Environmental organisations in Germany have jointly appealed for a shift from demolition to refurbishment in order to curb emissions from the building sector. Ahead of a meeting of ministers from all 16 federal states, the groups argued that current demolition practices undermine efforts to reduce resource use and greenhouse gas output. They called for amendments to the country’s model building code, including a requirement for prior approval before any demolition work, noting that official statistics record around 12,000 demolitions annually, with the real figure likely higher.

During the two‑day conference, ministers discussed the renovation needs of the existing housing stock. The organisations stressed that many buildings are still removed without assessing whether preservation would offer a lower‑emissions alternative. They highlighted findings that reusing existing structures could significantly reduce global emissions linked to construction materials and prolonging building lifetimes could cut carbon dioxide output beyond 2050.