From Recession to Resilience And What the Last 15 Years Taught Us About Net Zero
Mahesh Ramanujam
As the CEO of the Global Network for Zero, the world’s premiere net zero standards and certification body, Mahesh is leading the global decarbonization movement
One of the most common questions I get from people all over the world is “What is the future of net zero in the U.S.?” It’s not a surprising question given the changes in the political landscape regarding climate action that make global headlines every day, continued economic uncertainty and sluggish economic growth.
What does surprise people, however, is my answer: The future of net zero and decarbonization at scale in the U.S. is strong and it’s only growing stronger.
It’s strong because despite the recurring headwinds, smart people and smart organizations know that future proofing their enterprises for economic and climate risks is a strategic business imperative. It’s also strong because there is a network of organizations including GNFZ that are working every day to make the pathway to net zero for the business sector and the construction and building sector more accessible, more actionable and more affordable.
I am bullish about the future of net zero because the green building marketplace has proved itself before in profound ways when the traditional construction sector and many in the financial sector counted us out.
This was especially the case during the “Great Recession” from 2007-2009 and its long and tediously slow recovery. Yet, the facts show the exact opposite happened. The green building market didn’t die — it flourished. The U.S. green building market grew by a whopping 50% from 2008-2010. By 2011, a third of all new non-residential construction was green. It was one of the few bright spots in what has been called the worst economy of recent decades.
Why did this happen? The answer is simple. Green buildings made the business case because they were based on the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Green retrofits and new construction became an affordable and effective differentiator from traditional construction that carried substantial long-term ROI.
Read my recent Facilities Dive article where I cover this →
Approximately a decade and a half later — what was then the forefront of green building practices has come a long way. And those very stakeholders who were demanding green certified spaces are now demanding substantially more — they want net zero performance for design, construction and operations across energy, waste, emissions and water. Driving these demands are ambitious corporate climate 2030 pledges and business resiliency imperatives.
Research from JLL demonstrates that the demand for high quality and low carbon commercial office space will outstrip supply by 75% across U.S. markets by 2030 —equating to a stunning projected shortage of 57 million square feet of low carbon office space. The New York City market by itself provides a telling example of what’s to come. That same JLL report noted that “across the leased footprint of the top 100 occupiers of the city, 72% of upcoming requirements are tied to a carbon commitment this decade, amounting to 23.3 million square feet of future demand.” The study showed the current development pipeline only delivering 8.1 million square feet. Decarbonization at scale is also being propelled by building performance standards such as New York City’s Local Law 97 and other jurisdictions which are pushing owners to drive efficiency upgrades and penalizing and appropriately shaming those that don’t.
And these facts and figures represent only a small part of why I am certain that the net zero conversation — and more importantly action — will drive the decarbonization transformation that is a business and climate imperative.
The sustainability movement has been uplifted by thousands of professionals that have spent their lives working to improve the performance of buildings, communities and cities and ensuring that they give back to the world more than they take. And the next frontier for that movement is net zero and the time for collective action is now. We know that it takes a community to drive market transformation and that’s why we are working every day to convene leaders who are actively bringing solutions to the market.
GNFZ and members of our extensive network will be convening on August 28th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EST to share insights from industry leaders in the U.S. on achieving net zero. The engaging virtual event will feature multiple panels of leading industry experts — each with decades of experience driving decarbonization across the design, construction and operations of buildings. We hope you will register and join us! There is no cost to attend. Our distinguished panelists will explore the current state of the market, share insights on what they see as the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities and highlight proven strategies that are delivering real progress on the path to net zero.
We promise a frank and candid conversation about what’s working and what’s not…and what it will take to truly scale climate action in the built environment. Conversation topics will include innovative design approaches and advanced construction practices to operational efficiencies and policy trends.
I hope you will join us, and if there is anything in particular you would like to hear us discuss please add a comment!
Leading the transition to Net Zero. Empowering businesses to decarbonize, unlock ESG value, and thrive in a low-carbon future
1moNot surprised at all by your answer, Mahesh Sir. What stood out in your article is how the last 15 years have shown that sustainability investments consistently deliver resilience, even during recessions. Thanks for explaining this so clearly.
Public Affairs and Government Relations Executive
1moThis is an important and timely perspective, Mahesh. While I approach these issues from a center-right, market-focused lens, I agree wholeheartedly with your core point: the business case for net zero continues to strengthen—regardless of political shifts. Resilience, efficiency, and long-term value are principles we can all get behind. And the leadership you and the GNFZ community are providing is helping turn those principles into real, measurable progress.
✔Strategic Advisor & Inventor: Transforming Regular to Rechargeable Concrete Floors | I boost ROI edge with built in resilient, high performing energy-sharing structures from the start.✔
1moMahesh Ramanujam, the future of Net Zero buildings is indeed a matter of mindset, not just technical excuses. The current disconnect between a 24/7 power grid and traditional HVAC systems presents an enormous missed opportunity. The key to true efficiency isn't just using less power; it's balancing the load by actively storing low-cost, off-peak energy for high-demand periods. This is where a paradigm shift is needed. By redefining concrete floors as a dynamic thermal energy storage asset, we can create a thermal battery that pairs seamlessly with HVAC. This simple integration is the strategic advantage that will define the leaders of the Net Zero movement. The future belongs to those who have the awareness to see the hidden potential right beneath their feet.
Project Management and Sales Head at Yokogawa
1moI don't think it's right!!! The US has formally committed to achieving net‑zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 The Climate Action Tracker rates the U.S. net‑zero target as “Average”. As of mid‑2025, only about 75% of net‑zero pledges globally are embedded in law, and many are voluntary in practice. Under current policies, the U.S. is projected to still generate roughly 50% of its electricity from fossil fuels by 2050. It’s expected to deliver 40–48% emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2030 . The Net‑Zero Game Changers Initiative, part of federal strategy, focuses on innovation across five critical areas: heating/cooling systems, aviation, grid technologies, fusion, and industrial decarbonization (e.g. low‑carbon steel, hydrogen fuels) . Most important is political uncertainty.