The International Code Council has become the newest member of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the leading global platform for governments, the private sector, civil society and intergovernmental and international organizations to increase action towards a zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector. As the global leader in developing model building codes and standards, the Code Council is uniquely positioned to both share data and best practices from the U.S. experience as well as to bring proven outcomes and lessons learned from the alliance partners from around the world to the Family of Solutions.

Established as an outcome of the 2015 United Nations climate conference, GlobalABC’s flagship contribution to the international discussion of energy efficiency and resiliency is the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, published annually. The Global Status Report is a reference document providing a snapshot of the progress made by the buildings and construction sector on a global basis towards the achievement of international commitments related to reductions of CO2 emissions and energy demand. As an active member of GlobalABC predominantly representing its U.S.-based activity, the Code Council will work with government and industry stakeholders to ensure that the Global Status Report includes relevant data from the U.S., as well as to promote its use as a tool to help achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution on greenhouse gas emissions reductions to be announced by the Biden Administration later this month.

“The adoption of modern building codes that incorporate technical solutions to address communities’ energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals are essential in addressing climate change,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Partnering with GlobalABC aligns with the Code Council’s commitment to develop resources that will help jurisdictions to reach zero energy buildings and address additional community goals. We look forward to engaging with like-minded organizations to help deliver a sustainable and resilient built environment,” Sims concluded.

“Like the International Code Council, GlobalABC focuses both on mitigation and adaptation tools to address future climate risks,” added International Code Council Vice President for Innovation and Executive Director of the Alliance for National & Community Resilience Ryan Colker. “Our work through ANCR and in leading the Global Resiliency Dialogue also brings value to the work of GlobalABC,” Colker noted. International Code Council Vice President for Global Services Judy Zakreski  added, “We have a unique and nimble position in our international collaborations as a non-governmental organization with a robust set of solutions and a wide group of stakeholders, which we can leverage to promote discussion and effect change in global approaches to building safety through organizations like GlobalABC.”