New Framework to drive a healthier and more equitable built environment

After a multi-year global consultation, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) launches the Health & Wellbeing Framework — a comprehensive educational tool for a healthy and equitable built environment. With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the link between the built environment and human health into focus, the Framework’s six principles span indoor air quality, human rights in the supply chain, climate change resilience and more.

The Framework launches on 4th November in a global, online summit and regional launches take place through November.

Convening expertise across the built environment, health and human rights, the Framework is published as an executive report and live digital tool. An innovation of this work is a cross-sectoral analysis across the entire building and construction lifestyle — redefining the scope of health for all people and their buildings, cities and communities.

First look: BBC Storyworks Documentary Series — Building A Better Future

The 4 November event is hosted by Simon Shelley, Global Director of Programmes Partnerships, BBC Global News. During the event, he will also present teaser footage from the upcoming sustainable buildings documentary series, Building A Better Future, to be released on 11 November.

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council comments: “Grounded in the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development, our bold, new Framework redefines the scope of health and wellbeing in the built environment.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Truly sustainable buildings work for everyone, everywhere.”[/perfectpullquote]

In the past, we only considered the health and wellbeing of the occupiers — or ‘end users’ — of buildings. But this is only part of the picture. We must consider the impacts across the entire value chain. Today, our network of Green Building Councils, businesses and collaborators come together to drive this change. Truly sustainable buildings work for everyone, everywhere.”

Kellie Ballew, Vice President, Global Sustainability, Shaw Industries Group, Inc. comments: “The spaces where people live, learn, heal, work, and create have a significant im-pact on wellbeing. That’s why we’re focused on designing products for people and the planet — to create a Smarter Impact.

We are honoured to be part of the WorldGBC’s Health & Wellbeing Framework that under-scores the growing global demand to put people at the heart of sustainable buildings and pro-vides international guidelines for developing Better Places for People.”

Image by Ben Kerckx