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international

implementation- oriented education and assistance to building there, how can these states get information about the work
developers, contractors, architects, and engineers, as well as you are doing?
regulatory and planning officials and b) community-centric UNECE comprises 56 member States in North America,
knowledge development and sharing, connecting with resources Europe, and Asia. The work we do is completed in a very
and accelerating uptake of high-performance buildings. open, transparent way, with information provided through
2. Global Building Network, a consortium of universities our meetings in Geneva, workshops and conferences in
that 1) undertake research and advanced education in countries, publications, and our website. We also have a
building materials, design, and construction for current and very wide-ranging expert community that supports and is
next generation architects, engineers, policy makers and other aware of our work. We clearly could do more to enhance
stakeholders and 2) promote sustainable, high performance our outreach and visibility, but that applies quite broadly
buildings worldwide in support of both the Guidelines and across the entire UN system. While our primary focus and
the UN International Centres of Excellence. objective is providing support to our member States, there
3. Case studies that demonstrate the application of the increasingly is representation of non-UNECE countries in
Framework Guidelines in countries around the world to our meetings and in our activities as they find our products
demonstrate their validity in different climates, stages useful to them. I can point to our work on sustainable
of development, and regulatory, legislative, and physical resource management, energy efficiency in industry and
infrastructure and that comprise a library for reference and buildings, and methane management in extractive industries
to support training and education. as examples where our products have relevance for other
regions. We collaborate with the other regional commissions
Q: Is this initiative to be applied only for new projects of to ensure their involvement as appropriate.
building or would it work for already built too?
The principles we established, UNECE's Framework Q. How would you describe the value of your activities for
Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings, your member States?
underpin the high performance buildings initiative. They UNECE is the regional commission for our member States.
apply equally to new buildings and to retrofits of existing The UN's Regional Commissions collectively foster economic
buildings. integration at the country and regional levels and promote
implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate
Q: Seems like one of the aims is to reduce of the consumption Agreement. We promote multilateral dialogue, knowledge
of electric power and primary energy by buildings. Are sharing and networking. Through our development of
wooden buildings better? technical standards, best practices, and other normative
I would not pass judgement on the merits of one building instruments, UNECE contributes directly to the quality of
material over another. The guidelines are principles-based life of citizens.
and do not dictate technology choices - rather we aim to Those member States that take full advantage of our platform
achieve performance outcomes. There are strong arguments are able to achieve multiple objectives. As a window into
that wooden buildings are a form of carbon storage, and the broader UN system, they use UNECE's energy sub-
there would appear to be strong arguments in favor of wood programme to advance specific agendas in a focused, goal-
for that reason. I know many in our constituency are strong oriented way that can then be disseminated and deployed
supporters of wooden buildings. across the broader UN family. I point again to our high
performance buildings initiative, our work to reduce methane
Q. I believe that a person should always begin with himself. emissions from the extractive industries, and our work on
Can you give an advice or two on how we can reduce sustainable resource management as specific examples. I
consumption of electric power and primary energy in can add to that list our work helping countries develop their
ordinary life? strategic options and track their progress. Because many
1. Turn off lights, reduce temperatures indoors to 18 degrees member States trust UNECE as a dispassionate, neutral
in winter to limit heating requirements or raise them in the partner, we are a tremendously valuable venue for engaging
summer to reduce cooling requirements, maintain your car in dialogue that cannot happen elsewhere. Finally, because
and your heating system, use public transportation, avoid we are the UN, players who engage with and through us are
unnecessary trips. able to mobilize action at the scale that is needed and with the
2. Invest in insulation in your home; replace windows with support of all stakeholders to achieve global results - there is
double or triple-paned windows; modernize your appliances no other organization that can deliver that kind of impact.
and get a home energy management system; invest in a heat
pump and/or roof-top solar; buy an efficient car Q. Finally, Mr. Foster, just being curious, how many hours a
#2 is more expensive than #1. Keep in mind that our objective day do you work to achieve all this?
is not only about reducing energy consumption - it is about I have a dedicated team working with me, and we collaborate
improving quality of life while reduce CO2 emissions. fully with whole communities of committed experts. Making
good things happen is much easier when you have champions
Q. Since UNECE is working mainly in Central Asia and advancing the cause!
Europe and there are other oil producing countries out Thank you for your questions!
EK

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