Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe -and what about buildings? Josefina Lindblom European Commission – DG environment

Scheme of my presentation A resource constraint world What is Resource Efficiency? European policy context The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe What about buildings?

A resource constraint world

World Footprint = 1.3 earths ONLY ONE EARTH World Footprint = 1.3 earths

Growth of the World Economy 2050 2010 1950

Increased globalization Source: Eurostat Comext Statistics, EEA 2010, The European Environment, State and Outlook 2010 : Thematic Assessment – Material Resources and Waste 6

Growing Resource Use Source: EEA 2010 derived from SERI GLOBAL 2000, Friends of the Earth Europe (2009) 7

What is Resource Efficiency?

Resource Efficiency: Doing more with less raw materials: minerals-fuels-biomass Sustainable management and use of resources throughout their life cycle Producing more value while living, producing and consuming within the physical and biological limits of the planet ecosystems–biodiversity – water –land and soils – air – marine resources

What can resource efficiency bring to the economy and society? New business opportunities (innovation, eco-industries), new skilled jobs Competitiveness and cost savings for European businesses Better food/water/energy security Reducing environmental impacts and avoiding depletion of natural resources

(Source: Wuppertal Institute)

What to do? Breaking down barriers Market failures – environmental and social costs not considered, decisions not factoring in the long-term Policy failures –inconsistent market signals, uncertainty, slow reform of policy (e.g. subsidies) “Lock-ins” and system effects – Infrastructure, consumption patterns and business models 12

European policy context

EU 2020 Strategy Adopted in 2010: the course for EU economy for the next 10 years and beyond – 3 main priorities Smart Growth – focus on education, research Sustainable Growth – low carbon, resource efficiency Inclusive Growth – high-employment, delivering economic, social, territorial cohesion

7 Flagship initiatives, incl. “Resource Efficient Europe” Communication January 2011 Roadmap September 2011

The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe

Communication “The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe Adopted on 20 September 2011 Outline the key challenges and opportunities: “A fundamental transformation within a generation” Policy changes to tackle resource inefficiencies for the EU, Member State, Regions and for business

The main lines of the Roadmap Three time lines long term 2050 vision (short-termism) milestones for 2020 actions to be taken now Three action lines Transforming the economy Addressing natural capital Tackling key sectors Accompanied by governance and monitoring

Transforming the economy Address bottlenecks and barriers to resource efficiency Get the prices right (reflect environm. externalities) Tackling inefficient subsidies Shifting from labour to resource taxation Stimulate innovative forward thinking Boost resource efficiency in production, consumption and waste management Translation to economic sectors & new business models

Policies across the Life-Cycle of Products Natural Resources Better Products Disposal Leaner Production Waste & Recycling Smarter Consumption Eco-innovation

Sustainable consumption and production Reduce resource use and limit environmental impact of production and consumption Companies & production Products Demand & consumption End of life Poor performance Good performance

Tackling key resources Ecosystem services Biodiversity Minerals and metals Water Air Land and soils Marine resources Interactions

Turning waste into a resource Prevention Re-use Recycling Recovery Disposal 23

Turning waste into a resource PREVENTION REUSE RECYCLING RECOVERY DISPOSAL

Tackling key sectors Food Reducing food waste and tackling animal proteins Addressing phosphorus Mobility Resource efficiency objectives in transport Housing / buildings

Tackling key sectors: buildings Facts 42 % of our final energy consumption > 50 % of all extracted materials – most of them minerals 33 % of waste Milestones by 2020 Life-cycle approach applied for all new and renovated buildings Existing building stock “resource efficient” refurbished at a rate of 2 % per year 70 % of construction and demolition waste recycled. Thus strong incentives, both environmentally and economically to use less material. Recycled CD waste corresponds to just 40% of total available CD waste (6% of the total European aggregates demand).

Governance Implement at all levels – EU, Member States, regions, internationally (RIO+20) … Concerted action with business, scientists and society Engage with stakeholders to set targets and use appropriate indicators by 2013 Using initially “resource productivity” together with land, water and carbon indicators National resource efficiency strategies

Opportunities for business By 2050 we need a 4-10x increase in resource efficiency (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) $3.5 trillion gains in improving resource efficiency (McKinsey) New businesses – first mover advantages Security against future price fluctuations Winners are those who prepare for resource constraints in a predictable and controlled way, before shortages and price hikes hit

What about buildings?

Tackling key sectors: buildings Fact Construction and buildings impact our environment Some initial thoughts How to apply the life-cycle approach for buildings? How can the component and system levels complement each other? How can we trigger more information on resource use/environmental performance? How do we recognize a green building, throughout Europe? What would be necessary to step up the “resource efficient refurbishment” rate to 2% per year? Do we know enough about the existing stock? Resource inventories? New and better ways to get same or higher functionality with less resource intensive materials, new technologies and approaches to design? Operational vs embedded energy? Urban mining and reuse in higher value applications than today? Closing loops? Increasing space per person, does it matter?

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/resource_efficiency/ Josefina.Lindblom@ec.europa.eu