The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Working collaboratively, building sustainably
A joint initiative between UNOPS, UN-Habitat and UN Environment Programme – aimed at supporting countries with sustainable building practices – kicks off in Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka.
“The building and construction sector is currently responsible for a high percentage of all greenhouse gas emissions,” said Nick O'Regan, UNOPS Director of Implementation Practices and Standards.
As countries begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure development provides an opportunity to create jobs, stimulate economies and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. However, we also need to ensure this opportunity is used to also build in a more sustainable way. We need to rethink and transform how we consume and produce resources and materials.
The two-year programme – which is currently being piloted in Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka – will help countries develop policies and strategies that promote resource efficiency and low carbon emissions within their building and construction industries.
A new capacity assessment tool will be applied in both countries. The tool will be used to identify existing gaps in the housing sector and support the planning, design and construction of future buildings.
Using national and international expertise through the One Planet Network, results from Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka will serve as a guide to help countries develop more sustainable building practices globally.
