European Parliament votes through controversial buildings law

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Parliament has passed the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with a decisive vote
• This legislation is aimed at significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions from the EU's building sector, which is responsible for a considerable portion of the bloc's energy use and emissions

🔭 The context: The directive seeks to renovate Europe's buildings to make them more energy-efficient, thereby contributing to the EU's climate neutrality goals
• The law introduces less stringent targets than initially proposed, offering EU countries the flexibility to achieve a 20% to 22% reduction in residential buildings' energy use by 2035, with specific targets for non-residential buildings as well

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Buildings are a major source of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the EU
• The new law aims to lower these impacts by improving energy efficiency, which is crucial for addressing climate change and moving towards a sustainable future

⏭️ What's next: The directive now requires approval from the Council of the EU
• If implemented successfully, it could lead to significant energy savings and emissions reductions, although it places much of the responsibility on member states to meet the targets

💬 One quote: "Lower energy bills, reduced energy poverty, and less emissions will come with our plan to improve Europe’s buildings," stated Irish Greens/EFA lawmaker Ciarán Cuffe.

📈 One stat: Europe’s buildings consume a third of the EU’s energy and emit almost 40% of the bloc’s CO2 emissions.

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