USGBC at COP 29: Together for Nature and Climate
The 29th annual will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov. 11-22, 2024.
The COP 29 Presidency aims to “enhance ambition” and “enable action” at this COP, with plans to secure ambitious national commitments and turn that ambition into action. Further, COP 29 has been referred to as the “Finance COP,” reflecting the critical need to scale up climate funding to less wealthy nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate targets.;
Together for Nature and Climate
As we head to Baku after attending the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia, USGBC reaffirms our steadfast commitment to mobilizing solutions for the built environment to protect both nature and the climate. USGBC’s presence at COP 29 will emphasize the urgency to act together now and bring together solutions to the twin crises of nature and climate.
USGBC events focus on the role of certifications in enabling and scaling best practices for the built environment. We will spotlight best practice policies for national and subnational government, as well as ways that financial institutions can leverage green building and landscape certifications. Our team will engage with partners and members from around the globe, highlighting success stories and co-benefits of using the holistic LEED framework to achieve decarbonization, biodiversity, health, resilience, and equity goals.
USGBC is known globally as the developer of the LEED green building rating system, a leader in green building education, and a convener of the global green building community. The newest version of the LEED rating system, LEED v5, centers around three impact areas: decarbonization, quality of life, and/or ecological conservation and restoration. Through prerequisites designed to educate teams on project emissions, and credits focused on proven opportunities, LEED v5 seeks to drive impact and embrace market demands for greater accountability. New projects will require carbon assessments through 2050 incorporating operational and embodied carbon and will be awarded credit for reducing whole life carbon across all major sources of emissions as well as refrigerants.
Delegation
USGBC and GBCI will be on-site at COP 29 to engage our global green building community towards urgently scaling action on climate and nature. Our delegation to Baku will include Elizabeth (Liz) Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel, USGBC; and Vessela Valtcheva-McGee, Director of Market Development, GBCI Europe. Note: USGBC and GBCI purchase Green-E certified carbon offsets for all staff air travel, including our travel to COP 29.  
USGBC is also part of the COP 29 delegation. We will be participating in events at the as a member of the (GABC), and several events at the Action Center.
Contact:
- For communications requests, please contact Deisy Verdinez, PR and Communications Director, at dverdinez@usgbc.org
- On-site at COP, please contact Liz Beardsley at ebeardsley@usgbc.org or Vessela Valtcheva-McGee at vvaltcheva@gbci.org
USGBC hosted and speaking events
All events in Baku time.
| Friday, November 15 | ||
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM |
Ask Us ËÄÉ«AV Our High Standards: Leveraging US-Developed International Standards for Buildings and Construction to Achieve Clean Energy Goals and a Resilient Future
USGBC co-hosted session with ICC |
Blue Zone, America Is All In Action Center |
| 4:45 – 5:30 PM |
Going All In & All Out: Sustaining & Accelerating America’s Progress with Bold, Durable Subnational Climate Action USGBC co-hosted session with America Is All In, US Climate Alliance, and ICLEI US. Liz Beardsley, USGBC, giving welcome remarks and introducing Secretary Granholm.< |
Blue Zone, US Center |
| Saturday, November 16 | ||
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
Meeting Mission through Efficiency, Clean Energy, and Healthier Air Fireside chat with Brendan Owens, US Department of Defense, and Liz Beardsley, USGBC. |
Blue Zone, America Is All In Action Center |
| 1:00 – 2:30 PM |
Adaptation is Everyone’s Business: Unlocking Key Initiatives Among Buildings & Construction Stakeholders Session with GlobalABC Adaptation Hub, ICC, Velux, OID, AFD, GCCA. Liz Beardsley, USGBC, speaking. |
Blue Zone, Buildings and Cooling Pavilion |
| Monday, November 18 | ||
| TBC | USGBC Buildings + Insurance Roundtable (Invite-Only) | Blue Zone |
| Tuesday, November 19 | ||
| 3:00 – 4:30 PM |
Showcasing Subnational & Private Sector Solutions to Achieve Equity, Efficiency & Clean Energy Goals UNFCCC Side Event with BCSE, TCR, and Georgetown Climate Center. Liz Beardsley, USGBC, moderating panel. |
Blue Zone, UNFCCC Official Side Event Room 4 |
| 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Blue Zone, GCCA Concrete Future Pavilion (E4) | |
| Wednesday, November 20 | ||
| 3:00 – 4:00 PM |
Green Buildings and Decarbonization of the Construction Sector Session with IFC. Vessela Valtcheva-McGee, GBCI Europe, speaking. |
Green Zone, Universe Room |