India, May 19 -- Global building floor space expanded by 20% between 2015 and 2024, while energy demand rose by 11%, according to a new UN report.

The report says energy efficiency improvements and stricter building codes have slowed the growth of energy demand despite rapid construction.

Operational emissions from buildings still rose by 6.5% over the decade to reach 9.9 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide in 2024.

The report warns that rapid urban expansion could lock in future emissions unless governments adopt whole-life carbon policies and low-carbon materials.

In India rooftop solar and sustainable building codes are seen as key to reducing emissions from the construction sector.

Despite a 20 per cent increase in global building floor...