Efficient Buildings Europe at DG CLIMA's ETS2 stakeholders' breakfast

Our Secretary General, Rémi Collombet, represented Efficient Buildings Europe at the ETS2 stakeholders’ breakfast hosted by Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of DG CLIMA, European Commission. Social NGOs, consumer groups, energy and community organisations, housing and construction representatives and clean tech industries discussed efficient buildings and renovation projects, and how to support vulnerable communities through the Social Climate Fund and the ETS2.

Rémi made three main points:

• The ETS2 is a crucial tool, providing a necessary price signal. But it will not work alone. Implementing the EPBD and the EED will ensure the regulatory stability needed and support all stakeholders through one-stop shops.
• Effectively targeting vulnerable households and the worst-performing buildings is key to ensure not only acceptability but also buy-in.
• Funding schemes must provide a long-term perspective to end booms and busts in construction and renovation. The Social Climate Fund is an important element, but Member States should be encouraged to use the remaining ETS2 revenues and make national funding schemes more stable.

Despite the one-year delay to the ETS2, the Commission’s ambition remains unchanged: the Swedish Social Climate Plan has been approved, four more are under assessment and 16 are in the pipeline. Participants agreed that targeted support, early action and regulatory certainty are vital to protect the most vulnerable while driving clean innovation and a just transition in Europe.

Read our position paper on the EU Emissions Trading System for buildings (ETS2).