In one of COP30’s most significant moments for the built environment, a new framework for responsible timber construction has been unveiled.

With construction responsible for nearly 40% of global emissions, the launch of the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction marks a turning point in the fight against climate change and deforestation. Today new tools and resources are launched to turn the Principles into widespread industry practice.

Backed by over 300 organisations across business, government, and civil society, the Principles are more than a statement — they’re a movement. They’re supported by rigorous evidence, practical implementation tools, and now, a compelling new documentary: Our Future: Built by Nature, premiered today in the Blue Zone of COP30 to an audience of global environmental leaders.

Narrated by architectural designer, writer and broadcaster Kevin McCloud, the film showcases timber buildings from around the world that challenge outdated norms and prove that biobased construction is not only safe and sustainable — it’s transformative.

“If you’re a policymaker, legislator, or advisor,” McCloud says, “these Principles are written for you.”

The documentary makes a clear case: to scale biobased construction, we need policy reform and financial incentives. It features projects that demonstrate how responsible timber can unlock investment, insurance, and innovation.

Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer at Aviva, who also features in the film, adds: “The Principles offer the trust and framework needed to accelerate investment in low-carbon solutions and reshape the built environment.”

Supporting this momentum is a new Guidance Report from Bauhaus Earth, offering the latest scientific evidence and policy pathways to shift trillions in capital away from polluting industries toward regenerative models.

“Systemic transformation is possible,” says Bauhaus Earth CEO Philip Misselwitz, “but it requires bold action across governance, markets, and technology.”

Also launched today is an interactive Implementation Framework on the Built by Nature Knowledge Hub, designed to help professionals apply the Principles in real-world projects.

Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature, says: “These Principles are backed by science, endorsed globally, and are now supported by tools that make them actionable. Timber is no longer niche — it’s the responsible choice for global construction.”

The Principles have been informed through consultation with experts across the value chain and inputs from governments represented in the Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) ‘Greening Construction with Sustainable Wood’ initiative. They will now become a key part of the new Building for Forests Acceleration Plan, a global call to integrate sustainable wood into climate and housing policies in at least 30 countries by 2028 — including six in the tropics.