C40 cities – C40 Clean Construction Accelerator
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a group of 96 cities that represents one twelfth of the world’s population and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities in 2005, C40 is focused on fighting the climate crisis and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban residents.
Oslo is globally recognized as a pioneer in clean construction, setting an ambitious model for how cities can decarbonize their built environment while building climate resilience. As part of the C40 Clean Construction Accelerator, Oslo has taken bold steps to address emissions from construction materials and practices.
One of Oslo’s standout strategies is leveraging public procurement to drive market change. The city mandates that municipal construction projects utilize zero-emission machinery and require environmental product declarations (EPDs) for key materials. Starting in 2025, Oslo aims to achieve fully zero-emission construction sites for all public projects.
Another major achievement is the launch of a dedicated marketplace for reused construction materials, promoting circular economy practices. By prioritizing building renovation over demolition, Oslo reduces both embodied carbon and construction waste.
However, Oslo’s leadership does not come without challenges. The city faces significant barriers, including the complexity and cost of life cycle assessments (LCA), a limited supply of low-carbon materials and zero-emission machinery, and insufficient national regulatory support. To overcome these hurdles, Oslo invests heavily in training municipal staff, building industry partnerships, and advocating for national legislation that mandates climate criteria in public procurement.
Oslo’s commitment demonstrates that clean construction is not only about new technologies but about systemic transformation — rethinking procurement, planning, and collaboration across government and industry. By acting decisively today, Oslo is building a city that is not only greener but also more resilient and inclusive for generations to come.
Reference：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C40_Cities_Climate_Leadership_Group
https://www.c40.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/C40_Clean_Construction_Accelerator_Progress_Report_2023.pdf
