The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives aimed at steering the EU toward an ecological transition and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Within the EU, the Green Deal has given rise to sector-specific strategies and legislative initiatives for the green transition in the building, energy, and industrial sectors, among others.
The EU Taxonomy is a classification system that uses technical screening criteria to determine whether an economic activity can be considered environmentally sustainable. The goal is to channel investor capital—and, where applicable, subsidies from European funds—toward sustainable projects, manage risks associated with climate change, and promote transparency.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) aims to improve the energy performance of buildings in the European Union (EU), taking into account specific climatic and local conditions. This legislation sets out the path that member states must follow to achieve a zero-emission building stock by 2050.
"Fit for 55" is a legislative package that was presented in July 2021 as part of the European Climate Law and the European Green Deal. The goal is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, while achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which replaced the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), extends the requirements for mandatory corporate sustainability reporting to a broader range of companies in the EU, including smaller businesses and branches of foreign companies. Related European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). They specify the specific content, parameters, and metrics for 10 sustainability-related areas and define how information should be structured and presented to ensure it is clear and comparable across different companies.
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is a European Union regulation aimed at increasing transparency in the field of sustainable finance. The goal is to help investors better understand how their investments impact sustainability and whether they align with their values. At the same time, the regulation aims to curb greenwashing—that is, the misleading presentation of products as more sustainable than they actually are—and thus ensure that investors are not misled by false or exaggerated statements.
The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), originally adopted in 2012, is a key component of the Fit for 55 package and aims to improve energy efficiency in the European Union. Its goal is to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and to promote sustainable growth. The new version of the directive sets more ambitious targets and emphasizes greater involvement by member states and concrete measures to achieve energy savings targets.
Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III) represents a significant step forward in the European Union’s efforts to transition to renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This directive updates and supplements previous legislation (in particular Directive 2018/2001) and sets new, more ambitious targets for the use of energy from renewable sources.
REPowerEU comprises key legislative proposals that are part of a broader strategic plan aimed at reducing the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources. The proposals focus on strengthening energy security, modernizing energy infrastructure, and promoting sustainability through new reforms and investments. As part of the REPowerEU plan, the Commission has proposed targeted amendments to existing energy legislation, specifically the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV), and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), with most of the targeted amendments relating to RED III.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is a key legal framework that harmonizes the conditions for placing construction products on the EU market by establishing uniform technical specifications and the CE marking, thereby facilitating the free movement of these products within the single market. The CPR sets out requirements for the safety, performance, and sustainability of construction products, while allowing Member States to introduce specific national health, safety, and environmental requirements related to their use. The CPR also ensures that products meet essential requirements for construction works, such as mechanical resistance, fire safety, and energy efficiency.
The European Commission’s “Renovation Wave for Europe” strategy focuses on the large-scale renovation of buildings across the EU with the aim of reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and stimulating the economy through investment. A key objective is to at least double the rate of energy-efficient building renovations by 2030 and make a significant contribution to achieving climate neutrality.
The platform is being developed as part of the LIFE ClimArchiBase project, a collaboration among four Czech nonprofit organizations focused on the sustainability of buildings and cities.
