​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As one of the three key pillars of the European Green Deal, the upgrade of the energy performance of buildings towards 2030 and 2050 has been put forward by the European Commission with the adoption of the Renovation Wave Strategy. According to the Climate Target Plan 2030, the EU should cut net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. The reduction of buildings' GHG emissions is essential to improve EU energy efficiency: in order to meet the expected target by 2030, buildings' GHG emissions should be reduced by 60%, the final energy consumption by 14% and energy consumption for heating and cooling by 18%.

The path towards a more energy efficient Europe starts at the local and regional level. Local and regional authorities play a key role for the success of the European Renovation Wave strategy. The European Committee of the Regions, with the adoption of the Opinion on the Renovation Wave, urges for the establishment of direct financing mechanisms for local and regional authorities to undertake renovation projects.

• What are the main objectives of the Renovation Wave Strategy and the mechanisms in support of its implementation?
• What is the European Committee of the Regions doing to facilitate the work of local and regional authorities on the subject?
• What are the specific technical support and financial tools that the EU provides to implement the renovation wave at the local and regional level?
  

Representatives of the European Committee of the Regions, the Covenant of Mayors Initiative, the European Investment Bank, the European Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European City Facility Initiative will debated and provided​ the participants of the Young Elected Politicians Programme of the CoR with the key information, tools and financial support opportunities for local and regional authorities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouses emissions.

FIND HERE THE REPLAY OF THE SESSION​