(EurActiv, 8 Mar 2021) The long-term renovations strategies that EU countries submitted last year to the European Commission are not in line with the bloc’s objective of reaching climate-neutrality by 2050, according to fresh analysis due to be published this week.
EU member states continue to underplay the role of the building sector in reaching climate neutrality in Europe, according to the analysis shared with EURACTIV by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), a think-tank.
None of the eight strategies analysed – accounting for over 50% of EU population – are in line with the EU’s 2050 net zero goal, BPIE found.
The report, which will be released on Wednesday (10 March), highlights the need for a full revision of the energy performance of buildings directive, due at the end of this year.
In October, the European Commission launched a renovation wave, saying it will aim to double the EU’s annual rate of energy-related building renovations, which is currently just 1%, upgrading 35 million buildings by 2030.
EU member states are currently putting together national recovery plans to grow back their economies after the COVID crisis, and the Commission has touted building renovation as a win-win solution to stimulate local jobs, tackle energy poverty and reduce carbon emissions.
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