MODEL POLICY

The World Economic Forum's model policy outlines a framework for cities to mandate whole life carbon (WLC) assessments for major developments, covering both operational and embodied carbon. It establishes hierarchies for energy and embodied carbon reduction, emphasizes the elimination of fossil fuels, and integrates principles of inclusivity and just transition for the construction workforce.

• Whole life carbon (WLC) consists of operational carbon from day-to-day occupancy and embodied carbon from the lifecycle of building materials. Embodied emissions are estimated to account for approximately 50% of an average building's total whole life emissions, with most occurring before occupancy.
• The model policy defines 'major development' as any work requiring planning approval, which encompasses new construction as well as retrofits, renovations, and refurbishments.
• The proposed energy hierarchy for reducing operational carbon follows a four-step sequence: 'Be lean' (reducing energy demand), 'Be clean' (using efficient, non-fossil fuel energy), 'Be green' (maximizing on-site renewables), and 'Be seen' (monitoring and reporting performance).
• The embodied carbon reduction hierarchy prioritizes the optimization and repurposing of existing assets over demolition, followed by material efficiency and the use of low-carbon alternatives, designing for future flexibility and reuse, and transitioning to low-to-zero emission construction sites.
• The policy mandates the elimination of fossil fuels, specifically gas and electric resistance heating, from on-site energy procurement in major developments, replacing them with carbon-neutral alternatives.
• Climate action in the construction sector must incorporate inclusivity and a just transition, ensuring that the benefits of the green transition are equitably distributed and that workers in high-impact industries like steel and cement are supported through reskilling and training.

APA

World Economic Forum (2023). MODEL POLICY. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Whole_Life_Carbon_Assessment_Mandates_2023.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. MODEL POLICY. 2023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Whole_Life_Carbon_Assessment_Mandates_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=MODEL POLICY |date=2023 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Whole_Life_Carbon_Assessment_Mandates_2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2023model, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{MODEL POLICY}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Whole_Life_Carbon_Assessment_Mandates_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }