## 4 The Role of Government and Industry  
While governments may consider responses to zero energy or zero carbon from a regulatory or policy perspectives, the role of industry in pushing the boundaries for industry engagement is yet another viable option to support the intent of net zero in the built environment. A total of 185 countries (as of October 2016) signed the Paris Agreement that entered into force on 4 November 2016 [26]. By February 2019, the total number of countries signing the Agreement increased to 194 states with the further addition of the European Union [27]. Table 1 provides a list of some countries that have buildings or built environment related policies and programs. The EU has not been included here because the EU has led the development in NZEB policies and is well ahead of the rest of the world. While the ratified countries have all agreed to report on actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not all the countries include the buildings and construction sector in their NDCs. It is clear from the table that not all countries that have signed the Paris Agreement have policies and programs supporting lowering emissions from the built environment. For instance, among the developed countries, though the US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, the states of California and New York have signed up drafting stringent building  
codes and regulations to support reduced emissions. Canada revised its previous NDC with new targets for the buildings sector--specifically a 'net-zero energy ready' building code to be adopted by 2030 [28]. Other developed countries such Australia have NZEB policies in addition to making changes to their building codes, sustainable construction practices, supporting low emission indoor environments through thermal comfort, enhancing the performance of appliances and equipment used in buildings including high efficiency lighting programs, the use of solar energy, and energy efficiency programs. However, other emerging economies such as India and Indonesia need to go well beyond these considerations. A fact remains, though, that many of the developing countries are the ones that need the most support in the transition to low carbon economies. Countries such as El Salvador in Latin America and Lesotho in Africa are lower middle-income countries (as of 2019) [29] that have recognized the role of the building sector in their NDCs. Global organizations have risen to the 2 \({}^{\circ}\)C Scenario (2 DS) challenge set out in the Paris agreement. Architecture 2030, a peak industry body in the US has issued the Architecture 2030 challenge, in which a combination of good design strategies, use of technologies and systems and off-site renewable energy all support the goal  
Architecture 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge, asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets [34]:  
* \"All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHG (greenhouse gas)-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 70% below the regional (or country) average/median for that building type. * At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 70% of the regional (or country) average/median for that building type. * The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations shall be increased to: \(\circ\) 80% in 2020 \(\circ\) 90% in 2025 \(\circ\)  Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate).\"  
These targets may be accomplished by implementing innovative sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable power and/or purchasing (20% maximum) renewable energy. Architecture 2030 support the use of fossil fuels along with highly efficient buildings to ultimately move towards being carbon neutral, largely through the use of renewable energy. The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has developed the Advancing the Net Zero project.