China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard (GBES), established in 2006 and most recently updated in 2024 as GB/T 50378-2019 (2024), is the national framework for assessing building sustainability. It evaluates buildings across six categories: land use, energy and water efficiency, material savings, indoor environmental quality, operation and management, and occupant health and comfort. Buildings are rated on a three-star scale (One-Star, Two-Star, Three-Star) based on compliance.

The 2019 revision introduced stricter requirements for carbon emissions, life-cycle assessment, and smart technologies, aligning with China’s 2030 carbon peak and 2060 carbon neutrality goals. The 2024 update further enhanced energy efficiency, resilience, and holistic performance evaluation. While the standard is voluntary at the national level, cities like Beijing and Shanghai have made it mandatory for public and large-scale projects.