Sino-Swiss Zero-Emission Building Project Successfully Completed

The bilateral project has provided major momentum for climate-neutral construction in China and demonstrates how international partnerships can deliver concrete solutions for global sustainability goals.

After five years of intensive collaboration, the Sino-Swiss Zero-Emission Building (ZEB) Project—launched in 2020 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD)—was successfully completed as planned in November 2025.

Joint Achievements

In cooperation with numerous Swiss and Chinese specialist institutions, we have achieved important milestones in recent years:

• Development of national and local standards for net-zero-emission buildings and districts in China
• Implementation of ten demonstration projects across four climate zones, eight of which have already been constructed
• Delivery of extensive training programmes for policymakers, professionals, university lecturers, and students
• Development of practical solutions for energy and grid systems, sustainable materials, and efficient construction and building-technology processes
• Knowledge transfer took place through workshops, studies, seminars, and on-site visits—forming a valuable foundation for future sustainable construction projects.

Contracting Authorities

• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China (MOHURD)

Implementing Partners

• Intep – Integrated Planning
• SKAT Consulting
• China Academy of Building Research (CABR)
• China Association of Building Energy Efficiency (CABEE)
• Centre of Science and Technology Industrial Development (CSTID)
• Swiss Green Building Association (SGB)

New Project Website and Information Materials

To mark the completion of the project, comprehensive information and communication materials were developed, including three videos covering an overview of the project, the demonstration buildings, and the training activities.

All materials are now available online 👉www.zeb-china.org

A Strong Signal for Global Climate Action

The project clearly demonstrates: climate action is a team effort. Through continuous exchange between Swiss and Chinese experts, innovative and feasible pathways to net-zero buildings have been identified—making a significant contribution to a climate-neutral future.