Redesigning the Built World: Nemetschek’s Role in the AEC Sustainability Shift Highlighted at Davos.

Sustainability has shifted from a “nice to have” to a strategic necessity for the AEC/O industry, and recent discussions at Davos 2026 underlined that long‑term prosperity depends on designing, constructing and operating within planetary boundaries. For Nemetschek Group, this is exactly where digital innovation and corporate responsibility converge. 

At the World Economic Forum 2026, leaders, scientists and businesses framed the decade ahead around a single question: how can we create prosperity without exceeding planetary boundaries. The planetary boundaries framework shows that multiple Earth systems are already under severe pressure, underscoring the urgency to cut emissions, protect ecosystems and improve resource efficiency.

Infrastructure and the built environment sit at the center of this debate, because climate change and nature loss are already disrupting infrastructure, food systems and economies, while also opening opportunities to develop pathways that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit negative impacts on ecosystems. Davos discussions highlighted that delivering this transition will require deep cooperation between governments, business and civil society, precisely the ecosystem in which AEC/O operates.

Buildings and infrastructure currently account for 32% of global energy use and 34% of global CO₂ emissions, with materials like cement and steel responsible for 18% of these emissions, making AEC/O both a major part of the problem and a key lever for change. From energy demand during operation to embodied carbon in materials and waste at end of life, every phase of an asset’s lifecycle can be systematically reduced through better design, delivery and operation.

As global ESG‑related regulations and standards evolve around energy efficiency, carbon, circularity and disclosure, clients increasingly expect transparent, evidence‑based sustainability performance across projects. For AEC companies, this shift is not only about compliance; it is about competitiveness, resilience and the ability to continue building in a world that must stay within a safe operating space.

Nemetschek Group has made sustainability a strategic priority, aiming for its software portfolio to enable planning, construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure with lower energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The company has defined 11 portfolio‑related levers, with the most significant targeting reductions in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and material waste in the construction industry via its AEC/O segments. By integrating these levers into product development and roadmaps, Nemetschek seeks to translate digital capabilities into practical climate and resource solutions, from early‑stage design optimization to operational analytics. This approach aligns directly with Davos 2026’s call to link innovation, finance and policy to real‑world decarbonization and resource efficiency outcomes.  

Nemetschek emphasizes that sustainability must run through the full AEC/O lifecycle, rather than being treated as a late‑stage add‑on. In early design, BIM‑based solutions and specialized tools enable scenario analysis on energy use, daylight, material choices and carbon emissions, helping teams make lower‑impact decisions when changes are still cost‑effective to implement.

During construction, Nemetschek brands support workflows that reduce waste, improve coordination and minimize rework, which translates into lower resource use and emissions on site. In operation, digital twins and building performance solutions help owners monitor energy consumption, benchmark assets and continually optimize performance across portfolios, extending useful life and informing circular strategies at end of life.

A new AI layer across Nemetschek’s portfolio is reshaping how AEC/O teams design, collaborate and manage sustainability‑ relevant information. AI‑driven assistance can surface better design options, detect clashes earlier, and automate documentation, freeing experts to focus on high‑impact decisions.

This is closely aligned with the innovation agenda spotlighted at Davos 2026, where digital technologies and data‑driven approaches were seen as key to accelerating climate action and circular business models at scale. For Nemetschek’s customers, the combination of BIM, open standards and AI create a powerful foundation to deliver projects that are not only more efficient and profitable, but fundamentally more compatible within planetary boundaries.