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The EU must regulate embodied carbon to deliver climate-proof buildings
(EurActiv, 15 Mar 2022) The EU is neglecting emissions from building materials and construction, but the negotiations on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive can fill this gap, writes a group of leading Danish professional associations and NGOs.
Thomas Damkjaer Petersen is the chairman of the Danish Society of Engineers; Claus Ekman is the CEO of Green Transition Denmark; Lene Espersen is the CEO of the Danish Association of Architectural Firms; Henrik Garver is the CEO of the Danish Association of Consulting Engineers.
At every phase of its existence, a building has an impact on our climate. Thus far, EU legislation has focused on reducing greenhouses gas emissions related to energy needed to heat, cool and power a building. Yet, a lot remains to be done to cut down emissions from the building materials and constructions, also known as embodied carbon.
Of the 36% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions the building sector is responsible for, 10-20% of these emissions derive from the production of building materials, construction, renovation and demolition processes.
As European buildings become more energy efficiency and are powered by renewables, emissions from embodied carbon will increasingly dominate. In Denmark, up to 75% of buildings’ CO2 emissions are embodied emissions.
Despite this development, most governments aren’t taking action to reduce embodied emissions. Only 5 EU countries – Sweden, Denmark, France, Finland and the Netherlands – have introduced regulation on whole-life carbon emissions, meaning addressing both operational and embodied emissions.
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EurActiv, 15 Mar 2022: The EU must regulate embodied carbon to deliver climate-proof buildings
