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Building emissions fall, but challenges remain
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Building emissions fall, but challenges remain
Greenhouse gas emissions from EU buildings have dropped by 37% since 2005, thanks to efficiency, electrification, and renewables. The sector still accounts for 33% of energy-related emissions. Accelerating renovation and decarbonisation will be key to meeting climate targets.
Editorial Team
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to energy use in EU buildings have fallen by 37% since 2005, thanks to improvements in efficiency, electrification, and the decarbonisation of energy supply. Milder winters and EU policies promoting renovation and renewables have also played a role.
Despite this positive trend, the sector remains significant: in 2023, it accounted for 33% of energy-related emissions. The main sources are fossil fuels for heating and externally generated electricity. The challenge is compounded by the increase in housing, larger floor areas per person, and rising cooling demand.
Projections point to further reductions, though with differences between countries. Achieving the 2030 climate targets and carbon neutrality by 2050 will depend on speeding up renovation, electrification, and the deployment of renewables.
‘Only by treating renovation as a sustained social investment rather than a one-off technical fix we can ensure that the transition leaves households not just warmer, but genuinely better off’
