The World Green Building Council's Europe Network is driving green building practices across Europe by creating leadership networks and influencing policy to transform the region's built environment. The Network represents over 30 green building councils at various stages of development across 21 European countries and over 3,500 member organizations. It aims to strengthen green building capacity, share best practices, and support national implementation of EU policies and directives to advance the industry's transition to more sustainable buildings.

1. World Green Building Council
Europe Network
Driving green building practices
Creating leadership networks
Influencing policy
Transforming Europe’s built environment

2. Global Challenges, Regional Responses
The world’s construction industry The European property and construction
generates around €5.1 trillion a year, is industry has recognised the need for
responsible for around 10 per cent of decisive action and leadership, and
global GDP, and employs more than 100 through the World Green Building Council
million people worldwide. (WorldGBC) Europe Network, is at the
At the same time, the world’s buildings forefront of finding sustainable solutions to
account for: climate change.
17% of water usage
“The WorldGBC Europe Network represents an explosion of interest “While our challenges
25% of wood harvested
in green building right across this culturally and economically diverse are immense, the
region. Time and again we see that green and sustainable building 33% of carbon emissions WorldGBC’s influence
practices – whether in new builds or refurbishments – are delivering 30-40% of energy use continues to grow.
important economic and social benefits as well as critically reducing And as it does, we are
40-50 % raw materials. focused on supporting
negative environmental impacts. Our built environment offers twice
the cost effective carbon mitigation potential of any other sector, and the development of
embracing this opportunity will create hundreds of thousands of new However, the Intergovernmental Panel regional networks to
jobs, contribute to energy security and affordability, and green economic on Climate Change has found that the identify and address
growth. Europe is at the forefront of the green building revolution that is set to transform the potential of the built environment to local priorities. As the citizens of Europe begin
way people live, work and play around the world. Green building councils and their member deliver cost effective, global carbon to embrace sustainability and transform their
companies are the lifeblood of that revolution. We are proud to introduce the work of the emission reductions is unrivalled. buildings, their cities and their countries, the
Europe Network and the ways in which you can get involved.” WorldGBC’s Europe Network will continue
The United Nations Environment to educate, advocate and lead the change
Paul King, Chair of World GBC Europe Network Programme has argued that “no other required to ensure the built environment of
sector has such a high potential for drastic tomorrow is green.”
emission reductions.”
Tony Arnel, Chairman,
World Green Building Council
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3. A Global Voice WorldGBC Members: Working Together
As the largest international organisation The Europe Network is our largest and
influencing the global green building fastest growing, with more than 30 GBCs
market, the World Green Building Council at various stages of development, including
is the collective voice of more than 85 seven established GBCs.
established, emerging, prospective and The Europe Network’s collective mission is
associated green building councils around to transform the building and construction
the world. industry. Together, we are furthering policy
We are working together to unlock the and education initiatives, and building
building sector’s potential to reduce energy capacity within the European region to
consumption in the built environment, create a greener future. The WorldGBC is the only global network governments
while also meeting a wide range of socio- of organisations with cross-national and
economic local priorities such as affordable professional services firms
cross-sector representation.
housing, energy security and job creation. “The growth of the utilities and energy service providers
global green building The WorldGBC’s Europe Network
The WorldGBC has four strategic market is underpinned encompasses 20 of the 27 European Union research and education institutions
priorities: by the increasing member states, and also represents the non-government organisations and
interests of more than 3,500 companies
1. Creating a global common language understanding of
across the breadth of the building and
associations
for green building the long-term value
individuals.
of green building. construction industry, including:
2. Building a strong global GBC Buildings are no longer developers
community
viewed as simple “United Technologies Corporation has been a
building owners and facility managers
3. Increasing the profile of the green ‘services’, but rather as central to business keen supporter of the green building council
building movement performance, community development and a engineers, architects and designers movement since its inception. The creation
Demonstrating the value of green nation’s ability to provide a high-quality life
4. for all its citizens. Green building councils in
tenants of the WorldGBC Europe Network marks an
building to governments. important step in its evolution and we are
Europe are at the forefront of this paradigm contractors and builders proud to be a partner.”
shift.” manufacturers and distributors
Our primary vehicle for delivering on United Technologies Corporation
Jane Henley, Chief Executive Officer, World financial institutions
these four priorities is through our five Green Building Council
regional networks in Europe, the Americas,
Africa, Middle East and North Africa, and
the Asia Pacific. Number of Member Companies
Across the Network
63
129
140
341
340 88
1000
74
18
182 45
120 45
22 43 118
500
24
46
203
102
67
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4. Our Track Record
We mean business “InterfaceFLOR shares the goal of the
In less than two years, the WorldGBC’s WorldGBC’s Europe Network to demonstrate
Europe Network has grown from a zero the business case for sustainability and to
base to a group with a committed chair minimise the global impacts that the built
and steering committee, policy and environment has on people and the planet.
education taskforces, and three regional The European Network has an outstanding
partners. In addition, the network as a calibre of members; bringing together these
whole meets quarterly to drive the green diverse organisations to share best practice
building agenda. We’re committed to will help deliver the radical changes needed
transforming Europe’s built environment. within the industry to ensure a sustainable
future for all.”
Industry support
Green growth We are proud to be supported by some of Lindsey Parnell, “The Serbia GBC ‘Green Building Roundtables’
The Europe Network is WorldGBC’s fastest Europe’s leading building and construction President and Chief Executive Officer, bring together building owners currently
growing. We now represent 21 GBCs and companies. These connections are our InterfaceFLOR EMEAI pursuing green certification to give them
10 associated countries, as well as more greatest asset. information and inspiration. We present
than 3,500 organisations. international guests with green building
“Green building councils, given their experience, who share their knowledge and
comprehensive and democratic structures, provide encouragement to Serbian building
provide a good representation of the building owners just starting out on their green building
sector throughout our cities and regions. The journeys. Many people are surprised to discover
WorldGBC’s Europe Network offers us an that green building is affordable and achievable
efficient way to collaborate. We look forward in developing European nations. The Serbia
to establishing a closer relationship between GBC is demonstrating that green building is
the Europe Network and the Covenant of applicable to all nations and marketplaces.”
Mayors.”
Serbia GBC
Pedro Ballesteros Torres,
Programme Manager - Covenant of Mayors,
European Commission
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64262626
“We believe that green business is good for
Europe 7 Established GBCs
3326 planet, our people and our customers.
our
Network 6 Emerging GBCs 26
It is simply good business. We believe that
GBCs 8 Prospective GBCs green building councils are well positioned
to consolidate a common position towards
10 Associated Groups 2007 2008policy makers and to share best practices
EU 2009 2010 Current
on the implementation of EU directives.
This helps drive consistency – and this is
why Skanska is a partner of the WorldGBC’s
European Network.”
Johan Karlström, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Skanska
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5. Leading Industry Action Supporting Green Skills
The WorldGBC’s Europe Network is “One of the critical ways to achieve sustainable “The GBC of Croatia has hosted a number
building strong relationships with national building and planning practices in Bulgaria is of symposia on green building with the
and European Union governments to by collaborating with the government. The aims of increasing awareness and educating
promote and support the industry’s Bulgarian GBC is working in partnership with professionals. We have launched the ‘Better
transition to more sustainable buildings. the Ministry of Regional Development to adopt Building’ breakfast series to bring together
a national sustainable building and urban representatives of green building, sustainable
The Europe Policy Task Force was formed
planning system, DGNB Bulgaria. We also development and corporate responsibility to
to provide GBCs with:
serve on the advisory board to the Bulgarian exchange views and information and to discuss
a knowledge-sharing platform on Parliament to update regulations and bring how to drive market transformation in Croatia.”
policy initiatives and best practices about unification with EU standards.”
GBC of Croatia
resources and support in their work Bulgarian GBC
with governments and the business
community to ensure successful Johannes Kreissig ED, DGNB
“The Romania Green Building Professional
national implementation of EU policies “UK-GBC is the only cross-industry group Certification program was launched in 2010
and directives focused solely on the sustainability of the Transforming Europe’s building and to educate green building professionals
built environment in the UK. Our advocacy, construction industry is dependent on across a range of disciplines, including design,
an integrated approach to sustainable
in support of the green building agenda, is a professionals with green skills. The Europe engineering and management. This training
construction which represents all GBCs
vitally important part of our work, and we have Education Task Force is establishing course has been created to give professionals
and their member companies when
successfully lobbied the UK Government to baseline standards and best practice the skills and knowledge, and the market the
engaging with the EU legislative process
commit to ‘zero carbon’ for all new homes from benchmarks for green building education confidence that they are employing people with
up-to-date intelligence on EU policy 2016, a ‘green deal’ package to finance energy across the region to ensure our industry the most up-to-date skills.”
and new legislative changes that impact efficient refurbishments, and mandatory has the skills to deliver.
the built environment. disclosure of energy certificates for commercial Romania GBC
buildings.”
“The alliance of the WorldGBC reveals the
UK-GBC “The Czech GBC has established a ‘Green
multitude and diversity of national initiatives,
Building Club’ to inspire people within our
and enables GBCs to takes part in the
industry to change their mindsets. Our goal
“France GBC’s connections with the evolution of sustainable building practices
is that each participant learns new skills
WorldGBC ensures all the players within the and awareness at a worldwide level.”
and connects with other people in the Czech
sustainable construction industry have a Jérôme Gatier, Director, Plan Bâtiment Grenelle, Republic’s green building industry.”
single, common voice.” French Ministry of the Ecology, Sustainable
Czech GBC
Philippe Pelletier, President of the French Development, Transports and Housing
Strategic Committee, Plan Bâtiment Grenelle
(French Governmental Mission for Sustainable
Buildings)
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6. Building Capacity WorldGBC Europe Network
The Europe Network is committed
to strengthening each green building
“The Sochi Olympics delivery body, Olympstroy, Members and Partners
is currently designing ten of the top Olympic
council in the region. We are a conduit venues to BREEAM International standards. Established
for information and knowledge sharing, These ten green projects are being supported
creating a stronger group of GBCs as a by GBC Russia and carried out by our members.
result. We: Once complete, we’ll have a showcase of green
Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen e.V.
connect GBCs, industry leaders and buildings and established green benchmarks for German Sustainable Building Council
influential policy makers within the the industry.”
European building and construction GBC Russia
industry
support the rapid and effective
development of new councils with “The DGNB in Germany is currently working
hands-on help on ‘Open House’, a three-year project of the
European Union. Commencing in February 2010
host networking activities and and involving 20 partners, this initiative will
events, as well as regular meetings of
the steering committee and taskforces,
develop common indicators for the evaluation Emerging
of sustainable buildings across Europe. The
and the network as a whole Open House project will be aligned with the RY
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participate in annual WorldGBC development of current European standards for
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events, such as the WorldGBC sustainable buildings.”
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Congress, committees and forums
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influence the future direction of the
green building industry in Europe.
Prospective
Associated Groups
Czech Republic Iceland Norway
Denmark Ireland Slovakia
Georgia Montenegro Ukraine
Regional Partners
Global Partner
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7. For more information contact
Dominika Czerwinska
Manager Membership and Europe Network
World Green Building Council
Email: dczerwinska@worldgbc.org
World Green Building Council
c/o Build Toronto,
200 King Street West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON, M5H 3T4
Canada