Dubai, UAE– During the thematic day for Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport held on December 6 at the global climate conference, COP28, the Buildings Breakthrough was formally launched. The Buildings Breakthrough is a cross-sectoral campaign to support governments in the universal adoption and implementation of near-zero emission and resilient buildings by 2030. It is supported by 18 private-sector led initiatives, including the Building Capacity for Sustainable and Resilient Buildings Initiative led by the International Code Council.  

“The International Code Council has long recognized the essential role buildings play in our world and the impact they have on the sustainability and resilience of people and the planet,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Dominic Sims, CBO. “We applaud the attention global leaders have placed on supporting advances in the sector and stand ready to assist in the development and implementation of the solutions that governments and the building industry need to achieve climate adaptation and mitigation goals.” 

Because of the work that the International Code Council has done to advance the importance of employing a holistic approach to the building safety regulatory ecosystem and the essential need for capacity building, the organization was recognized during the official launch, along with representatives from the supporting countries and other supporting initiatives.  

The focus on the adoption and enforcement of modern building codes was reinforced by White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi during the launch. Zaidi said of the U.S. participation in the Breakthrough, “We’re working just like many of you across jurisdictional levels, providing grants through the president’s infrastructure law to state and local governments to level up their capability to design standards, implement and enforce them. Because codes are only as good as the enforcement that follows.” 

The next steps under the Breakthrough include developing priority actions to drive progress. This action setting will occur at a first of its kind meeting of building and construction related ministers in March 2024 in Paris, France. While building and energy codes have already been recognized as a key component of achieving the Breakthrough’s objectives, the International Code Council has developed a brief released at COP on Building Codes and the International Breakthrough Agenda providing specific opportunities to leverage existing code solutions. 

The International Code Council-led capacity building initiative recognized today is also supported by Architecture 2030, ASHRAE, Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA), Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), HOK, International Building Quality Center (IBQC), International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA), +LAB Architects, ResALLience, Saint-Gobain, and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 

Photo courtesy of COP28 

### 

About the International Code Council 
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide. 

Washington, D.C. – On December 5, 2023, the International Code Council signed a Decentralized Wastewater Management Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partner organizations. Through this agreement, the Code Council will provide leadership and resources to regulate and educate on the importance of responsible management of wastewater systems. 

One in five homes in the U.S. relies on private decentralized wastewater systems. The MOU is a continuation of a decades-long collaboration between the Code Council and the EPA which included information sharing on system technology, training initiatives, public awareness campaigns about septic system care and maintenance, and the development of materials on decentralized wastewater systems. 

“We are honored to join in this partnership and look forward to working collaboratively to help implement wastewater and sanitation best practices,” said Code Council Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Executive Director, Matt Sigler. “When this type of wastewater system fails, the results are catastrophic, often polluting drinking water and creating public health hazards. Changes in flood plains like rising sea levels brought on by a changing climate are exacerbating these system failures and they must be addressed.” 

The Code Council facilitates the development of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code® (IPSDC), which has been adopted in communities across 17 U.S. states and by Puerto Rico and Guam, required by the General Services Administration, and recognized by FEMA’s Community Rating System, which provides federal flood insurance discounts for communities undertaking disaster mitigation measures. The Code Council is currently improving upon the existing code through development of the ICC 825 – Private Sewage Disposal Systems Standard, a new international standard that builds on the IPSDC to integrate newer technologies and methods, and most importantly, the impacts of a changing climate. 

### 

About the International Code Council 
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.