{"id":154125,"date":"2024-10-29T11:04:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T10:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=154125"},"modified":"2024-10-29T11:04:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T10:04:31","slug":"8-ways-life-in-the-eu-is-becoming-greener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/8-ways-life-in-the-eu-is-becoming-greener\/","title":{"rendered":"8 ways life in the EU is becoming greener"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shifting to a greener way of life is crucial to address the climate emergency and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, especially those from Russia.<\/p>\n

The EU and its 27 countries have adopted new common rules with the so-called\u00a0\u2018Fit for 55 package\u2019<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to reduce the EU\u2019s carbon footprint. The objective is to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.<\/p>\n

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Here are 8 examples of what life in the EU will be like in 2030.<\/p>\n

1- <\/strong>Homes are powered with cleaner energy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Any plan to cut emissions in the EU has to start with reducing the carbon impact of the energy sector, which powers buildings, industries and transport. Today this sector accounts for 75% of all EU emissions.<\/p>\n

Under the new rules, by 2030, Europeans will get\u00a042.5% of all their energy from renewable sources<\/strong><\/b>, from solar and wind power to hydroelectric and geothermal energy. Renewable energy is cheap to generate, can be produced in the EU and benefits from free and infinite natural resources.<\/p>\n

As the use of renewable energy has so far been uneven across different economic sectors, the new rules aim to set specific objectives for each sector: for example, defining the share of renewable energy to be used in buildings, or of renewable hydrogen to be used by industry.<\/p>\n

Shifting to renewables reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, and also improves air quality and human health.<\/p>\n

New legislation will also address, for the first time,\u00a0methane emissions<\/strong><\/b> generated in the energy sector, enforcing stricter limits and making monitoring and reporting compulsor<\/p>\n

2.- <\/strong>Cars pollute less than before<\/span><\/h2>\n

Road vehicles are currently the biggest source of transport emissions in the EU, accounting for 71% of the total.<\/p>\n

While vehicles powered by fossil fuels \u2013 petrol, diesel and gas \u2013 will continue to be on our streets for years to come, new EU rules will pave the way for cleaner cars and vans.<\/p>\n

By 2030, emissions from new cars and vans will on average have to drop by half compared to 2021 emissions. Five years later,\u00a0new cars and vans placed on the EU market will have to be zero-emission<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

The new rules to green the sector are due to come into effect in stages, giving manufacturers an opportunity to adapt to them.<\/p>\n

New vehicles \u2013 either electric or powered by alternative fuels, such as hydrogen \u2013 will need sites and infrastructure to refuel and recharge. That is why there are plans to build many\u00a0more recharging and refuelling points<\/strong>\u00a0across the EU by 2030.<\/p>\n

3.- <\/strong>Buildings emit no CO2<\/sub><\/span><\/h2>\n

Buildings are today responsible for\u00a0over one third of the greenhouse gas emissions in the EU<\/strong><\/b>.<\/p>\n

Reducing emissions from buildings \u2013 through either reduced energy consumption or increased use of renewable energy \u2013 is crucial.<\/p>\n

The new proposed rules would set more ambitious energy efficiency standards for both residential and non-residential buildings.<\/p>\n

Under those rules,\u00a0all new buildings would be zero-emission by 2030<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0and energy performance certificates for such buildings would be obligatory.<\/p>\n

New residential buildings would need to have solar energy installations. There would also be a greater number of recharging points and parking spaces for e-bikes and electric cars.<\/p>\n

The legislation also aims to encourage property owners across the EU to renovate their buildings, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all\u00a0<\/em>buildings in the EU are zero-emission by 2050.<\/p>\n

4.- <\/strong>Construction materials are greener<\/span><\/h2>\n

Producing cement, steel and glass requires large amounts of energy and has a high environmental cost.<\/p>\n

EU legislation provides financial incentives for those industries to reduce their emissions.<\/p>\n

The EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) puts\u00a0a price on CO<\/strong><\/b>2<\/strong><\/b><\/sub>\u00a0emissions<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0through a trading system for \u2018carbon permits\u2019. The number of permits made available each year will gradually be reduced, with the aim of reducing emissions.<\/p>\n

The current EU ETS covers approximately 10 000 large plants in the following sectors:<\/p>\n