Green buildings are a critical component of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. As buildings account for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the development of green buildings has become a vital strategy for reducing environmental impacts, conserving resources, and promoting human well-being. Green buildings aim to create structures that are environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, and healthy for occupants throughout their life cycle—from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. Their importance and characteristics can be best understood through the lenses of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Green buildings significantly contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing GHG emissions, energy consumption, and resource use. They also play an essential role in adaptation, as they are designed to be resilient to climate-related risks such as extreme temperatures, water scarcity, and flooding. Through thoughtful design and innovative technologies, green buildings create a built environment that not only reduces the carbon footprint but also enhances the adaptive capacity of communities. One of the primary importance of green buildings in the context of climate change mitigation is their role in reducing energy consumption and associated GHG emissions. Traditional buildings rely heavily on fossil fuels for electricity, heating, and cooling. Green buildings, in contrast, incorporate energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, passive solar design, high-performance insulation, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and smart building management systems. They also often integrate renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines to minimize dependence on non-renewable energy. This reduces operational energy demand and contributes to lower carbon emissions. In addition to energy, green buildings emphasize water efficiency and conservation, addressing a critical issue in both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Water-efficient plumbing fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, greywater recycling, and landscaping with drought-resistant plants help reduce water demand. This not only conserves a precious resource but also decreases the energy required for water treatment and distribution, further contributing to emission reductions. In terms of adaptation, water-efficient buildings are better prepared to cope with water scarcity and erratic rainfall patterns caused by climate change. Another important characteristic of green buildings is the use of sustainable building materials. Traditional construction relies on energy-intensive materials such as concrete and steel. Green buildings use materials with lower environmental impacts, including recycled, locally sourced, rapidly renewable, or low-emission products. These materials reduce the embodied carbon of buildings, which refers to the total GHG emissions associated with the extraction, manufacture, transportation, and installation of building materials.