Green Building Certifications

The EU Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852) establishes a classification system to identify environmentally sustainable economic activities, aiming to direct investments toward the EU's environmental objectives. It defines six environmental objectives: -> Climate change mitigation -> Climate change adaptation -> Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources -> Transition to a circular economy -> Pollution prevention and control -> Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems 1/ EU Taxonomy Regulation (EU) 2020/852 is the Regulation that sets the overall framework and objectives for what constitutes "environmentally sustainable" activities in the EU. 2/ The Delegated Acts are the detailed technical regulations that provide the specific criteria and thresholds for various environmental objectives (climate mitigation, water protection, biodiversity, etc.). These Delegated Acts support the implementation of the Taxonomy Regulation. The EU Taxonomy is an essential part of the EU's sustainable finance framework. It serves as a classification system to define environmentally sustainable economic activities based on science-based criteria. Its primary goals are to help investors, companies, and financial institutions identify and finance projects and activities that align with the EU's environmental objectives, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, circular economy promotion, and biodiversity protection​ The EU Taxonomy is not a mandatory list for investors to invest in. It does not set mandatory requirements on environmental performance for companies or for financial products. Investors are free to choose what to invest in. However, it is expected that over time, the EU Taxonomy will encourage a transition towards sustainability in order to achieve the EU’s climate and environmental goals. The Taxonomy sets performance thresholds (referred to as ‘technical screening criteria’) for economic activities which: -> make a substantive contribution to one of the above six environmental objectives; -> do no significant harm (DNSH) to the other five, where relevant; -> meet minimum safeguards (e.g., OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) 🔗 European Commission

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is an EU regulation aimed at improving transparency in the financial services sector regarding sustainability risks and impacts. It applies to financial market participants and financial advisers, promoting sustainable investment across the EU. Key Objectives: 1/ Transparency on Sustainability Risks -> Requires financial entities to disclose how they integrate sustainability risks into their investment decision-making or advice processes 2/ Product Categorization -> Article 6: Products that do not actively promote sustainability -> Article 8: Products promoting environmental or social characteristics -> Article 9: Products with sustainable investment as their objective 3/ Standardized Reporting -> Entities must report sustainability-related disclosures on their websites, in pre-contractual documents, and in periodic reports, using templates and data points specified by regulatory technical standards (RTS) 4/ Greenwashing Prevention -> Ensures financial products are marketed transparently to prevent misleading claims about their sustainability Alignment with EU Taxonomy: SFDR aligns with the EU Taxonomy Regulation by requiring additional disclosures about whether and to what extent investments contribute to EU-defined environmental objectives. 🔗 EC, ESMA, ESA

The Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is a key part of the EU Green Deal, aiming to decarbonize the building sector by improving energy efficiency. It introduces stricter standards for new and existing buildings, requiring all new buildings to be zero-emission by 2030 and public buildings by 2027. Renovation targets focus on reducing energy consumption in the least efficient buildings. The directive also promotes smart technologies, renewable energy integration, and financing for sustainable renovations. Key Objectives: -> Decarbonization by 2050: The directive aims for a fully decarbonized building stock by mid-century, contributing significantly to the EU's broader climate goals. -> Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The EPBD contributes to the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% in the building sector by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. Key Provisions: 1/ Zero-Emission Buildings: All new buildings are required to be zero-emission by 2030, with public buildings meeting this standard by 2027. 2/ Renovation of Existing Buildings: The directive mandates the renovation of existing buildings to improve their energy performance, targeting a 16% reduction in primary energy consumption for residential buildings by 2030. 3/ Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): The EPBD enhances the role of EPCs, ensuring they provide reliable information on building energy performance to owners and tenants. 4/ Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI): An optional scheme to assess the technological capability of buildings to interact with their occupants and the energy grid, promoting smart technologies and integration of renewables. 5/ E-Mobility: The directive promotes the installation of recharging points for electric vehicles in buildings, supporting the transition to sustainable mobility. Impact: -> Economic and Social Benefits: Improving the energy performance of buildings is expected to reduce energy bills, alleviate energy poverty, enhance indoor comfort, and create jobs in the construction and renovation sectors. 🔗 EP, EC