From 24 to 26 March 2026, Topic Group members gathered in Gothenburg, Sweden, for the Sustainable Construction meeting in Gothenburg, hosted by our member Bostadsbolaget. The meeting focused on Applied Climate Impact Reduction Strategies. It brought together practitioners and experts to exchange approaches on reducing the climate impact of construction and renovation.

Getting Started

The meeting opened at Bostadsbolaget’s headquarters, with a welcome by CEO Thorbjörn Hammerth and Head of Energy and Sustainability Oskar Scheiene. Topic Group Co-Leader Isaac Scaramella introduced a programme covering greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate impact in renovation projects, and the use of reused and recycled materials.

The session also included country presentations and an ice-breaker activity. These set the tone for the days ahead.

Field Visits and the Flying Experts Workshop

On the second day, we visited two construction projects in Gothenburg. Kvarteret Omställningen demonstrated how new construction can achieve half the climate impact of standard practice. It showed practical approaches to lowering emissions in new buildings. Kvarteret Återbruket showcased a building where at least 50% of materials were reused.

During the Flying Experts Workshop, we worked in small groups to develop climate impact reduction strategies based on a pilot site. We compared approaches across countries and professional backgrounds.

Expert Lectures and World Café Workshop

The programme also featured expert contributions from Chalmers University and IVL on greenhouse gas reduction and the use of recycled materials. We also heard a renovation case study from Bostadsbolaget.

The final morning closed with a World Café workshop on sustainable districts. Together, we explored how digital twins and neighbourhood-scale thinking can shape the future of housing renovation and new construction.

Looking ahead

The Gothenburg meeting was a reminder of how much collaboration matters.

We thank Bostadsbolaget for their warm hospitality and for sharing their work so openly. We also look forward to carrying these insights forward in our collective efforts to build a more sustainable housing sector across Europe.

Presentations

• Reduced climate impact and reuse of building materials – Bostadsbolaget: Download here
• Digital Twins for Sustainable Cities I Building Stocks and Positive Energy Districts – Liane Thuvander, Chalmers University of Technology and Sara Abouebeid, Chalmers Next Labs: Download here
• Reduction of Climate Impact through reuse – Maja Lindborg, Kaminsky arkitektur: Download here
• Presentation – Framtiden Byggutveckling: Download Here
• Is maintenance the new black in renovation? Impact of climate-driven decisions – Paula Femenias, Professor of Sustainable Building Transformation, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology: Download here