The Business Case for Green Building’ / ‘Navigating European Green Building Policy Challenges

29th of January 2014 // Ora 9:00 –12:00 // Location: RoGBC 

RoGBC Members are invited to a networking and informational session in Bucharest with James Drinkwater, Senior Policy Advisor for the World Green Building Council. (Europe Regional Network)

James advises on European green building law and policy for the network of over 30 national Green Building Councils around Europe, coordinating their advocacy work as well as the work of WorldGBC’s global Policy Task Force. He has a Masters from the University of Cambridge, and a background in corporate and finance law. Previously an associate with the Environment and Climate Change practice of global law firm Linklaters LLP, he specialised in advising global corporations on UK and EU sustainable real estate law and policy, renewable energy projects and chemicals regulation. He also previously worked for the Royal Institute of British Architects, focusing on sustainable building policy and EU public procurement reform.

9:00-9:30 Coffee and Registration

9:30-10:00 Seminar 1: ‘The Business Case for Green Building’ will inform participants about WorldGBC’s landmark 2013 report on the costs and benefits of green building, taking a look at:

• WorldGBC and the growth of the green building movement around the world;
• Design and construction costs;
• Asset value;
• Operating costs;
• Workplace productivity and health; and
• Risk mitigation.

10:00-11:00 Networking Break

11:00-12:00 Seminar 2: ‘European Green Building Policy Challenges’ will inform participants and hold Q&A about:

• The Europe Regional Network of WorldGBC;
• EU green building policy and legislation and major challenges that governments and businesses are facing.

To secure a place at the seminars please RSVP by email to Monica.Ardeleanu@RoGBC.org no later than 23 January. Please note that the seminars will be in English.

CONTACT: Monica.Ardeleanu@RoGBC.org

Advocacy and your GBC: How to Build Your Voice with Government

27 January //  15:00 –17:00// Location: RoGBC

James Drinkwater, Senior Policy Advisor, World Green Building Council (Europe Regional Network)

James advises on European green building law and policy for the network of over 30 national Green Building Councils around Europe, coordinating their advocacy work as well as the work of WorldGBC’s global Policy Task Force. He has a Masters from the University of Cambridge, and a background in corporate and finance law. Previously an associate with the Environment and Climate Change practice of global law firm Linklaters LLP, he specialised in advising global corporations on UK and EU sustainable real estate law and policy, renewable energy projects and chemicals regulation. He also previously worked for the Royal Institute of British Architects, focusing on sustainable building policy and EU public procurement reform.

Current Members of RoGBC’s Policy Task Force, RoGBC members are invited to a special 2 hour interactive workshop with WorldGBC Senior Policy Advisor James Drinkwater, which will explore:

• Why a GBC needs a strong policy/advocacy function that is member led;
• How you can build your GBC’s voice with government and lead green building policy change through 9 advocacy principles; and
• How GBCs are doing this around the world, with examples from the US, Australia and the UK.

The workshop will be the first stage in the design of RoGBC’s new policy/advocacy strategy, which will be led by RoGBC’s Director of Policy and Development Monica Ardeleanu with the support of WorldGBC.
To secure a place at the workshop must RSVP by email to Monica.Ardeleanu@RoGBC.org no later than 23 January. Please note that the workshop will be in English.

CONTACT Monica.Ardeleanu@RoGBC.org

Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Italy and Turkey join new Global Coalition for Green Schools as Founding Members

The European Green Building Councils of Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Italy and Turkey join a list of 28 Green Building Councils around the world as founding members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools.  The Global Coalition for Green Schools is a new initiative organized by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), in conjunction with the World Green Building Council. The Global Coalition for Green Schools works collectively to shape schools and communities to fundamentally change the way students learn about the world around them.

Each of the 28 founding members have committed to establishing and leading a national coalition for green schools within each of their respective countries. The goal of these coalitions is to promote a shared vision of green schools for all within this generation. Members of the coalition will share best practices, resources and case studies, provide tools and infrastructure to this growing network, and introduce programs, initiatives and campaigns that can be replicated around the world.

Current members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools include: the Green Building Councils of Australia, Argentina, Bostwana, Brasil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Egypt, the Emirates, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Israel, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Turkey and the United States.

“As members of the Global Coalition for Green Schools, we are united in our common pursuit of healthy, safe, resource-efficient schools that educate sustainability natives,” said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. “But what inspires us and keeps us humble is seeing how much we have to learn from one another. Our approaches to greening schools may look very different, but what we all desire is to give our children every possible opportunity to succeed.”

Because schools look different from country to country around the world, the Coalition has identified three pillars by which to define a green school – minimize environmental impact, optimize human health and performance and foster a generation of environmentally literate students. National coalitions will bring together influential leaders in their country’s green schools movement including non‐profits, corporations, community members, universities and government. The Global Coalition will help shape schools and communities to fundamentally change the way students learn about the world around them.
“The Global Coalition for Green Schools is a unique forum to inspire national action that ensures our schools are healthy, safe and sustainable learning environments,” said Jane Henley, CEO of the World Green Building Council. “We know that schools are at the center of life in many communities. By focusing on schools and all related aspects of education, GBCs now have a chance that’s of paramount importance to work with one another toward our common goal of green schools for all within a generation.”

To learn more about the Global Coalition for Green Schools and the Center’s international efforts, please visit centerforgreenschools.org/global coalition.

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About the Center for Green Schools at USGBC

The Center for Green Schools at USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From kindergarten to college and beyond, the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play. For more information, visit centerforgreenschools.org or find us on Twitter and Facebook.
About the World Green Building Council 

The World Green Building Council connects a global coalition of more than 100 not-for-profit organizations and 27,000 visionary companies with a single mission: to drive the buildings sector towards sustainability and ensure our buildings deliver their full potential. Green Building Councils work locally to define and deploy best practice in the market, help governments shape policy, and build a culture of cross-sector collaboration. Our collective movement scales the local to the global: protecting the natural environment, enhancing the health and well-being of individuals and whole communities, improving energy security and resource efficiency, and creating green growth and jobs.