European construction players call on the EU to make the decarbonisation of the built environment a priority

The group, which represents more than 4 organizations in the building sector, today signed a letter asking the Commission to ensure that the review of key legislative dossiers, such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD ), will support an approach to carbon considered throughout the building's life cycle.

This open letter is part of the #BuildingLife project of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), launched in December and in which ten national GBCs participate.

The project, funded by the European Climate Foundation, the IKEA Foundation and the Laudes Foundation, works with stakeholders in the sector to develop a European roadmap on the carbon trajectory for buildings, in order to define the appropriate means to put implementing the complete building life cycle approach within the European political framework.

This process is also replicated nationally in 10 European countries. The carbon emitted by construction products, from their production to the end of their life, accounts for around 10-20% of the CO2 footprint of buildings in the EU. As the letter points out, the signatories consider it essential that European policy tackles these emissions together with operational emissions - produced when buildings are in use - in order to achieve climate neutrality here. 2050, in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal.

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council:

"This open letter shows a clear consensus in the building sector in Europe: EU policy must go further to provide a fully carbon-free and circular built environment.

As COP26 approaches, there is an urgent need for policymakers to take a whole building lifecycle approach to carbon - an approach that encompasses not only operational emissions but also carbon emitted by construction products. .

#BuildingLife is leading the way by developing a series of roadmaps for the EU and 10 European countries, through deep collaboration between industry leaders, policy makers and experts.

WorldGBC invites senior leaders from across the industry to join our campaign calling for a building lifecycle approach, and to become an ambassador for #BuildingLife today. "

Tina Paillet, President of RICS Europe:

"The construction and building sector has a considerable impact on climate change, on the scarcity of our resources, on the production of waste and on local employment opportunities. The construction of a building is very carbon emissive. we are rapidly getting closer to exceeding our carbon budget by 1,5 ° C.

It is time to act now and the circular economy is the only possible path for meaningful change in the built environment sector ".

Lars Völkel, Vice President of Wood Products, Stora Enso

"We urgently need strong policies that encourage the use of low carbon materials to achieve zero consumption buildings. A review of the current EPBD directive on life cycle emissions from buildings is a step forward. effective way to achieve this. The climate cannot wait. "

Roland Hunziker, Director, Sustainable Buildings & Cities, WBCSD

"A lifecycle approach to carbon is essential for achieving net zero emissions in the built environment. Overall, carbon performance should become an integral part of assessment throughout the life cycle. value chain and be incorporated into early project decision-making, procurement and regulations. The #BuildingLife project aims to provide practical steps to achieve this. "

Céline Carré, Director of Public Affairs, Saint-Gobain

"If we seriously want to decarbonize the buildings sector, we need to adopt an approach based on the whole life cycle in order to create a level playing field for all solutions and to be inspired by the appropriate policies on the path of neutrality climate. "

Koen Coppenholle, Director, CEMBUREAU:

"Policies based on a material neutral life cycle assessment are essential to decarbonize our buildings, and the Level (s) framework is the appropriate instrument."

The actions proposed to the European Commission in this open letter are as follows:

• Recognize the full potential of the building sector in achieving a climate neutral Europe.
• Ensure that the review of key legislative files, including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), supports a lifelong carbon approach to the building, in addition to accelerating refurbishment, and greater transparency of the performance achieved.
• Recognize the potential of the Level (s) method - the EU framework for sustainable buildings - which provides a harmonized multi-criteria approach, developing the circularity and adaptability of buildings.
• Implement the EU strategy for a sustainable built environment to ensure policy coherence and coordinate the transition to a sustainable built environment in the EU.
• Work with #BuildingLife's engaged network of stakeholders to develop and implement these transformative policies.