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Policy brief – Circular buildings: Paving the way to a net-zero industry
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European Countries,
Other european countries,
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EU Institutions,
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Policy brief – Circular buildings: Paving the way to a net-zero industry
Why do we need the circular economy for a deep decarbonisation of the industry? What are the legislative actions needed at EU level and how could they be implemented?
Marine Faber
In 2021, the industry sector was responsible for about 22% of carbon emissions in the European Union. Available technologies are not sufficient for a deep decarbonisation of this sector. Thus, material-based strategies grouped under the umbrella of a circular economy gain momentum in the political debate. These strategies can contribute to reduce the material demand by using materials and products efficiently and repeatedly avoiding adverse impacts, while enabling further economic growth. The newTRENDs team modelled a reference case for the steel and concrete demand in buildings until 2050 and use the results to derive policy recommendations. If building use and construction method do not change, the material demand will increase and drive industry emissions. It is therefore crucial to reduce the prospective demand for building materials to achieve the European climate goals.
