COP26: UN Centre of Excellence designation for Wexford announced

UN Centre of Excellence status is announced at the COP26 climate change conference for the High-Performance Building Alliance (HPBA) based in Enniscorthy, County Wexford.

Minister Darragh O’Brien and Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy Chairperson of Wexford County Council signed a memorandum of understanding declaring the HPBA as a designated UN Centre of Excellence.

COP26: UN Centre of Excellence designation for Wexford announced

The initiative signals Ireland’s commitment to the sustainable and energy-efficient development of buildings in an initiative led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

It is expected in 2022 that WCC and WWETB the funders of the HPBA initiative will host an international event to launch the UN centre in Enniscorthy and to showcase international speakers on how the built environment can address climate change while providing more energy-efficient homes for people.

Minister O’Brien stated “he was delighted to sign the UN agreement on behalf of the Irish Government which will see the HPBA Centre of Excellence based at Enniscorthy as a global leader in energy efficiency and in assisting with the retrofitting and building of new homes, reducing carbon emissions while providing warmer homes”.

Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy stated that “the High-Performance Building Alliance is determined to be a leader and champion of high-performance energy buildings and to increase knowledge, capacity and demand for low carbon emissions buildings.”

In particular, she emphasised that “the HPBA will advance innovation and lead in the use of sustainable solutions through collaboration with the Global Network of Centres of Excellence.”

The UN Centre of Excellence at Enniscorthy is already named as a key driver in reducing carbon emissions in the built environment and providing training for the construction industry in the National Development Plan.

The UN status now elevates the HPBA to represent not just Ireland but to be a global leader working in collaboration with UN centres from other nations.

The HPBA and Minister O’Brien pledged at COP 26 to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the COP 26 goals. The built environment and construction sector is central to tackling climate change, with buildings consuming as much as 70% of the electricity generated globally and accounting for 40% of Co2 emissions.

The WWETB flagship Enniscorthy training centre model funded by SOLAS, is now being rolled out by the Irish government to four other regional centres in order to ensure the industry has trained and skilled staff in working in the delivery of NZEB both new and retrofit.

The Board of the HPBA involves a number of key stakeholders, government departments, state agencies, NGO’s and members of the industry including Tomas O’Leary from Mosart architects, an industry leader in energy-efficient buildings in Ireland.

It is expected in 2022 that WCC and WWETB the funders of the HPBA initiative will host an international event to launch the UN centre in Enniscorthy and to showcase international speakers on how the built environment can address climate change while providing more energy-efficient homes for people.