The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), the coalition representing over 5,000 organizations from across the building value chain, has asked Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to back amendments to the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) designed to accelerate building renovation and to address total lifecycle emissions of buildings.
In 2022 WorldGBC launched an EU Whole Life Carbon Roadmap for the building sector, with the support of a coalition of over 35 leading industry bodies. This has been complemented by national Whole Life Carbon roadmaps developed by ten Green Building Councils across Europe, with input from over 600 experts and organizations.
“Buildings are a key agent of change as Europe undergoes the transition to a decarbonised society. This is ever more important as Europe grapples with geopolitical uncertainties undermining energy security, and price rises driving a cost-of-living crisis,” said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of WorldGBC.
Tina Paillet, RICS President Elect said the organization encourages the EU to ensure that new buildings and refurbishments will be required to be both energy and carbon efficient over their whole life cycles, as well as contribute to the uptake of the circular economy in the construction sector.
“To operate as a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 it is essential that current emissions from construction make buildings more resilient in the next 20 years, reducing the need for future retrofit, and contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. To do this, we must enable built environment professionals to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of building materials and construction,” said Ruth Schagemann, President of Architects’ Council of Europe.
The vote in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy for the EPBD is scheduled for February 9th.
