By Mike Mustapha, Division President of ABB Smart Buildings
Ten years ago today, the world made a promise.
In Paris, nations agreed to work together to keep global warming well below two degrees and to build a more sustainable future for the generations to come.
A decade later, we have learned a lot.
We have seen what progress looks like and what still stands in the way. For me, it is a moment to pause, look back, and ask: what have the last 10 years taught us about the role of buildings in that journey?
Here are 10 insights that stand out.
1. We have slowed emissions growth but not stopped it
Global emissions are still rising, but more slowly than before Paris. Since 2015, global greenhouse gas emissions have grown on average by 0.32 percent per year, compared to 2.1 percent per year before1 – a significant slowdown.
We have changed the curve, but now we need to turn it downward. The message here is clear: progress is possible, but consistency and accountability matter more than ever.
2. Buildings remain at the heart of the climate challenge
The building sector accounts for around 26 percent of global energy-related emissions2. We cannot reach net zero without transforming how we design, power, and operate our buildings. They are the foundation of the solution.
Every upgrade, every connection, every kilowatt saved makes a difference.
3. We have started to decouple growth from emissions
In 2023, global building activity grew while sector emissions flattened3. That’s a first. It shows that economic growth and decarbonisation can coexist – but it takes intent, data, and technology to sustain it.
We see it every day with our customers and partners – when insight turns into action, things change fast.
4. Efficiency gains are adding up
The carbon intensity of commercial buildings is falling by nearly 2 percent a year and more than 1.2 percent in residential buildings4. Smarter systems, automation, and energy management are driving that change.
When buildings get smarter, energy use drops – it is that simple.
5. But the retrofit gap is still wide
To align with global targets, 2.5-3.5 percent of global buildings need to be renovated each year, yet current rates are a fraction of that5.
As I have said before – we simply can’t rebuild our way to Net Zero. The real challenge isn’t just new buildings; it is transforming the ones we already have.
Retrofitting for efficiency is where the real emissions wins lie.
6. We are finally tackling embodied carbon
Cement, steel, and glass account for about 11 percent of global emissions6. For years, this hidden carbon was ignored.
Today, we are designing for reuse, recycling materials, and thinking about circularity at every stage of a building’s life. That mindset shift, from linear to circular, is one of the most powerful changes of the last decade.
7. Climate governance is catching up
Public policy is finally creating the conditions for business to act at scale.
Many countries now have climate laws, agencies, and reporting frameworks that didn’t exist a decade ago7. The foundations are in place, now they need to support real delivery on the ground.
The challenge is how fast we can move.
8. The world’s response is shifting the trajectory
Back in 2015, the world was heading for over 4°C of warming. Today, current policies have brought that trajectory down to around 2–2.5°C8. That is not enough, but it is proof that collective global action works if we maintain momentum.
Every target raised brings us closer to where we need to be.
9. The biggest gap now is delivery.
We’ve made the promises and we have proven what is possible. But implementing those promises – turning national climate targets, corporate net-zero plans, and building efficiency policies into real, measurable action – remains the hardest part.
Too often, progress stops at strategy. The next decade must be about execution: counting watts saved, buildings upgraded, and emissions avoided - everywhere, not just in select markets.
10. The digital layer is our greatest accelerator.
Connected systems don’t just save energy, they create spaces that are safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable. Smart buildings can cut energy use by up to 30 percent9, often with short payback periods. We see it in offices that adjust automatically to occupancy, schools that only use energy when they need it, and factories that learn from their own data.
The technology exists and we know it works. What’s needed now is scale, and the courage and will to apply it everywhere – making digital the default.
Looking ahead
Ten years on, I am more convinced than ever that the transformation of our buildings will define the next phase of the energy transition. Because every building is an opportunity to reduce emissions, to use energy wisely, and to make life better for the people inside it.
We have learned that change is possible. The next ten years will decide how far and how fast we go – and how well we build the future we promised a decade ago.
About the author
Mike Mustapha
Mike is the Division President of ABB Smart Buildings and was appointed in February 2022. In this position, he has full accountability for the performance of the global Smart Buildings business in ABB, which includes a broad portfolio of market-leading home and building automation solutions as well as the portfolio for energy distribution systems and products.
After starting his career in the U.S. in 1990 as an Application Engineer with Rotoflow Corp. Inc., a leading supplier of high-speed rotary and cryogenic machinery for process industries, Mike built global leadership experience with Altas CopCo, a multinational industrial company, where he held various leadership positions. In January 2009, Mike founded the new Pre-Engineered Buildings and Hot Rolled Structured Steel Group, headquartered in Jeddah, KSA, with its own independent Board. Mike assumed overall accountability for the company, overseeing the Middle East.Mike joined ABB in August 2011 as Low Voltage Division Regional Manager for India, the Middle East & Africa. In June 2014, he was promoted to Global Managing Director for the Building Products Business Unit prior to his 2018 appointment as Head of Global Markets for the Electrification business. Mike currently resides in Dubai and holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC), U.S.
[1] Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit | Ten Years Post-Paris: global…
[2] Buildings - Energy System - IEA
[3] Emissions from building sector stopped rising for the first time since 2020, UN finds
[4] Monitoring the carbon emissions transition of global building end-use activity
[5] Decarbonising Buildings - Achieving zero carbon heating and cooling - March 2022
[6] Carbon Footprint Factsheet | Center for Sustainable Systems
[7] Ten years after Paris Agreement, research finds national climate governance and policies have made significant progress, gaps still remain | Center for Global Sustainability
[8] Paris Climate Agreement: an opportunity to look back on 10 years of results to build the future | IDDRI
[9] Smart Buildings: Using Smart Technology to Save Energy in Existing Buildings
