MENALINKS contributes to Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit in Lausanne
The MENALINKS programme participated in the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026, held from 20 to 22 April 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland, contributing to discussions across the buildings and construction value chain.
Organised by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and partners, the summit brought together government officials, academics, private sector and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) leaders, financiers, and civil society to bridge the gap between policy commitments and on-the-ground implementation.
A global platform for integrated solutions
Building on the first Global Forum on Buildings and Climate held in Paris in 2024, the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 focused on emerging markets and developing economies, where growth in the built environment is expected to be most significant. With more than 500 participants, the summit addressed how holistic approaches can turn the buildings sector into a driver of environmental sustainability while integrating resilience and socio‑economic considerations.
Organised by the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the summit aimed to bridge the gap between policy commitments and on‑the‑ground implementation by convening stakeholders from across the buildings and construction value chain.
MENALINKS contribution: scaling demand-side flexibility
During the summit, MENALINKS supported the session “Scaling demand-side flexibility”, contributing to exchanges on enabling conditions across policy, finance and technology.
The session included contributions from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE), and other organisations. Discussions highlighted the role of demand‑side flexibility as a key aspect for reducing emissions, improving system efficiency, and supporting the integration of renewable energy in the buildings sector.
Discussions addressed challenges and solutions from micro to large-scale perspectives, including innovative analytical approaches such as the use of satellite data to assess urban patterns. Interactive breakout sessions enabled in-depth exchanges on how flexibility can support building decarbonisation while strengthening system resilience.
Participants also noted the intention to initiate a thematic working group on demand-side flexibility, underlining the growing relevance of this topic for the buildings and energy interface.
The Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit 2026 highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to turn commitments into implementation. MENALINKS values the opportunity to contribute to this dialogue and acknowledges EPFL, UNEP and GlobalABC for hosting and coordinating the summit.
A dedicated report on demand-side flexibility is expected to be released soon. MENALINKS looks forward to further promoting this agenda and translating insights from the summit into concrete action in the MENA region.
