EU politicians backed new policies for buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) EU politicians have voted in favor of sweeping new policies for buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive uses a common system for buildings’ energy performance standards across the EU – similar to the system already in place for household appliances such as ovens and washing machines – and requires member states to improve their performance over time.
Member states will need to upgrade their worst-performing buildings by one to three places on the standards scale in the next ten years, either through renovation or more broadly through the energy grid or locally-sourced renewables.
The directive requires member states to create a national building renovation plan to decarbonize their building stock by 2050 – though it provides exceptions for historical buildings.
It also sets out a framework for how funding streams for renovations should be handled and says that tenants in rental housing should be protected from rent increases or evictions due to renovations.
From 2028, all new buildings should produce zero emissions and should be equipped with solar technologies (“where technically suitable and economically feasible”).
The proposal came before the Parliament in Strasbourg today after negotiations by a committee of MEPs that was led by Irish Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe.
MEPs voted 343 in favor and 216 against the new directive, which will now move forward to negotiations with the EU Council to agree on its final shape.
A dodgy microphone in the parliament after the vote gave rise to a quip from Cuffe that it highlighted the “compelling case for the renovation of buildings”.
On this topic for the media MEP Martin Hojsík (Progresívne Slovensko, Slovakia), shadow rapporteur on the LULUCF file declared:
“We achieved setting EU’s target for net carbon removals by natural sinks, which are our best allies in the fight against climate change. Thanks to our efforts, LULUCF can contribute to healthy forests, biological diversity, and living soils in all Member states.”
On the other hand MEP Nils Torvalds (Svenska folkpartiet, Finland), shadow rapporteur on the Effort Sharing Regulation said:
“Today, we are delivering for our citizens on raised climate ambition. The Effort Sharing Regulation is cutting CO2 reductions by 40% compared to 2005 levels in sectors such as buildings, road transport, agriculture, and waste. Together, those sectors are responsible for 60% of the EU’s greenhouse gas.
EU ambitious “Fit for 55” package to reach climate targets
The European Union Commission has unveiled its ambitious “Fit for 55” package, a set of proposals aimed at reducing the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
The package includes a wide range of measures, including the expansion of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to cover more sectors, the introduction of a carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies.
One of the key proposals is the introduction of a new emissions trading system for the transport and building sectors, which are responsible for a significant proportion of the EU’s emissions. The new system would require companies to purchase permits for each tonne of CO2 they emit, with the cost of the permits increasing over time.
The package also includes measures to promote the use of renewable energy, such as a new target of a 38-40% share of renewable energy in the EU’s energy mix by 2030, up from the current target of 32%.
In addition, the package proposes tighter emissions standards for cars and vans, as well as the inclusion of aviation and maritime emissions in the ETS.
The carbon border adjustment mechanism, another key proposal, aims to ensure that imports to the EU are subject to the same carbon pricing as goods produced within the bloc. This is intended to prevent “carbon leakage”, where companies move production to countries with less strict climate policies.
The package has been welcomed by environmental groups, who see it as a necessary step towards achieving the EU’s climate goals. However, some industry groups have raised concerns about the costs and potential impact on competitiveness.
The proposals will now be debated and negotiated by the EU’s member states and the European Parliament, with the aim of finalizing the package by the end of 2021.
If adopted, the “Fit for 55” package would represent a major shift in the EU’s climate policy and a significant step towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.