The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) kicks off a week of events across Ireland today, 09 September, aimed at accelerating the transition to a sustainable built environment.

Summer 2024 was the hottest on record globally and for Europe, highlighting once again the need for greener urban areas. Trees and plants are essential to cooling down our environment during heat waves while improving air and water quality and preventing floods. This year, World Green Building Week aims to showcase how smart design and nature-positive solutions can address climate change and restore biodiversity in our towns and cities.

Pat Barry, CEO of the Irish Green Building Council, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "Significant progress has been made in making our homes more energy efficient, but we must avoid the carbon tunnel vision and ensure the homes we build today are sustainable in every way. Greening our neighbourhoods is not only good for the planet, it is also good for people, and can improve our well-being."

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Barry added: "This transition requires substantial upskilling and an increase in awareness in the industry. This is why we are showcasing projects that highlight the role of nature-positive design to enhance biodiversity, boost climate resilience, and improve our health and well-being."

On Tuesday, 10th September, the IGBC will lead a tour of Cobh Town Centre (Cork), where Cork County Council is driving an urban design plan focused on creating inclusive and sustainable public spaces. Attendees, alongside Tidy Towns representatives, will explore rain gardens and urban greening initiatives.

Alan Costello – Senior Scientist at Cork County Council, who will lead the tour, commented: "Our work in Cobh demonstrates how urban spaces can be transformed to benefit both people and nature. The rain garden, for instance, manages rainwater runoff from the nearby road, filtering pollutants through the soil and releasing cleaner water into the sea. It's not only a beautiful, pollinator-friendly feature but also a practical solution for improving water quality and enhancing the local environment."

To highlight all key aspects of a sustainable built environment, this year's programme also includes a tour of the Treasury Building in Dublinwhere participants will learn more about circularity in construction, as well as a tour of 25 North Wall Quay offices, a net zero office building.

Full schedule of events can be found here.