STATEMENT: New Cities, Businesses, and Organizations Join Building Efficiency Accelerator

PARIS (December 7, 2015)—At Energy Day, COP21, several cities and subnational jurisdictions, businesses, and organizations joined the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA).

Launched in 2014, the BEA supports the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) goal of doubling the rate of energy efficiency by 2030 by improving energy efficiency in buildings.

At COP21, SE4All announced the completion of its campaign to get commitments from 100 jurisdictions, 100 businesses and 100 financial institutions to scale up their work on energy efficiency: Today, WRI announced 25 new partners to the BEA, as part of this scaled up global effort.

Following is a statement from Jennifer Layke, Director of the Building Efficiency Initiative, World Resources Institute:

“We are very pleased to welcome 25 new partners into the Building Efficiency Accelerator to enable on-the-ground action, improve alignment of national and subnational actions, and bring technical knowledge and experience to help policymakers scale up efficiency solutions. The BEA is playing a critical role in assisting cities around the world to improve competitiveness, reduce energy demand, improve air quality, and deliver higher quality buildings and communities.

“Many countries are taking building efficiency action at the national level, such as by adopting building energy codes. However, effective implementation efficiency strategies are often the responsibility of local governments, which may not have the capacity, funding or support to implement efficiency policies and programs. By acting now we can increase efficiency, cut pollution, and save businesses and consumers money.

“We work with inspiring and aspiring cities help drive the transformation toward sustainable buildings in cities worldwide.” 

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Additional details

Today, nine new subnational governments join Mexico City, Mexico, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Building Efficiency Accelerator. The new cities are from Romania, Vietnam. Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Japan and Poland. They have committed to enacting new policies, implementing building efficiency projects, and tracking their progress. The new cities are:

• City of Alba Iulia (Romania)

• City of Bucharest, District 3 (Romania)
• Da Nang City (Vietnam)
• Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Malaysia)
• State of Jalisco (Mexico)
• Mandaluyong City (Philippines)
• Science City of Munoz (Philippines)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Japan)
• City of Warsaw (Poland)

In addition, in 2015 the following businesses and organizations joined:

• Accenture
• Alstom
• Buildings Performance Institute Europe
• Business Council For Sustainable Energy
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
• China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group
• Clean Energy Solutions Center
• Copenhagen Center on Energy Efficiency
• Danfoss
• Global Environment Facility
• Global Green Growth Forum
• Investor Confidence Project
• Ingersoll Rand
• Saint-Gobain
• Schneider Electric
• TECNALIA

Following are the existing partners:

• Green Buildings Performance Network
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
• International Energy Agency
• International Finance Corporation (EDGE)
• Johnson Controls
• Philips
• United Nations Development Programme
• United Nations Environment Programme
• United Nations Foundation
• United States Green Building Council
• World Bank Group (ESMAP)
• World Business Council on Sustainable Development
• World Green Building Council
• World Resources Institute / WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

World Resources Institute is a global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. Our 450 experts and staff work with partners in more than 50 countries; we have offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States. WRI.org

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities works to make urban sustainability a reality. Through global research and on-the-ground experience, our experts work with city and national leaders in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and the United States to spur action and improve life for millions of people. WRIcities.org

Contact: Michael Oko (Paris); moko@wri.org; or Benoit Colin (DC); bcolin@wri.org