Online Event: 49% renewables in buildings by 2030 – How to get there?

Tuesday 12 October 2021, 14:00 – 15:45 CEST

Hosted by MEP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri and MEP Maria Spyraki

Co-chairs of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’

Webinar materials can be found at the bottom of the page

The trajectory for buildings is clear; the need to reduce emissions by 55% until 2030 compared to 1990 levels, as well as to contribute to achieving 49% renewables in heating are also significant, in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Today, buildings are responsible for 36% of Europe’s GHG emissions, while space heating and warm water account for over 85% of the energy consumed in buildings. At the same time, only 21% of heating installations is renewable-based, and over 60% are old and inefficient. Given the urgency and scale of the challenge, we need immediate action guided by an energy system perspective with clean electrons and molecules for heating.

As a result, this European Parliament Intergroup event, co-organized with Viessmann, aims at discussing the framework conditions that accelerate de-carbonization of heating, additionally ensuring that no-one is left behind. Moreover, the event aims at highlighting the complementary role between green electrification and green gases, alongside a well-balanced mix of measures to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 and 2050 goals; i) acceleration of renovation, ii) electrification of heating, iii) greening of heating fuels – including hydrogen – and iv) barriers and policy recommendations to accelerate decarbonisation of heating.

Final Agenda:

Moderated by Frédéric Simon, Journalist, Energy and Environment Editor, Euractiv

14:00 – 14:15 – Opening remarks by MEP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri and MEP Maria Spyraki (video-message intervention)

14:15 – 14:30 – Presentation by Dr. Christoph Riechmann, Director, Frontier Economics: Study results on system cost optimization

14:30 – 14:40 –  Intervention by Renée Bruel, Director on Buildings, European Climate Foundation

14:40 – 14:50 –  Intervention by Alix Chambris, Vice President Global Public Affairs and Sustainability, Viessmann

14:50 – 15:00 – Intervention by Paula Pinho, Director on Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Efficiency and Innovation (Directorate B), DG ENER, European Commission

15:00 – 15:10 – Intervention by Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Deputy Chair, European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA)

15:10 – 15:40 – Q&As session with the audience, moderated by Frédéric Simon, Journalist, Energy and Environment Editor, Euractiv

15:40 – 15:45 – Closing remarks by Ilias Grampas, EU Affairs Manager, EBCD – Secretariat of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’