RE2020: Construction industry denounces the change in carbon accounting

Professionals point out, in particular, the inconsistencies relating to the introduction into the regulations of a new method of calculating the carbon footprint, called "Simplified dynamic Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)", and a deviation from the law which will favor wood to the detriment of innovation in constructive solutions.

The professionals of the sector express their opposition following the announcements of the Ministry of Ecological Transition which, by seeking to favor biobased materials, frees itself from scientific rigor, creates an inconsiderate environmental risk and makes unnecessary any reflection on how to build " intelligently ”the buildings of tomorrow.

In fact, if they share the objective of putting in place in the short term effective measures to fight against global warming, professionals cannot let political choices pass which would be counterproductive and would endanger an entire sector.

A method that eliminates more than 5 million tonnes of CO2 ... without modifying the construction method

With more than 100.000 direct jobs spread across the territory, the Sectors which join forces to oppose the recent announcements by the public authorities are unanimous in denouncing, first of all, the introduction of the new method of calculating the carbon footprint. introduced for the first time in the “RE 2020” project. This decision is all the more surprising given that a “classic LCA” calculation method, standardized and used by all European countries in a consistent manner, has proved its worth. These Sectors invest heavily and regularly to set up their decarbonation trajectories and have for many years taken the turn of ecological transition.

Speaking figures

The new calculation method eliminates for a traditional building of the order of 100 kg of CO2 per m² (on an average footprint of the order of 700/750 kg of CO2 per m²) or more than 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year, without even modifying the construction method ... while the carbon footprint of one m³ of CLT (cross-laminated timber) will be reduced by -350% from +100 kg of CO2 to -250 kg of CO2: an artifice that would have all the finery of a greenwashing operation.

French construction players, despite being at the forefront of the subject, risk being considerably isolated, or even discredited.

Beware of past industrial and ecological disappointments

Switching to a dynamic approach would imply that the only valid lever for reducing the carbon footprint of tomorrow's buildings would therefore be a massive use of biobased products, with a logic of overconsumption of wood, to the detriment of a fundamental reflection on the building design, construction methods or material mix.

The results will systematically penalize materials that emit at the start of their life cycle and reduce future emissions. The new approach thus transfers the responsibility for the proper management of emissions from products and materials of buildings constructed today to the next generations, which is ethically questionable and opposed to the principles of sustainable development.

The recycling of materials at the end of their life would also be very little valued, in total contradiction with the Circular Economy Law… carried by the same Ministry.

This counting method, which is extremely favorable to biobased materials, will destabilize a sector that is struggling to structure itself. A transition phase is necessary to guard against a wave of imports and the inevitable greenhouse gas emissions associated. The ministry must seek as much as possible to avoid the industrial and ecological disappointments already encountered in other sectors (solar, biofuel, etc.).

The union and determination of construction professionals is undeniable: manufacturers, representatives of project owners, architects, design offices, etc. have called on the public authorities to abandon the “simplified dynamic LCA” project and make the choice of the new calculation process part of a concerted approach between the public authorities and the building stakeholders.

Beyond this change in carbon accounting, professionals denounce a real drift of the law with the announcement of decrees that will promote wood to the detriment of innovation in constructive solutions.