Speech by Séamus Boland on ‘Building green and inclusive – Making our communities future-proof’

Conference of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group in the framework of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Copenhagen, Danish Society of Engineers (IDA), 2 July

Dear Minister, Chair of the Housing Committee, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be with you today, in this very creative building of the Danish Society of Engineers (IDA);

To discuss a topic which is as inspirational as the venue itself, namely: 'Building Green and Inclusive – making our communities future-proof';

I would like to begin by very warmly thanking IDA for hosting us today;

An event on this topic in your premises could not be more appropriate;

A heartfelt thanks also to our Danish Members, particularly Juliane Neiiendam and Sif Holst, who put so much time and effort into organising this event;

The positive results of which, can be seen by all today!

Coming from a small country myself, I know that it is very challenging and stressful, to manage the expectations that come with the Presidency of the Council of the EU;

So thank you very much for your energy and commitment!

Turning now to the topic of our conference;

When I think of the title, three words come to mind: 'change', 'communities' and 'co-creation';

And there is one horizontal concept that brings all of those together, namely: 'ownership';

The reality is that in the face of climate change, increasing inequalities and the housing crisis, there is no choice but to embrace change in the way that we conceive, build and develop urban housing and public spaces;

I am certain that few of you will know that 60% of EU greenhouse gas emissions, result from how individuals produce and consume energy;

Much of which takes place in our homes;

One could also argue that a house that is not green, is not truly affordable;

Consequently, when we look to the future, there is no question, but that sustainability and the right to housing, need to be at the centre of future housing strategies;

It is imperative that renovations take precedence over new constructions;

And that circular building methods and energy-efficient designs are prioritised;

Public procurements should also reward energy-efficient designs, not just low offers!

However, let's be clear: is not just about reducing emissions;

It is about re-imagining our towns and cities;

It is about creating spaces, that serve both environmental objectives and that contribute to social cohesion.

If we now turn to the second dimension of our discussions this morning, that of 'communities';

This event seeks to make our communities 'future-proof';

But what exactly does that mean from a social perspective?

I understand that there is much that other countries could learn from Denmark, where its equitable housing policy, open to everyone irrespective of income, goes back over 100 years;

Today, the Danish non-profit housing sector accounts for 1/5 of the market;

And is characterised by high energy standards and mixed, inclusive communities;

In Vienna also, almost a quarter of homes are socially managed, helping to stabilise rental prices;

Such measures are crucial to support poor and vulnerable individuals and families;

Be they persons with disabilities, the unemployed, or the working poor;

Or indeed single parents – the vast majority of which are women;

Although housing is clearly a national prerogative, the EU can also help;

For example, by increasing European affordable housing funds, strengthening EU renovation programmes;

And by supporting the social economy, notably cooperative ownership models;

Some of you will also be aware of the new European Bauhaus policy and funding initiative, which aims to link sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion.

This brings me to my final point, which will focus on the process of 'co-creation', involving citizens and civil society organisations (CSOs);

Making our communities future-proof, means striving for a just transition;

This is a topic that we have worked on a lot as a Group;

What is crucial for the success of any just transition, is a strong engagement by citizens and CSOs, as well as inclusive dialogue across sectors;

Co-creation and co-ownership must go hand in hand, whether we are discussing housing or public spaces;

And it is only through community-driven planning, that we can develop spaces that serve everyone and that help combat loneliness;

The process itself, helps to build trust and social capital within communities;

In this context, I would like to quote my dear friend Lidija Pavic, who in a recent article for our newsletter wrote that:

A city without good public spaces is just a collection of buildings. A city with them is a home;

I find this sentence perfectly captures the ethos of co-creation.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will bring my comments to a close and leave the space to the experts;

It is a challenge, how architectural approaches can help make our environment more sustainable, inclusive and resilient;

At lunchtime, we will have the pleasure of viewing an exhibition on existing examples from around the globe;

But one thing is certain;

We will only be able to meet the challenges if all stakeholders – public, private, civil society and citizens – come together and help 'build green and inclusive'!

Thank you for your attention.