• Yesterday's proposal fails to fully address environmental impacts from buildings, warn ECOS and the EEB. • New rules will not be enough to decarbonise the buildings sector at the rate required to reach 2050 climate objectives • The EPBD should contribute to the success of the Renovation Wave, but is missing thresolds on whole life carbon emissions. Embodied impacts from building materials and renovation solutions have been overlooked.
- Some new (and renovated) buildings in the EU will need to be equipped with charging points, or have the infrastructure in place to easily install one. - However, requirements for existing buildings in the revised EPBD are too weak, leaving most Europeans without the 'right to plug' or reassurance that they will be able to charge their new electric cars at home and their workplaces.
- Gases which bring about greenhouse emission savings of at least 70% will be certified as ‘low carbon’ - The bar is too low and will result in some unsustainable gas production routes being considered as ‘low carbon’ - The European Commission introduces a cap for hydrogen blends of up to 5% in cross-border gas transmission networks. This opens the door to continued fossil gas use and fossil gas dependency.
The first half of the EU ‘taxonomy’ has officially been approved and will enter into force in January. A second delegated act will be discussed by EU member states in the coming days. It could potentially allow investments in gas infrastructure to be included in the list.
ECOS and Rethink Plastic alliance campaigners send a letter to European Commission and consultancy firm Eunomia asking for limits in ‘artificial’ mass balance accounting method used to count recycled plastic content in beverage bottles.
Two recent milestones show a stronger commitment for standards to support an environmentally sustainable economy worldwide. Two weeks ago, the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) adopted the London Declaration, committing to ‘embed’ climate considerations in new standards. At regional level, the European Commission is preparing a new Standardisation Strategy to improve European standardisation.
The H2020 HARP project releases its updated online tool. It will enable consumers in 5 EU countries to assess the energy efficiency of their installed heating appliance and support them in finding a more efficient alternative.
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