The World Green Building Congress took place in Berlin from June 27 to 29, 2023. Over 600 people took part in the conference on green roofs. Read more about the program and the conclusion of the congress here.
Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore shows what XXL interior greening can look like. Image source: Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V.
Practical solutions for greening buildings
After the World Green Building Congress had to be canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has now been rescheduled for June 2023. This was the first green building congress since 2017. The event took place on site in Berlin and online and was attended by almost 1,100 participants from 41 countries. The varied program around the topic of the roof program consisted of more than 90 presentations. 100 speakers from 29 countries contributed to five parallel lecture series.
The congress was kicked off by Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz, who, together with State Secretary Britta Behrendt from the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Mobility, Consumer and Climate Protection, welcomed the audience. This was followed by keynote speeches by Düsseldorf architect Christoph Ingenhoven and Patrick Blanc, the well-known façade greener.
At the same time, a sold-out trade exhibition took place at which around 60 companies and organizations were represented. They all presented solutions for greening buildings and offered participants practical approaches.
Almost 60 exhibitors contributed to the World Green Building Congress 2023. Image source: Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V.
Climate adaptation strategies from practice
On June 27 and 28, lectures and events were held on five main topics. Urban strategies were discussed, for example. The Urban Dialogue dealt with subsidies for green roofs, water- and climate-sensitive urban development and resilience in the city. The topic of sustainability was also very important: the experts discussed overall ecological concepts, sustainable urban development and the economic viability of certain measures. The World Green Building Congress 2023 also focused on health, biodiversity, the economy and politics. The focus was on climate adaptation strategies, species and insect protection, the green roof index and green buildings in various countries.
Some events were dedicated to practical examples from architecture and urban planning, such as greening high-rise buildings or urban farming. High-tech solutions and rainwater management measures, from blue-green infrastructure to flood prevention and retention roofs, were also discussed.
On 29 June, the organizers offered excursions to various projects in Berlin. Projects on roof greening, façade greening, interior greening and building greening in the city were visited under expert guidance.
The proportion of green roofs in Germany has increased significantly in recent years. Image source: Unsplash
The BuGG green building market report 2023
As part of the World Green Building Congress 2023, the Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. (BuGG) also presented the BuGG Green Building Market Report 2023. It contains current figures on the German green roof and façade greening market. An overview of the indirect and direct funding programs for green buildings in Germany can also be found in the market report.
The World Green Building Congress is one of the most important events on the subject of green roofs and façades and thus contributes to the dissemination of ideas for climate adaptation. It is to be hoped that another six years will not pass before the next congress, because there is not that much time left to tackle the consequences of climate change in our cities in a sustainable way and with the expertise demonstrated in Berlin. The patronage of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building and the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Mobility, Consumer and Climate Protection are important signals.
Incidentally, the BuGG Green Building Market Report 2022 showed that the proportion of green roofs in Germany has increased in recent years.