On February 26, we held the webinar "Regulations that drive renovation," which was attended by nearly 80 people. The session focused on the role of European regulations and urban planning as drivers of energy renovation and decarbonization of the building stock. The meeting provided context for the evolution of the regulatory framework and analyzed how to translate its requirements into effective local instruments.
The journey from the first international climate commitments to the European Green Deal and the recent revisions of the EPBD, EED, and RED, which reinforce the targets for 2030 and 2050, was discussed. The importance of national and local renovation plans, one-stop shops, local heating plans, and the exemplary role of public buildings was highlighted. As part of the follow-up, it was agreed to share materials and move forward with joint mapping to monitor regulatory transposition.
The webinar also focused on local experiences. Barcelona presented a proposal to modify the General Plan to improve ventilation and natural lighting in existing buildings, with the potential to significantly reduce energy demand. Vitoria-Gasteiz shared its integration of climate adaptation into planning, Madrid advanced its 2023–2027 Strategic Plan with a more performance-based approach supported by technology, and Seville presented a pilot project to monitor 228 public buildings along with a debate on possible emission limits.
The session showed that regulations can become a strategic tool for aligning urban planning, investment, and climate action, accelerating a coherent and coordinated transition in cities.
