ECOS | Environmental Coalition on Standards

21 February 2022

The year of truth for EU climate action – six policy trends to watch in 2022

By Nerea Ruiz Fuente
By Chloé Fayole
By Ivo Cabral

In 2022, the European Union will advance legislation on vital environmental aspects such as making sustainable products the norm, the right to repair, truly sustainable buildings, or the phase-out of fossil fuels. Read our guide and get an overview of what to expect in the upcoming months!

2030 is slowly approaching. This is the deadline the European Union has set for itself for reducing its global warming emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels. With this in mind, in 2022 policymakers will be dealing with legislative files that are key to our transition towards a clean and sustainable economy. The stakes are high: the EU is one of the world’s biggest markets, and its ambitions have an immense potential to inspire other regions of the world to follow the same path.

These are the six areas we have selected as the main ones to follow in EU environmental policy in 2022 (click on the item of your interest and jump straight to this section!):

 

Product design: time for sustainable products to become the norm

Sustainable products will attract much attention during the first few months of 2022 as the European Commission gears up to launch its Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI) on 30 March. The proposal will significantly impact whether sustainable products are the default option in shops or online across the European Union, which can have a knock-on effect on product sustainability globally.

The initiative will draw on the existing Ecodesign Directive, which sets minimum sustainability requirements and has tremendously improved the energy performance of many home appliances and ICT products since 1994.

The SPI could extend the ecodesign approach to a broad range of products, including furniture, textiles, electronics, cement, steel and chemicals. To be allowed on the market, products would need to meet criteria proving that they are repairable, durable, recyclable and free of dangerous chemicals

When: Sustainable Products Initiative proposal by the European Commission on 30 March 2022

What to look out for:

The Sustainable Products Initiative is a broad instrument that will cover many different aspects of a vast range of products. However, there are a few key points where the Commission will demonstrate whether they are really in for a paradigmatic change. Here’s what needs to happen:

  • Minimum sustainability requirements are implemented, making products more durable, and more energy and resource efficient. Single-use items and toxic chemicals in covered products are phased out.
  • Product passports are introduced, where brands must provide clear and comparable environmental information, making it easy for people to identify the most environmentally sustainable products, and learn about the product’s chemical profile.
  • Measures are introduced to boost the product-as-a-service approach, making renting, leasing, and community sharing common. Owning should not be the only solution anymore.
  • Reuse and refill become the norm, thanks to dramatic increase in the uptake of reusable options.

 

Standardisation – the make-or-break for the climate is hidden in technical details

On 2 February, the European Commission presented its Standardisation Strategy, emphasising the geostrategic importance of standardisation for the continent.

Standards will be the make-or-break element of the climate transition. Many new environmental laws rely on details set in standards, which define, for example, what we mean by biodegradable plastics or repairable appliances.

The Strategy is an unprecedented chance to ensure that standards truly work for the environment.

What to look out for:

In the upcoming months, the European Commission will demonstrate whether it will walk the talk of its ambitious strategy. The outcome will be positive for the environment if:

  • Standards are developed in a more inclusive way everywhere
    The firm commitment to further improve inclusiveness at the European level is welcomed, but ensuring participation of the civil society at national and international level will be critical given their current  minimal representation. Unless civil society is given a strong voice at all levels, the quality of standards entering the market and being used in support of legislation will always miss reaching the latest state of the art.
  • Standards foster the uptake of climate-friendly alternatives to polluting solutions
    The European Commission should use the European Standardisation system to better identify, eliminate and amend standards that are barriers to the deployment of clean technologies, environment-friendly materials or secondary raw materials. Currently, standards remain an obstacle in many cases.
  • Europe’s environmental ambition is translated into worldwide standards
    Environmentally ambitious standards are essential for Europe to achieve its geostrategic ambition, and support the European Green Deal. Europe should push the global agenda where existing international standards fall short in matching the European environmental ambition, inspiring other countries to follow its lead.

 

Circular electronics – The moment of truth for a common charger and our right to repair  

Electrical and electronic devices are one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe. In 2022, new regulations will seek to ensure that products such as laptops, phones, and tablets last longer and are easy to repair. 

A new Circular Electronics Initiative will promote longer product lifetimes.

Updates in the ecodesign regulations for several ICT products – smartphones, tablets and computers – will set design requirements on energy and material efficiency. 

A dedicated Right to Repair initiative is on the cards as well. It is supposed to make products easier to repair, but also help boost the market for second-hand and refurbished goods.

Lastly, a common charger for all small devices could become a reality in 2022, after more than a decade of promises. 

When:
  • The European Commission will to announce its plans about ‘new design requirements and consumer rights for electronics’ on 5 July
  • A few other milestones are worth mentioning:
    • Common charger: the European Parliament’s IMCO committee on internal market plans to hold a vote on their position on 20 April. The EU Council’s position was already approved on 26 January. As is usually the case, both institutions will need to find an agreement on the final wording. The outcome is expected before the end of June.
    • Smartphones & tables: Towards the end of 2022, new specific energy labelling and ecodesign regulations for smartphones and tablets are expected to place an energy label and a repair score on these products
    • Printers: Before 30 March, the Commission is expected to decide whether it will continue with the flawed voluntary agreement for printers or if it will finally replace it with a long-awaited dedicated regulatory instrument
What to look out for:
  • The Circular Electronics initiative should include plans to tackle the impacts of smartphones, tablets, and computers… but also printers, which have grown to become an archetype of today’s throwaway culture, in spite of over a decade of EU-endorsed industry commitments to make them more sustainable.
  • The initiative should include clear plans on how to reduce the environmental impacts of other electronic products, which have so far not been identified as a priority.
  • The initiative must consider all aspects related to repairability – not only concerning consumer rights, but also the price of spare parts, the functioning of the repair market, and any anticompetitive behaviour which might hamper repair.
  • Ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for phones and tablets should introduce the long-awaited repair score in the energy label, continued software support, and repairability provisions.

 

Buildings – tackling environmental impacts from cradle to grave

Buildings have an enormous impact on the planet. Starting from their construction stage (materials, products, and processes), continuing during the use phase, and finishing with end-of-life impacts, buildings are behind 50% of energy consumption in Europe, as well as approximately 36% of all CO2 emissions.

In making buildings more environmentally sustainable, policy efforts have so far focused on their energy efficiency and performance. However, upfront and operational carbon generated by production and construction processes a, as well as embodied in building material, are yet to be regulated.

When:
  • 30 March 2022: Construction Products Regulation proposal by the European Commission.
  • The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) will be debated both at the European Parliament and the EU Council, following the Commission’s proposal issued in December 2021.
What to look out for:

NGOs have repeatedly called on the need to look at buildings’ whole-life carbon impacts and set a path for long-term sustainability. However, the European Commission’s EPBD proposal favoured quick and cost-effective renovation in the short term.

The proposal sets minimum requirements for emissions from the use phase of buildings only, ignoring the other life-cycle stages. Changes towards a whole life-cycle carbon perspective during EU Parliament or Council talks would be a crucial win for the environment.

In addition, last year, the European Commission shelved its promised Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment, despite calls from a diverse range of stakeholders to reverse course and put forward a strategy that creates a coherent legislative framework to drive circularity of buildings while serving societal needs. Seeing the Commission dust off the idea would be a very positive step.

 

Clean energy  – legislation to wave fossil fuels goodbye  

The energy sector is responsible for three-quarters of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising energy is a global priority, essential to mitigate climate change and achieve the Paris Agreement objectives.

The European Commission has announced that it will seek to prioritise energy efficiency, developing a power sector based on renewable energy, as part of the European Green Deal. So far, the main actions include a series of strategies (Hydrogen, Energy System Integration), underpinned by specific legislative proposals on energy and climate.

Some of the proposed measures are a step in the right direction. They will indeed help boost energy efficiency, increase renewable energy power production, and promote the smart integration of energy systems. This will be powered by the Renewable Energy Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive, and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation.

However, the Commission is rowing in the opposeite direction through initiatives that reiterate a strong dependency on fossil energy, particularly gas. It is the case of the Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonisation Package.

When:

Now the ball is in the European Parliament and the EU Council. All along 2022 and 2023, they will be busy trying to find common positions on controversial topics, such as higher targets for renewables, the hidden use of fossil and non-renewable sources in hydrogen production, and whether new gas infrastructure is needed. Discussions will take place against a backdrop of rising energy prices and geopolitical tensions.

What to look out for:

The following must be part of upcoming regulations if we want to advance towards a clean, smart and secure energy system:

    • Our energy systems must be based on renewable, highly efficient energy sources.
    • Renewable energy must be integrated into the system through the deployment of smart charging of electric vehicles and smart heat pumps, as well as sustainable batteries.
    • No incentives must be given to fossil energy production, fossil energy-based infrastructure, fossil fuel-powered appliances, or fossil fuel energy carriers such as hydrogen.
    • Renewable-based hydrogen should be channeled to hard to-abate and hard-to-electrify sectors. This includes energy-intensive industries, maritime transport and aviation.
    • Heating must be decarbonised, phasing out fossil fuel technologies and inefficient technologies such as hydrogen-based boilers.
    • Tight sustainability criteria should be applied to biological resources used for energy purposes.

 

F-gases – combatting the notorious polluter that hides in our fridges and air-conditioners

Fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases, are a group of artificial chemicals used in cooling, air-conditioners, heat pumps and the electricity sector. While emissions of F-gases are small in terms of volume as compared to CO2, they punch high above their weight when it comes to climate impact because of their significant global warming potential (GWP) – sometimes thousands of times that of CO2. Emissions of F-gases have been steadily increasing over the last few decades. In 2018, F-gas emissions represented 3% of EU’s total climate impact.  

F-gases are subject to global phase-down efforts through the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. At EU level, this phase-down is carried out through the EU F-gas Regulation, currently under review.

When:
  • April 2022: F-gas Regulation proposal by the European Commission.
What to look out for:

The proposal must set an ambitious plan for the continued phase-down of F-gases.

  • The Regulation should set a tight timeline, push down the target quantities for F-gases, and support the transition to alternative climate-friendly refrigerants.
  • Restrictions and bans must be placed on products containing F-gases, where low-GWP alternative technologies exist or could soon exist.
  • As F-gases often have high climate impact in the short term, GWP-20 values should be used next to GWP-100 values when setting restrictions. This means that the global warming impact of the gases on a 20-year horizon is considered along with the now-standard 100-year horizon.
  • The Regulation must tackle the current problem of illegal trade of F-gases, improved on the points of implementation and enforcement.
  • As safety standards pose unjustified barriers to the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants, it will be necessary that the Commission issues a request for updated standards that support a new and ambitious F-gas regulation.

ECOS is co-funded by the European Commission and EFTA Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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