This summer, TEC was honored to be represented at the United Nations Buildings Action Coalition Annual Forum in Enniscorthy, Ireland. TEC’s Director of Policy & Planning, Marc Costa, and TEC’s Director of Funding & Research, Felicia Federico, joined a diverse group of stakeholders, including European Union Commissioners, UN Undersecretaries, and elected officials, to discuss the critical topic of decarbonizing our global building stock.
California Leadership on a Global Stage
California was well-represented at the event, with Commissioner McAllister from the California Energy Commission in attendance, and Commissioner Houck from the California Public Utility Commission joining virtually. Their participation gave us the opportunity to share our state’s unique insights and experiences with a global audience. The forum’s discussions were particularly timely, addressing how governments and regulators are prioritizing climate action despite challenges like the rebuilding efforts in Ukraine and the increasing threat of wildfires in California.
TEC’s Pivotal Role in the Coalition’s Work
During this year’s forum, Marc Costa was recognized with the 2025 Service Award for his significant contributions to the coalition. TEC is proud to be a longstanding contributor to the Building Action Coalition.
Last year, we co-hosted the Building Action Coalition Summit with the City of Santa Monica and The Enniscorthy International Forum (see our five key takeaways from that discussion here). In Santa Monica, the key takeaway was that decarbonization must be framed as customer-focused and urgent, accessible, and desired—that way, communities and local governments can lead the way. This forum set the stage for the Ireland summit focusing on bridging gaps with priority strategies for action.
What Comes Next
We’re excited about a key outcome of this latest forum that TEC will play a pivotal role in launching: launching regional hubs for building decarbonization. These hubs will create a connected network to accelerate the decarbonization of our buildings, grid, and communities. This new initiative gives us great momentum and a clear plan to move the needle on a global scale.
We are deeply committed to this opportunity since it aligns so well with TEC’s mission to create an equitable and affordable clean energy future for all. We’re excited to engage in these discussions and are continually thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with so many insightful thinkers in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
Learn more about the Enniscorthy Forum here and more our policy work here!
