Ahead of the European elections, this event brought together mayors, deputy mayors, business associations, European Union (EU) policymakers and key stakeholders to take stock of the progress so far and discuss challenges and opportunities for the future regarding building renovations, following also the update of the European climate and energy legislation.
Esteemed speakers shared their views on how to boost collaboration between the EU, national and subnational governments as well as with different stakeholders, in order to:
- speed up delivery
- mobilise finance for cities
- better integrate local efforts into national goals and plans for building renovations
Cities have been recognised for their close connection to residents and their ability to build trust, which is key for scaling up renovations and overcoming challenges. Moreover, additional efforts are needed to protect the most vulnerable and provide access to energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Cities and local authorities have been praised for their innovation and pioneering building decarbonisation and respective projects, but there is a gap in the support that would help them boost action to the level needed to meet national and EU targets. Cooperation, partnerships, and involvement of all relevant stakeholders are vital to develop effective policies, programs and projects.
These are just some of the highlights from this excellent forward looking discussion, which had an embedded local perspective on how to deliver building renovations on the ground, which are also included in the final report of the event.
Tackling the emissions of the building sector is imperative and presents an important opportunity for cooperation between the EU, national and subnational governments. Benefits of building renovations include improving energy efficiency and security, lowering energy bills, increasing renewables uptake, creating green jobs and improving residents’ quality of life. Cities are crucial in delivering and harnessing the benefits of fossil fuel-free and energy efficient buildings as part of a fair transition.
Pictures - credit © Sarah Bastin
Details
- Publication date
- 7 May 2024