European Manifesto for sustainable built environment

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has unveiled a raft of new sustainable building policy recommendations ahead of key elections where the built environment will feature prominently.

The European Manifesto for a sustainable built environment has been designed for EU policymakers to “implement more robust initiatives and incentives to secure sustainable buildings across the continent”.

The recommendations follow mounting pressure from the building and construction sector to prioritise sustainable buildings policy ahead of June’s European Elections. 

It is believed that prioritising sustainable built environment policies could address a range of key issues across the 27 Member States, including energy security.

The building sector makes up 40% of Europe’s energy demand, 80% of which is from fossil fuels.

However, accelerating the energy-efficient renovation of buildings would decrease reliance on fossil fuels and also reduce energy bills for millions of Europeans.

Supporters claim built environment policies can also positively impact the current unemployment crisis that the EU is experiencing – with every €1million invested in the green renovation of buildings, an average of 18 local, long-term jobs are created in the EU. 

The new set of recommendations calls on EU politicians to commit to working together with the building sector on developing and implementing an EU policy framework that embraces the social, environmental, and economic benefits of sustainable buildings. 

Covering eight pillars, the recommendations comprise carbon, circular economy, health, water, finance, resilience, biodiversity and just transition, and include:

• Prioritising deep renovation of existing buildings and eliminating both operational and embodied carbon emissions across the life cycle of all buildings by ensuring that all EU Taxonomy-eligible buildings are zero emissions in operation by 2035 at the latest. 
• Creating a circular economy in the built environment by phasing out waste and optimising the use and reuse of resources and materials: introduce a progressive landfill ban in the Waste Framework Directive on non-hazardous construction and demolition waste and by-products.
• Developing healthy, equitable and resilient buildings and cities that deliver improvement in public health and employment: implement the Social Climate Fund earlier than the planned date of 2026 to channel funds towards low-income households to carry out energy renovation work that improves indoor air quality.

Laura Pallares, head of Europe at the World Green Building Council, said: “It is vital that policymakers take these recommendations on board. With the upcoming elections, regardless of who is ultimately elected, sustainable built environment policies, which are crucial to achieving the goals of the EU Green Deal, must remain firmly at the front of the agenda.”

Audrey Nugent, global advocacy & campaigns director at World Green Building Council said: “The message is clear from our network: the election of a new European Parliament and Commission marks a golden opportunity for politicians to embrace the potential of the buildings sector to address many of the issues affecting EU citizens whilst putting Europe firmly on track to achieve its climate goals.

“Over the past five years, we have seen real progress from the European Commission on sustainable building policy. In 2022 as part of our BuildingLife project which aims to deliver on the EU Green Deal’s sustainable building commitment, we developed a Whole Life Carbon Roadmap and have seen many of its recommendations included in the update of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). We want to see the new commission continue this fruitful collaboration to make lasting progress.”

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council, added: “We’ve known for years the potential our buildings across Europe can bring to improve lives, but parties must act now to ensure this is addressed by holistic policy measures in EU legislation. The World Green Building Council and our national Green Building Councils are prepared to support policymakers to deliver action for an energy-efficient, regenerative and just transition in the built environment.”

Alan King, MD of Syntegra, said: “The built environment has a key role to play in tackling the effects of climate change.

“As a big polluter, it is important that sustainable solutions are sought for all stages of construction projects and retrofits.

“Guidance for players in this space is hugely important if we are to hasten the arrival of net zero, maximise energy efficiency resources currently available and work with some brilliant minds to develop and implement still more sustainable solutions.” 

The recommendations will now be discussed with regional policymakers across the continent to ensure that a sustainable built environment remains a top priority ahead of the elections in June.