Dublin, 8th September 2025: The building industry stands ready to decarbonise, but needs support, clear guidance and ambitious regulation to meet its climate targets – that’s the message of a major new report, Building A Zero Carbon Ireland: Industry Insights & Actions, that will be published by the Irish Green Building Council this September as part of World Green Building Week.
“As this new report shows us, by embracing Whole Life Carbon (WLC), circularity and collaboration across the entire building and construction sector, Ireland can deliver on its climate targets and inspire Europe,” said World Green Building Council CEO Cristina Gamboa, who will launch the report at an event in Dublin next Wednesday evening.
“This is a vital roadmap for turning ambition into action, and aligns with World Green Building Council’s global call to the world to #BeBoldOnBuildings – because together, we can show that buildings are one of the greatest opportunities of our time to construct a better future for people, communities, business, and the planet. I commend the Irish Green Building Council for leading this transformation.”
Meanwhile, Irish Green Building Council CEO Pat Barry said: “The building industry is willing to take ambitious action on carbon emissions, but as our research shows, it also needs support and guidance, including the removal of regulatory barriers and the introduction of limits on lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, to drive change and innovation.”
Construction and the built environment are responsible for 37% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, the same as agriculture. This new publication provides an update on the IGBC’s original Building A Zero Carbon Ireland roadmap (2022) and will be launched at a special event for construction industry leaders at The Masonry, Thomas Street on Wednesday, 10 September*.
The report, which will be available at www.BuildingAZeroCarbonIreland.ie from next Wednesday, also includes practical actions and case studies for industry professionals. The report found that SMEs in particular need support and guidance to decarbonise, and that collaboration around carbon reduction isn’t happening effectively on many construction projects. Please see below for a text of the report summary.
The theme of this year’s World Green Building Week is #BeBoldOnBuildings – highlighting how greener buildings aren’t just good for the planet; they’re also smart for business. As well as highlighting how the industry is ready to act, this year’s lineup of events showcases businesses taking steps to construct a low-carbon, resource-efficient efficient and more biodiverse built environment.
Events scheduled for this year’s World Green Building Week in Ireland include:
- Guided tours of the Seven Mills development in Dublin with Cairn Homes, showcasing Europe’s largest development of passive homes
- Launch of a new Community of Practice for construction professionals to learn about reducing the whole lifecycle carbon footprint of buildings
- Guided tours of Ireland’s first net zero energy supermarket in Maynooth with Lidl, and the sustainable redevelopment of Wilton Park on Dublin’s Grand Canal with IPUT
- Guided tour of EcoPark, Clayfarm in Leopardstown with Park Developments – showcasing how nature can be protected and enhanced in new residential developments