The upgrade of the energy performance of buildings is crucial to achieve the climate objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030
The path towards a decarbonised and clean energy system in Europe starts at
the local and regional level. Buildings are one of the largest sources of
energy consumption, and local and regional authorities play a key role in
driving energy efficiency in this sector. For this reason, this first 2021
YEPs info session on the European Green Deal focused on the Renovation
Wave, the new strategy of the EU to renovate the entire building stock and
make it compatible with the climate goals. The session was organized in
three main debates:
- the first one on the objectives of the Renovation Wave and the CoR's work
on the European Green Deal,
- the second one presented the Covenant of Mayors initiative and its
support to local and regional authorities,
- and the third one focused on the financial tools at disposal to implement
the renovation of buildings at local level.
Rafał Trzaskowski
(PL/EPP), President of the capital city of Warsaw, Climate Pact Ambassador,
member of the Political Board of the Covenant of Mayors and rapporteur of
the CoR opinion on the
European Climate Pact
shared Warsaw's experience in implementing the Renovation Wave.
"Local and regional authorities play an essential role in making the
green transition happen. It is us who implement 90% of climate
adaptation measures and 70% of climate mitigation policies, so if the
renovation wave does not happen at local and regional level, it will
not happen at all. It is us who also have the highest level of people's
trust. Therefore, we should lead by example in the renovation of public
buildings like local administration buildings, hospitals, social
housing and schools. But to be able to do so we need more tools and
resources and a greater decentralization of the decision making
processes"
, said Mr Trzaskowski.
Frédéric Boyer
, Head of the European Office of the Covenant of Mayors, presented the
Covenant of Mayors' initiative and stressed the need to consider local and
regional authorities when drafting energy and climate EU legislation to
ensure the success of its implementation. He encouraged the YEPs to join
the Covenant and to be the drivers of the green transition in their cities
and regions by starting to renovate public buildings.
Marcin Idczak
, from the European Investment Bank, Céline Tougeron,
project manager at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment
Executive Agency (CINEA) and Francisco Gonçalves,
coordinator of the European City Facility Initiative of Energy Cities,
presented different programs and mechanisms to finance projects to upgrade
and renovate buildings. Examples included the European Local Energy
Assistance (ELENA), the Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European
Regions (JASPERS) or the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme.
Contact:
David Crous /
David.Crous@cor.europa.eu
Berta Lopez Domenech /
Berta.LopezDomenech@cor.europa.eu