March 12, 2003—A special United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) expert meeting on sustainable building and construction was recently held in Paris.
Following on the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP-DTIE) called the meeting to bring together key partners in the international building and construction industry to exchange information on their respective initiatives and to determine a framework for cooperation to promote sustainable construction.
Organizations represented at the meeting included the Confederation of International Contractors’ Associations (CICA), the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the International Labor Organization (ILO), UN-HABITAT, the International Union of Architects, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Green Buildings Council, and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
The main objectives of the meeting was as follows:
- Bring together key partners involved in Sustainable Building and Construction (SBC) to exchange information about current activities and initiatives;
- Design modalities of co-operation between partners that will bring about the necessary synergies and actions to promote sustainable construction, in particular in the developing world;
- Identify priority areas of work and potential partnerships;
- Draw an overall plan of action involving all partners, with lead organizations identified.
For more information, contact UNEP.
