Sustainable Development Goals

BREEAM schemes ensure the provision of basic services.

Reference target: Target 1.4
By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology, and financial services, including microfinance.

BREEAM and BREEAM Infrastructure help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

Reference target: Target 1.5
By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.

The ecology (biodiversity) issues within BREEAM schemes maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area.

Reference target: Target 2.4
By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

The health and wellbeing issues within BREEAM schemes improve health by ensuring a clean, healthy and reduced stress environment.

Reference target: Target 3.4
By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

BREEAM schemes promote safe access and movement for all residents.

Reference target: Target 3.6
By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

BREEAM schemes reduce pollution levels from transport and through increased green spaces to try improve local air quality.

Reference target: Target 3.9
By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

BREEAM schemes ensure the provision of services like electricity, water and WASH facilities.

Reference target: Target 4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.

BREEAM schemes ensure the provision of water services and WASH facilities.

Reference target: Target 6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

Reference target: Target 6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

Reference target: Target 6.3
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

Reference target: Target 6.a
By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.

Reference target: Target 6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

The water related issues within BREEAM schemes work towards improving water-use efficiency and managing demand.

Reference target: Target 6.4
By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.

The water related issues within BREEAM schemes aim for better resource management with regards to water use.

Reference target: Target 6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

Control measures within BREEAM schemes help to mitigate the pollution of surrounding watercourses.

Reference target: Target 6.6
By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

Energy issues within BREEAM schemes promote the implementation of efficient energy systems.

Reference target: Target 7.1
By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

Reference target: Target 7.3
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

Reference target: Target 7.a
By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

Reference target: Target 7.b
By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support.

Energy issues within BREEAM schemes promote the implementation of measures that reduce energy related carbon emissions.

Reference target: Target 7.2
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Energy issues within BREEAM schemes promote the implementation of efficient energy systems.

BREEAM schemes help to create opportunities within the local area for upskilling and professional experience.

Reference target: Target 8.3
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

BREEAM schemes help to reduce the built environment’s footprint with regards to raw materials.

 

Reference target: Target 8.4
Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.

BREEAM schemes help to promote responsible and sustainable sourcing, to ensure materials are acquired from ethical and legal suppliers.

Reference target: Target 8.7
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.

BREEAM schemes help to create a safe environment on the local roads and streets in order to reduce the number of accidents on the roads.

Reference target: Target 8.8
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.

Proximity to amenities, including cash points, is part of the BREEAM schemes criteria, with community consultation to ensure access to all necessary amenities.

Reference target: Target 8.10
Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.

Transport sections of BREEAM schemes ensure access to all season roads and public transport, while promoting sustainable travel plans where applicable.

Reference target: Target 9.1
Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

Reference target: Target 9.a
Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.

BREEAM schemes promote the reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions through sustainable construction practices and energy efficient buildings.

Reference target: Target 9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.

BREEAM schemes encourage innovation through the awarding of extra, innovation credits.

Reference target: Target 9.5
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.

BREEAM schemes promote access for occupants to efficient, basic services.

Reference target: Target 11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

Specific BREEAM schemes’ criteria promote the use of already occupied land to prevent further consumption or degradation.

Reference target: Target 11.3
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

Specific issues within the BREEAM schemes help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather.

Reference target: Target 11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.

Reference target: Target 11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.

Construction and operational waste management is an important part of the BREEAM schemes.

Reference target: Target 11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

The criteria within the BREEAM schemes promote the protection of biodiversity and the use of previously or occupied land to prevent further degradation of green public spaces. Access to necessary amenities is also a key part of the scheme.

Reference target: Target 11.7
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

BREEAM schemes help to address the social, economic and environmental issues in urban and peri-urban areas and facilitates the management of resources within the built environment.

Reference target: Target 11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

BREEAM schemes can facilitate the move towards construction of sustainable, resilient and resource-efficient areas.

Reference target: Target 11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilising local materials.

BREEAM schemes promote the efficient consumption of resources and raw materials through increased efficiency and alternative transport measures.

Reference target: Target 12.1

Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.

BREEAM schemes help to reduce the built environment’s footprint with regards to raw materials.

Reference target: Target 12.2By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

Responsible and sustainable management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste during construction and operation are key issues within the BREEAM schemes.

Reference target: Target 12.4

By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Reference target: Target 12.5

By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

Certain issues within the BREEAM schemes require the monitoring and constant reporting on particular areas within the scheme.

Reference target: Target 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Criteria within the BREEAM schemes require the responsible and sustainable procurement of timber and other construction products.

Reference target: Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

BREEAM schemes’ promotion of energy efficient equipment and increased water use efficiency helps to strengthen a country’s capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption.

Reference target: Target 12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

Issues within the BREEAM schemes help to improve resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather and facilitate increasing a country’s adaptive capacity to such events. Certain issues also help to mitigate carbon equivalent emissions, through increased energy efficiency and material use efficiency.

Reference target: Target 13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Reference target: Target 13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

Reference target: Target 13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Control measures within the BREEAM schemes help to mitigate the pollution of surrounding watercourses.

Reference target: Target 14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

The ecology issues within BREEAM maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area.

 

Reference target: Target 14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

By promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the BREEAM schemes can help to minimise the built environment’s contribution to increased marine acidification.

Reference target: Target 14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels.

The ecology issues within BREEAM maintain ecosystems and reduce land degradation in the surrounding area, while the pollution measures help to minimise any pollution.

Reference target: Target 15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Reference target: Target 15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

Reference target: Target 15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

Reference target: Target 15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

The responsible and sustainable procurement of timber and certain building materials will facilitate the progression towards sustainable forest management.

Reference target: Target 15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

Responsible sourcing of timber and other materials can help to ensure they have been legally harvested and traded.

Reference target: Target 16.2
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Reference target: Target 16.5
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

The Indicators for this goal are not influenced by the criteria from this scheme.