accelerated leadership and action, primarily by business and government, on climate change, resource use, nature & biodiversity, health & wellbeing and socio-economic impact.

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Committed to Net Zero

UKGBC is a member of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign. We have pledged to:

  • Halve our absolute greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
  • Achieve net zero emissions before 2050
  • Develop a robust plan to achieve the necessary measurement and reductions to achieve these targets
  • Disclose our progress publicly on a yearly basis
  • Align our communications, policy and lobbying with our net zero commitment

We have established our baseline emissions footprint and are now developing, and taking immediate action to implement, an emissions reduction strategy. Our targets and progress towards them are being independently verified by Planet Mark, in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s Corporate Net Zero Standard.

UKGBC seeks to drive positive impact through not only its own activities, but also by empowering and supporting those our membership community to take action. We hope that you will join us in this movement for change – find out about UKGBC’s role as a Race to Zero Accelerator here.

How are we funded?

UKGBC is a registered charity funded primarily by membership fees and upgraded Keystone members. Our programmes, projects, and advocacy work is generously supported by a wide range of industry organisations and businesses. We’re also supported by a small number of trusts and foundations. To learn more about becoming a member and supporting our mission, visit our membership page.

Meet the members currently funding our mission.

Our work

Climate Change Mitigation

We are in a decisive decade for climate action and with a decreasing number of years left to achieve 2030 climate targets, radical and rapid transformation from businesses and the global economy is essential.
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Climate Change Adaptation

As the climate crisis intensifies and extreme weather events become more common, the UK’s buildings, cities and critical infrastructure, and the communities that use and occupy these, are in increasing danger. It’s vital to address how our buildings and infrastructure can be adapted to remain fit for the future.
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Climate Resilience webinar

Nature

Nature is in crisis.  The built environment has a critical role to play in protecting and restoring nature and moving to a regenerative model of development.
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Resource Use

In the UK, construction, demolition and excavation account for 60% of material use and waste generation. Meanwhile, prices of construction materials in the UK rose by 4.9% between 2017 and 2018. Adopting circular economy principles offers a €1.8 trillion opportunity to the EU between 2015 and 2030.   
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Home Retrofit

With time running out to keep global temperatures to 1.5 degrees, upgrading the nation’s homes is one of the biggest opportunities the UK has to reduce carbon emissions whilst tackling the cost-of-living crisis, energy security and levelling up.
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retrofit

Our global network

UKGBC is part of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) network, a global network of over 75 national Green Building Councils transforming the places we live, work, play, heal and learn.

WorldGBC catalyses the uptake of sustainable and decarbonised built environments for everyone, everywhere. It works with businesses, organisations and governments to deliver on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Through a systems change approach, WorldGBC challenge business as usual, stimulate market change and champion best practice to deliver on the 2030 decarbonisation and sustainability goals for our sector.

Our link with this global network gives our members unique access to international best practices, global projects, and international events such as the UN climate negotiations.

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