COP28: Making the impossible possible

Significant Progress Towards Transition

COP28 UAE concluded with the adoption of an agreement involving nearly 200 countries in a "transition away from fossil fuels" to combat climate change. While some voices regret the lack of ambition and numerous uncertainties, the unanimously adopted agreement is a positive signal symbolizing collective commitment to a decarbonized world. The importance of a collaborative approach to develop solutions acceptable to all stakeholders is emphasized, reinforcing our determination in the face of the climate emergency. In summary, COP28 represents a significant step toward a more sustainable and decarbonized future.

It seems important to acknowledge the considerable victories we have collectively achieved, for example:

• The establishment of a "Loss and Damage" fund for the most vulnerable countries, already endowed with over 700 million euros. It's not enough, and some would say it's a drop in the bucket compared to estimated needs by 2030. But a first seed has been planted!
• The agreement adopts the goal proposed by the International Energy Agency to triple the pace of renewable energy development and double efforts in energy efficiency by 2030. This is particularly important for the building sector, which is at the heart of efforts for energy efficiency.

Now, this agreement must be put into action without delay – the urgency to act is becoming increasingly pressing.

Striking Harder and Faster in the Building Sector with the Buildings Breakthrough

One of the major challenges of this #COP28, in my view, was also to highlight the importance of decarbonizing the building sector in the fight against climate change: our sector represents 40% of global CO2 emissions.

Long neglected, the building sector now has its rightful place on the climate agenda. COP28 has allowed for the deepening and realization of initiatives concerning this sector.

The #BuildingsBreakthrough Initiative, led by the governments of France and Morocco, with the support of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and 17 other international organizations and initiatives, was officially launched on December 6. It aims to make nearly zero-emission new buildings the norm by 2030.

28 countries have already announced their commitment, all driven by the same desire to act and the awareness that climate change knows no borders or limits.

The Role of Our Businesses and Saint-Gobain's Commitments

Businesses, especially those in the building sector, must also be driving forces in achieving these goals.

At Saint-Gobain , we are fully committed to the sector's transition, as we share the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and enhancing resilience. Our high-performing and innovative solutions help avoid the emission of approximately 1,300 million tonnes of CO2 over the lifespan of our materials, roughly 40 times the total carbon footprint of the Group in 2020 (scopes 1, 2, and 3) or over 100 times its footprint on scopes 1 and 2.

But it's not just about proposing technological innovations – we have a duty to be exemplary. At the group level, we aim to reduce our non-recycled waste by 80% by 2030, compared to 2017. By the end of 2022, we had already reduced our emissions on scopes 1 and 2 by 27% compared to 2017.

The multilocal model we've implemented over the past five years allows us to co-create sustainable solutions adapted to local needs with local populations. This approach enables us to find locally the most suitable, accessible, and easy-to-adopt solutions in different geographies, considering their own climate, cultural, and financial constraints.

This commitment led us to organize the third edition of Saint-Gobain's #SustainableTalks in Dubai, focusing on Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Construction in the South, on the sidelines of COP28 UAE .

Benoit BAZIN , CEO of Saint-Gobain, spoke alongside numerous leaders and experts in construction on intensifying sustainable construction to address the significant challenges facing rapidly growing emerging economies today. These exciting discussions demonstrated that, yes, solutions exist, and it's up to us to accelerate their development!

If I were to draw a lesson from COP28, it would be this: the impossible can become possible. Aligning 193 countries around a common ambition, despite sometimes extremely divergent short-term interests and objectives, has become a reality with the agreement on fossil fuels on this Wednesday, December 13. The climate emergency is both an existential threat to our planet and our lives, but it's also a powerful lever for dialogue and compromise. At Saint-Gobain, a global leader in sustainable construction, we are proud to be a player in the fight against climate change.