Hybrid EU-Wide Policy Conference: Fostering Sustainable Building Renovation in Europe
On November 19, 2024, the hybrid EU-wide policy conference Fostering Sustainable Building Renovation in Europe! took place at Impact Hub Berlin, with participants attending both in person and virtually via Zoom. The event brought together experts and practitioners from local governments, academia, and industry to discuss strategies for driving the decarbonisation of the EU building stock.
The event was opened by Barbara Metz, CEO of Deutsche Umwelthilfe, who emphasised the crucial role of local building renovation projects in achieving Europe’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. Distinguished speakers including Christian Maaß (German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action), Stefan Moser (European Commission), Sibyl Steuwer (BPIE), and Andrea Carosi (Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy) addressed key questions on how to accelerate sustainable building renovation, engage local stakeholders, and create the right incentives for success.
The conference also featured presentations on successful renovation projects across Europe, offering practical solutions and strategies that can be adapted to different local contexts:
- LA VALL 9, BELLPUIG (Spain) – Riccardo Pinotti, EURAC Research
- BAPAURA & BAOBAP Projects (France) – Marie Jeanmougin, ADEME
- Corvinus University Renovation (Hungary) – Ágoston Flaisz, Planet Group
Participants engaged in dynamic group discussions during the World Café session, covering key themes such as:
- Avoiding demolitions & fostering renovations
- Harnessing public procurement for the green transition
- Life cycle assessment of buildings
- Socially acceptable renovations
These discussions offered valuable insights and collaborative solutions to the challenges of sustainable building renovation.
The conference concluded with an inspiring keynote by Elisabeth Broermann of Architects for Future (A4F), who called for a paradigm shift in building design and renovation, advocating for sustainability, circularity, and climate resilience.
Key Takeaways:
- Renovation Rate Must Increase: To meet the 2050 climate neutrality target, we must double or even triple the current rate of sustainable building renovations.
- Solutions Already Exist: The technologies and solutions required to renovate buildings sustainably and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 are available. The challenge now is to implement them at scale.
- Holistic Approach Needed: A comprehensive, multi-level governance approach is essential for success in building renovation.
- Knowledge Sharing Is Key: The exchange of best practices and knowledge sharing is vital to accelerating sustainable building renovation at the local level.
The Impact Hub Berlin, as the event venue, showcased a practical example of sustainable renovation, incorporating circular economy principles. After the conference, participants had the chance to tour the building and see these practices in action.
Conclusion:
The conference was a resounding success, providing a valuable platform for international experts and practitioners from municipalities, academia, and industry to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and forge transnational networks. All this is crucial for the successful and accelerated implementation of sustainable building renovation projects across European municipalities.