Decarbonization News – Daikin Industries, Ltd., a global leader in air conditioning and refrigeration, has officially joined the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), a prominent UNEP-led international initiative focused on promoting decarbonization across the building and construction sector.
This strategic membership underscores Daikin’s growing commitment to addressing climate change through collaborative global efforts, particularly in reducing emissions from heating, cooling, and building lifecycle operations.
About GlobalABC and Its Mission
GlobalABC, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), serves as a key international platform uniting over 400 stakeholders — including governments, international organizations, and private companies. The alliance works to enhance energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector by supporting national roadmaps, facilitating working groups, and driving policy-technology-finance alignment.
Buildings account for approximately 40% of global CO₂ emissions, with heating and cooling systems representing a major share. GlobalABC emphasizes “whole life carbon” approaches, covering emissions from material manufacturing, construction, operation, and demolition phases.
Daikin’s Active Engagement
Daikin has actively collaborated with GlobalABC prior to formal membership. In November 2025 at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the company participated in a GlobalABC-hosted session, sharing insights on accelerating the adoption of highly efficient air conditioners and heat pump technologies.
In April 2026, Daikin contributed prominently to the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit (SBCS) 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Kazuma Koyama, Senior Manager of External Relations, stressed the need to scale existing high-efficiency technologies like heat pumps and improve lifecycle refrigerant management. Patrick Crombez from Daikin Europe highlighted case studies on replacing fossil fuel heating with heat pumps and the benefits of integrated building optimization, standardization, and modularization.
Strategic Importance for Daikin
Katsuyuki Sawai, Senior Executive Officer at Daikin responsible for CSR, Global Environment, and External Relations, stated: “As a global leader in the air conditioning industry, Daikin will continue to steadily advance the adoption and implementation of solutions that contribute to decarbonization in the building and construction sector.” He emphasized creating supportive policy and market environments to recognize the value of these solutions.
Through GlobalABC, Daikin aims to strengthen partnerships across the value chain and contribute to meaningful reductions in building-related emissions worldwide.
Broader Industry Context
This move aligns with rising global focus on building decarbonization amid escalating climate challenges.
By joining forces with policymakers, financial institutions, and industry peers, Daikin positions itself at the forefront of efforts to promote energy-efficient technologies and sustainable building practices.
The company’s participation is expected to influence national building codes, financial incentives, and technology deployment strategies, particularly in high-growth markets. As demand for cooling rises with urbanization and climate change, solutions like advanced heat pumps and next-generation refrigerants will play a critical role in balancing comfort with sustainability.Daikin’s membership in GlobalABC reinforces its long-term vision of “Perfecting the Air” while contributing to global sustainability goals.
Source: Daikin Press Release
