NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings
NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings
November 2024. Makati City
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and its member GBCs recognize the transformative potential of the built environment in achieving climate goals. In response, it has developed the NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings, a comprehensive tool to evaluate and enhance sustainable building policies within national climate commitments.
The tool is currently being developed with five pilot Green Building Councils (GBCs) – Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Nigeria and the Philippines – alongside local stakeholders including governments, to ensure nations are being bold on buildings in their
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submissions and national policies.
The Scorecard assesses NDCs across key criteria, such as:
Carbon reduction, resilience, and adaptation;
Circularity, water, and biodiversity;
Health, equity, and access; and
Finance mechanisms.
As part of the global effort to localize the NDC Scorecard, the PHILGBC is tailoring the tool to the unique context of the Philippines. Through a collaborative process, the PHILGBC is leading its development by assessing existing policies, pinpointing gaps, and developing actionable recommendations aligned with national priorities. The outcomes of these development activities will serve as the foundation for a more robust and ambitious NDC for the Philippines, with the built environment playing a crucial role in the country's strategies.
Why does this matter for the Philippines?
The Philippines is among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and significant biodiversity loss. Climate change threatens communities, livelihoods, and natural ecosystems, making it imperative for the country to act decisively.
While the Philippines contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country faces outsized consequences if global temperature rise exceeds 1.5°C. At the same time, as a rapidly developing nation, emissions from the built environment and energy sectors are steadily increasing. Buildings, in particular, account for a significant portion of energy consumption and associated emissions, especially in fast-growing urban areas.
Reducing carbon emissions in the Philippines is about more than global responsibility—it is essential for national survival and economic resilience. Reducing emissions allows the:
Strengthening of climate resilience and lessening of the impact of future climate-related disasters.
Lowering energy expenses through sustainable and efficient building practices.
Safeguarding public health by enhancing air quality and reducing pollution.
Stimulating economic growth by fostering innovation and generating green jobs in construction, design, and energy industries.
How can you participate?
Along with with other pilot GBCs in different global regions, the PHILGBC will be organizing activities for localizing the NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings. The WorldGBC is leading this global initiative with development support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).
The development process was designed to identify best-practice building policies that should be incorporated in the revised NDCs and integrated into national building regulatory frameworks. The PHILGBC welcomes the diverse expertise, experience, and insight from national agencies, local governments, private sector leaders, and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the process.
Contact the PHILGBC National Secretariat through secretariat@philgbc.org to learn how you can participate in the activities or be involved in the development and use of the localized NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings.
NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings
The tool enables stakeholders to conduct a gap analysis to ensure that NDCs, national policies and implementation are all aligned so that commitments are being put into practice, and reveal where further action is necessary to increase the ambition and effectiveness of their NDCs and national policies.
You may download the beta version of the NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings.
Comment Form
The Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) encourages the active participation of the public in improving the NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings. You may contribute to the scorecard by sending your comments and recommendations.
Only comments with clear discussions on the issue and proposed recommendations to improve the text will be considered. Your comments will be received and logged by the PHILGBC National Secretariat for review and improvement of the scorecard.