Eight European Cities Pledge to Decarbonize Buildings by 2050
A coalition of eight European cities has united under the Build Upon2 initiative, pledging to decarbonize their existing building stocks by 2050. Convened by the World Green Building Council (WGBC), this ambitious commitment aims to prove that net-zero is achievable in the built environment sector within urban settings by mid-century.
The participating cities - Leeds, Dublin, Velika Gorica, Budaörs, Padova, Madrid, Wroclaw, and Eskişehir - will collaboratively develop and implement a framework that boosts residents' wellbeing, local economies, and reduces carbon emissions across all Scopes. This deep renovation approach targets fuel poverty, indoor air quality, and pressure on healthcare and social services.
The WGBC believes the building sector must operate at net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It launched the Advancing Towards Zero campaign in 2016 and urged corporates within the built environment sectors to set net-zero carbon targets for 2030 last summer. The cities will use local-level data to lobby for national policymakers to set equally ambitious net-zero legislation for buildings.
The UK's built environment sector accounts for 40% of national energy usage, with heat and power for buildings being a significant contributor to national emissions. The Build Upon2 commitment is a significant step towards reducing these emissions and proving that net-zero is possible for the built environment sector in urban environments by mid-century.
Read also:
- Chinese Rare-Earth Mining Endangers the Mekong River's Integrity
- Deteriorating munitions are submerged in the Baltic Sea, and Germany aims to retrieve them before it's too late.
- Energy Minister of Malawi, Ibrahim Matola, heads Malawian delegation for a knowledge exchange on BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), a trip held in India. This exchange is backed by the Global Energy African Partnership Program (GEAPP).
- Winter-Proof Your Home: How to Use Your Thermostat Effectively
