Resolution No. 107/2023 of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (the “Resolution 107“) was published in the Official Gazette on March 21, 2023. The goals are to create the Sustainable Public Buildings Program for the National Public Sector Agencies (the “Program“) and approving the Implementation Guide for Sustainable Public Buildings (the “Guide“). The Program will be executed by the Advisory Cabinet Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (the “Executing Unit“).

I. Background

Decree No. 31/2023 (the “Decree“) declared as a priority the sustainable management of the resources used by the agencies of the National Public Sector (the “NPS“).

In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (the “MEySD“) was appointed as enforcement authority to approve complementary regulations that may be necessary for the execution of this Decree.

The Decree applies to the entire NPS, pursuant to Section 8, subsections a, b and c of Law No. 24,156 –i.e., the national administration, state-owned companies and corporations, and public entities expressly excluded from the national administration–.

II. Objectives

The Program has the following goals:

  1. Promoting the sustainable management of resources through the incorporation of good sustainable practices of consumption and habitability;
  2. Reducing the environmental impact generated by the activities carried out by the NPS in public buildings;
  3. Providing assistance to NPS agencies in their processes aimed at implementing good sustainable consumption and habitability practices; and
  4. Awarding badges that highlight the commitment of NPS agencies to sustainability in public buildings. Specifically, it is expected that buildings of the NPS agencies will obtain the distinctions of “Public Agency Committed to Sustainability” and “Sustainable Public Agency” within a maximum of two and six years, respectively.

Sustainable practices to be implemented by the NPS include the efficient management of electric energy, water use, natural gas, waste, public procurement, accessibility, sustainable mobility and green surfaces and spaces.

III. Implementation

The implementation of the Program will be undertaken through the following phases:

  1. Preparation of the sustainable environment: survey of relevant information;
  2. Assessment and diagnosis: the entities to complete a self-diagnostic assessment to inform the MEySD of their own sustainability status;
  3. Presentation of an Improvement Action Plan: the agencies to prepare an improvement action plan, taking into account the good sustainable practices listed in the Guide;
  4. Follow-up and monitoring: the MEySD, through the Executing Unit, to follows up and monitors progress in the implementation of good practices.
  5. Awarding and distinction: the MEySD to awards a sustainability badge to the organizations according to the progress in the implementation of good practices.

Furthermore, Resolution 107 requests NPS agencies to appoint a responsible person for sustainability matters in their jurisdiction to act as a liaison with the Executing Unit.

 

For further information, please contact Nicolás Eliaschev, María Eugenia Muñoz, Pablo Arrascaeta and/or Rocío Valdez.