Timber City

Building with timber can contribute significantly to the sustainable development of living spaces, as well as the creation of a society based on renewable resources. At the same time, investors can gain a competitive advantage in the market by adopting the right strategy.

Wüest Partner is continuing its “Timber City” series of events and focusing on the sustainable development of the construction and real estate market, within the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During these events, Swiss and international experts will reveal successfully implemented projects and show how timber’s potential as a building material can be exploited.

As part of the Timber Action Plan, these events are supported by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). A special trilingual booklet series will be published to complement the events.

Goals for the construction and real estate sector

Buildings play a crucial role in achieving the climate goals of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The main goal is to achieve net-zero global CO₂ emissions by 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and prevent a climate crisis.
The United Nations has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals to support a sustainable transformation within our society. The five goals outlined below are particularly relevant to the construction and real estate industry. Timber, as a natural and renewable building material which stores CO₂, can provide benefits in several areas:

Climate action

Buildings and construction activities account for 39% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide (28% operation, 11% creation/grey emissions). With buildings made of timber, grey emissions can be significantly reduced in comparison with conventional buildings (factor 0.3-0.6).

Sustainable cities and communities

Real estate and construction industries have a direct influence on the sustainable design of cities and communities.

Life on land

Biodiversity plays a major role in construction and real estate industries. Sustainable forest management contributes significantly to intact ecosystems in this regard.

Good health and well-being

The design of indoor and outdoor spaces has a significant impact on people’s quality of life. In particular, buildings made with timber can have a positive influence on the health and well-being of both residents and users.

Sustainable consumption and production

The circular economy is a key challenge in dealing with our built environment. The refurbishment of existing buildings and the cascading use of resources in construction, such timber, are both essential in this regard.