Resilience by design: Looking ahead to 2026
In 2025, climate resilience has become a central concern for the building industry as extreme weather events increasingly disrupt communities and economies. USGBC has responded by embedding resilience more deeply into LEED v5, most notably by requiring all certified projects to complete a Climate Resilience Assessment. This marks a shift from treating resilience as optional to making it a standard part of sustainable design, alongside decarbonization. New LEED v5 credits also encourage strategies that protect buildings, occupants and surrounding communities, reinforcing the idea that long-term sustainability depends on preparing for climate risks, not just reducing emissions.
Looking ahead, USGBC sees major opportunities to better align sustainability professionals with risk, finance and insurance experts, who often evaluate resilience through avoided losses and asset protection. Building industry capacity to assess climate risk is another priority, as teams need clearer guidance, tools and data to integrate resilience into planning and operations. Finally, USGBC aims to help close a major industry gap by developing clearer ways to measure and value resilience, similar to how carbon reductions are tracked today. By advancing shared standards and collaboration, USGBC hopes to scale resilience strategies and strengthen the built environment in the face of an uncertain climate future.
