Five professional groups are to host the first cross industry sustainability conference this morning. Surveyors, Architects, Engineers and Planners say the move underlines the seriousness of the climate change challenge

Five professional member bodies from across the construction, built environment and planning sectors have come together to host a first ever cross industry sustainability conference in Dublin.

The online conference, which is entitled ‘Building Collaboration for Climate Action’, is being co-hosted by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI), the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI), Engineers Ireland and the Irish Planning Institute (IPI).

The conference, which takes place today (Wednesday April 21) from 9:15am to 2pm, will focus on three key areas Creating the Circular Economy for the Built Environment, Reimagining the Sustainable City and the Green Future of Buildings.

Over 300 people have signed up for the half day conference which will include presentations from architect Stephen Willacy who until recently was Chief City Architect at Aarhus City Council in Denmark, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications, Marie Donnelly, Chair of The Climate Change Advisory Council, Alan Fogarty a leading authority on buildings and sustainability, as well as a host of other industry speakers from here and the UK.

Micheál Mahon, President of the SCSI said a warning from the International Energy Agency that global carbon dioxide emissions are set for their second biggest increase in history as economies recover from the Covid pandemic underlined the seriousness of the environmental situation.

“Individuals and organisations working across the built environment have to review how their actions impact the environment. Recently the Sustainability Group within the SCSI launched an initiative called ‘Surveyors Declare’ whereby members and firms commit to following sustainable business practices in their day-to-day operations. Over 300 surveyors and 45 leading firms have already signed up to this initiative. They are leading from the front, in their practices and their homes. Their actions and the collaboration we are seeing at this conference is what we need if we are to tackle the climate change challenge.”

Architects across Ireland have also joined up for climate change action in ‘Irish Architects Declare’, while the RIAI’s has published on 21 April a new ‘RIAI Sustainable Pathways Guide’.

RIAI President, Ciaran O’Connor FRIAI, who will chair one of the sessions, said the Institute welcomed the opportunity to join with colleagues in driving the agenda on tackling the climate crisis.  “The RIAI has always promoted and fostered sustainability as a core professional responsibility of architects. In keeping with this commitment, we are delighted to be launching today the new ‘RIAI Sustainable Pathways Guide’ which contains practical recommendations and innovative thinking for architects and built environment professionals on the themes, issues and aspects of sustainable design that should be incorporated in their work. We look forward to sharing it with the wider construction industry to drive best practice in sustainability across the sector.”

Maurice Buckley, President of Engineers Ireland, who is also chairing a session said: "Climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse are the most serious issues of our time and transformational action is required in all engineering sectors and disciplines. Engineers have a critical role, and an ethical obligation to play this role, in the transition to a more sustainable society. Under our Sustainability Framework, Engineers Ireland is committed to learning, living, leading and linking on sustainability. We are delighted to be collaborating with our partners across the built environment sector to deliver sustainable solutions for society. This important conference complements the work of our regional branches, engineering divisions and societies who are leading initiatives such as the sustainability grand tour series of talks."