•United Nations Sustainable Energy for All programme: Launched in 2011.
•The Geneva United Nations Charter on Sustainable Housing is a non-legally binding document that aims to support member States as they seek to ensure access to decent, adequate, affordable and healthy housing for all. It was endorsed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in 2015.
•Legally binding EU Targets: Member States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 of the historic energy use during the period 2000-2005. Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) details the policies and measures for Ireland.
•Paris Climate Agreement: Global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C. The EU formally ratified the agreement on 5 October 2016.
•United Nations Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings: Adopted Sept. 2017. This framework ensures energy standards for buildings will support holistically designed and operated high performance buildings as part of an integrated sustainable energy system.
•European Commission published additional guidelines on the NZEB standard – July 2016.
•Future Jobs Ireland 2019 has 5 pillars including the transition to a low carbon economy.
•Climate Change Policy, 2019 reflects Ireland’s commitment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by the United Nations in 2015.