Dublin, 24th May 2023 – The Irish Green Building Council celebrated Ireland’s National Biodiversity Week today, with the launch of a new Community of Practice on Biodiversity and the Built Environment.
The new Community of Practice 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.
Opening the event, Malcom 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 that the factsheet launched today will empower everyone in this sector to take concrete steps towards protecting and enhancing nature.”
The factsheet on Biodiversity and the Build Environment launched today, offers useful insights to those working in the construction and property industry on what can be done to help nature thriving 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.
Susan Vickers, Chair of the Community of Practice, added: “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 construction and built environment is a carbon and resource intensive sector, with a significant impact on biodiversity. These impacts happen both on-site and offsite, and result from land-use changes, pollution, climate change and the introduction of invasive alien species. However, when properly planned, designed, and maintained our built environment can protect and enhance nature, while improving people’s health & wellbeing.
Marion Jammet, Head of Policy & Advocacy at Irish Green Building Council said: “With 400,000 homes to be delivered in the next decade, it is imperative for our industry to embrace the biodiversity challenge. We must plan, design, build and renovate homes to protect and enhance nature in Ireland and further afield. I hope that the factsheet and the collaborative efforts of the Community of Practice will help everyone in this transition.”
“Biodiversity & the Built Environment – IGBC’s insights” was launched today as part of the National Biodiversity Week. It was developed by the Irish Green Building Council in close cooperation with the industry and with the support of the Department of Housing. The factsheet is available here.
