IGBC launches a Network of Building Professionals for Biodiversity
Community of Practice on Biodiversity and the Built Environment
The Community of Practice on Biodiversity and the Built Environment is a networking group for building professionals and property managers working on biodiversity and the built environment in Ireland. Its objective is to provide a forum for industry leaders to share information on challenges and best practices and to learn from each other. Members of the group include architects, developers, ecologists, engineers, investors, planners, property managers and representatives from local authorities.
IGBC built environment and biodiversity factsheet
The network launch coincided with the publication of an IGBC built environment and biodiversity factsheet.
Launching the new IGBC factsheet on the built environment and biodiversity, Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said, “The findings of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss are clear: We must all do more to protect nature. I am delighted to see the IGBC bringing together this group of leading building and property professionals to address this issue in the construction industry. I hope the factsheet launched today will empower everyone in this sector to take concrete steps towards protecting and enhancing nature.”
The factsheet’ Biodiversity and the Built Environment’ offers useful insights to those working in the construction and property industry on what can be done to help nature thrive in the built environment and, in doing so, address the climate crisis. The launch of the document follows a successful webinar series, where experts showcased solutions and tools and shared best practice to protect biodiversity when designing, constructing, renovating or using buildings.
The roadmap was developed in close cooperation with 200 key stakeholders. It proposes, among other things:
- To regulate embodied carbon emissions in the built environment, as already done in several European countries
- To further support affordable, high-quality energy renovations, including phased retrofits
- To encourage the development of low-carbon construction processes and materials, including a greater use of biobased materials such as timber.
Susan Vickers, Chair of the Community of Practice, commented, “As a sector, there is so much we can do to better protect and enhance biodiversity and play our part in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, and in doing so improve people’s quality of life. I am looking forward to working with all members of the Community of Practice to learn from each other and to start making a meaningful impact in our field.”
The Biodiversity factsheet is available at www.igbc.ie
