Seventy-five percent of annual global greenhouse emissions come from the built environment - that's buildings, construction and infrastructure.
On their own, buildings contribute 37 percent.
Three-quarters of the infrastructure needed by 2050 - just 27 years from now - still needs to be built.
Any attempt to rein global warming and keep it under that critical 1-point-five degree Celsius mark simply can't happen unless major changes are made to the way we build.
So what are the barriers to doing that and how can they be overcome?
Kathryn speaks with Victoria Burrows, Director of Advancing Net Zero at the World Green Building Council. She's in New Zealand as part of the Green Property Summit taking place in Tamaki Makaurau on Wednesday.
Waste from the construction industry is half the solid waste generated each year worldwide. Photo:
