How can we successfully achieve the environmental transition of buildings without hindering construction?

According to the Minister for Urban Affairs and Housing, Vincent Jeanbrun: "This environmental requirement is non-negotiable. But it must never become an obstacle to building the housing that the French need."

RE2020: a strong ambition, conceived in three stages

To allow the sector to progress smoothly, three successive milestones have been set: 2025, 2028, and 2031, with a gradual reduction of the carbon threshold. The long-term objective is simple: more energy-efficient, more sustainable buildings that are better adapted to the climate, while giving builders time to adapt.

Evaluate to adjust

At the request of the Government, a report conducted by Robin Rivaton on the evaluation of environmental regulations 2020, president of Stonal, was published on July 10, 2025.

His conclusions are clear: the RE2020 has launched a virtuous industrial dynamic, but it risks leading to additional costs and trade-offs unfavorable to users if nothing is done.

The 23 proposals from this report were debated and discussed between August and September 2025.

First concrete measures: a decree and an order in March

To reconcile environmental ambitions with housing production, the minister is launching today the mandatory consultation on an initial package of measures, which aims to:

• Ensuring the comfort of residents without compromising carbon requirements

Modulation for balconies, loggias, terraces or high ceilings.

• Adapting the rules to high-rise buildings (IGH)

Take into account specific constraints, particularly fire safety.

• Do not penalize collective air conditioning when it is necessary in buildings connected to an urban heating network
• Encouraging extensions without overburdening the rules

Thresholds adapted for extensions of less than 30% of surface area, excluding individual houses.

These measures will give manufacturers some breathing room without diminishing environmental ambitions.

A second wave of adjustments in the first half of 2026

A second decree will be issued, notably to improve the summer comfort indicator, in order to better anticipate heat waves and extreme weather events across the country. It will also allow for a reassessment of the carbon content thresholds for buildings based on the latest available environmental data.

A clear message to professionals

For Vincent Jeanbrun: “We need to move towards more sustainable buildings. But we must do this with the building sector, not against it. Our course is based on two principles: meeting the 2028 target and enabling construction to resume in order to house the French.”

The minister is committed to continuing consultations with all housing stakeholders before the 2028 milestone comes into effect, in order to identify the necessary simplifications and guarantee a dual imperative: to build more and better while sustainably reducing the carbon impact of buildings.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.