On March 7, 2024, Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) will be in Paris at the “Buildings and Climate Global Forum”, the event organized by the UNEP (UN Environment Program) and the Ministry of Ecological Transition of France (https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/forum-mondial-batiments-climat-english-version).
The participation comes as part of the promotion of Venice’s role as a UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) – Making Cities Resilient 2030 “resilience hub”, an award the city received during the 2023 Biennale della Sostenibilità, the result of the Foundation’s facilitation efforts. VSF will take part in two panels, the first entitled “From Local Roots to Global Impact: Exploring the Role of Local Governments in Effective Multilevel Governance to Decarbonize Buildings”, where the Foundation will present the Venetian experiences of decarbonization and energy efficiency of buildings in the historic center, subject to landscape and architectural constraints. While the second panel will be a roundtable reserved for local governments, during which the Foundation will serve as an auditor.
In fact, the construction industry impacts 21% of gas emissions, and this percentage is set to rise. The world is moving in the direction of increasing its impact in the coming years, therefore there is an increasingly urgent need to change the logic of housing construction and use. The event will be attended by ministers and stakeholders from various companies who will discuss the urgency of adopting building practices more suitable to technological advances.
In this context, an operational meeting is scheduled between VSF and UNDRR leadership in order to set the agenda for joint activities this year. In particular, they will take stock of the autumn participation in the Forum of Mayors organized by the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) in Geneva.