Canada ranks 3rd globally for LEED in 2025
Canada leads LEED certifications in North America
CAGBC Staff on February 4, 2026
- Rating System/Standard
- LEED
Ottawa, ON – The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) is celebrating Canada ranking third globally on the annual list of Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED®.
This top 10 ranking is based on the total LEED-certified space between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, and includes all projects outside the United States. Canada remains one of the most significant markets for LEED certification worldwide. Its position at number three outside of the U.S. reflects broad adoption across sectors, with office buildings, warehouses and distribution centers, and schools among the top adopters in the country.
Developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and administered by CAGBC in Canada, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
In 2025, Canada certified 288 LEED green building projects, almost 8.5 million gross square meters (GSM) of space.
LEED certifications globally
More broadly, LEED certification continued to grow globally, with more than 7,500 LEED-certified commercial projects in 2025, equaling more than 147 million gross square meters (GSM).
Throughout 2025, markets saw an uptick in the adoption of LEED certification for existing buildings, LEED for Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M), demonstrating how building owners and managers are committed to cutting costs through energy efficiency and transforming buildings into high-performing assets. While this trend cuts across all sectors, warehouse and distribution projects were a primary driver of LEED growth globally, both in new construction and in existing buildings.
“The demand for LEED building certification continues to grow in our global markets, signaling that asset owners and occupants remain committed to long-term quality, sustainability, risk reduction and healthier spaces. In 2025, we saw tremendous growth in the number of warehouse and distribution facilities earning LEED certification in these Top 10 markets, which demonstrates the focus of building managers on operational efficiency and savings.”
Angelo Petrillo, Chief Growth Officer, USGBC and GBCI
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