Document | Year | Goals and Targets | Impact on Cities |
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) | 2010 (initial), revised 2018 and 2021 | Improve energy performance of buildings, through mandatory energy performance standards, energy certificates and the goal for all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by 2020 (public buildings by 2018). Further revisions focus on decarbonising existing building stock by 2050. | Incentivises cities to adopt stricter building codes and renovate older structures. Promotes the use of smart technologies and renewable energy in urban building design. |
2030 Climate and Energy Framework | 2014 | Curb GHG: reduction of 40% by 2030 and of 80-95% by 2050; increase the share of RE as a share of EU-wide gross final energy consumption to 27%; improve energy efficiency by 27%; achieve 30% reduction in emissions from ESR by 2030 (baseline 2005); removal of CO₂ emissions through LULUCF management by 310 MtCO₂-eq until 2030. | Fosters the adoption of stricter climate action plans to meet GHG reduction goals, such as zero-emission zones and transitioning away from fossil fuel energy. Encourages green infrastructure (e.g. parks, green roofs) to support carbon sequestration and urban cooling. Promotes large-scale retrofits for municipal and private buildings. Incentivises rigorous monitoring systems to measure progress of cities. |
Renewable Energy Directive (RED) | 2018 | Establishes binding renewable energy (RE) targets for EU Member States, with a focus on increasing the share of RE by at least 32%. The revised RED (RED II and III) emphasises energy efficiency, decarbonisation and sustainable bioenergy use. | Encourages the integration of RE systems (e.g. solar, wind) into urban infrastructure (e.g. solar panels on public buildings). Incentivises the creation of decentralised energy systems such as urban renewable energy communities. Encourages the electrification of public transport, heating and cooling systems using renewables. Promotes building energy performance to support renewable heating and cooling systems. |
Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation | 2018 | Requires EU countries to ensure that emissions from land use and forestry are offset by equivalent removals, with stricter targets set for 2030. | Promotes tree planting and forest preservation within and around urban areas. Carbon accounting: cities are indirectly impacted as Member States report urban land use and forestry activities that affect national carbon budgets. Incentivises cities to prioritise projects that enhance carbon sequestration (e.g. urban forests, greenbelts, nature-based-solutions). |
European Green Deal | 2019 | EU to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (baseline 1990 emissions). | Encourages smart cities initiatives, sustainable urban planning and investments in green infrastructure. Focuses on reducing pollution and transitioning to a circular economy in urban settings. |
Renovation Wave Initiative | 2020 | Double the annual energy renovation rate by 2030. Ensure all new buildings are zero-emission by 2030. Renovate 35 million buildings by 2030. | Encourages large-scale retrofitting of public and private buildings. Promotes energy efficiency measures such as better insulation and efficient heating and cooling systems. |
Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) | 2020 | Although primarily focused on resource efficiency, the CEAP influences urban land use by encouraging sustainable construction and the reuse of materials. | Encourages the regeneration of underused urban land, reducing the need for new land development. Promotes use of recycled materials and modular designs in urban building projects. |
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 | 2020 | Protect 30% of EU land and sea areas, restore degraded ecosystems and increase urban green spaces to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change. | Incentivises cities to expand and maintain green infrastructures (e.g. parks, green roofs, corridors) to sequester carbon and reduce urban heat islands. Encourages cities to restore degraded urban areas (e.g. brownfields) into functional ecosystems. Promotes climate-resilient development with tree planting and wetland restoration to mitigate flooding and improve air quality. |
European Climate Law | 2021 | Official target of 55% emission reduction by 2030 from 1990 levels as a step towards reaching climate neutrality in 2050. | Establishes a framework for local governments to align their policies with EU climate goals, encouraging urban planning that reduces emissions. |
Fit for 55: legislative package | 2021 | Curb GHG: 50% reduction by 2030; increase the share of RE by 40% by 2030; improve energy efficiency to 36% (final energy consumption) and 39% (primary consumption) by 2030; reduce emissions from the EU ETS sectors by 62% by 2030. | Expands the Emissions Trading System (ETS) to include buildings and road transport, which are sectors critical for cities. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): sets ambitious renovation targets to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Renewable Energy Directive (RED): encourages the integration of renewable energy into city infrastructure, including heating and cooling networks. |
EU Climate Adaptation Strategy | 2021 | Integrates land use planning into climate adaptation efforts, emphasising resilience to climate impacts like heatwaves and flooding. | Recommends that cities incorporate adaptation measures into land use planning, such as buffer zones for flood-prone areas. Promotes urban wetlands, rain gardens and retention basins to manage water and reduce climate risks. Encourages cities to align climate adaptation with mitigation in land use strategies. |
REPowerEU plan (in tandem with the Ukraine war) | 2022 | Reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green energy transition. Increase the share of RE to 45%, energy efficiency and energy diversification. | Promotes energy resilience through urban investments in energy storage, distributed renewable systems and diverse energy sources. Incentivises cities to accelerate projects like solar panel installations, heat pumps and district heating systems. Focuses on improving energy security for urban areas, reducing vulnerability to energy supply disruptions. Supports behavioural change campaigns to reduce energy consumption, e.g. public awareness of energy efficiency. |
EU Sustainable Urban Mobility Framework (SUMF) | 2023 | Updated the original SUMF concept (2013). Prioritises sustainable transport systems. | Encourages densification around public transport hubs, reducing urban sprawl. Promotes reallocating road space for cycling, walking and green corridors. Impacts land use by shifting the focus to pedestrian-friendly and emission-free urban centres. |
Nature Restoration Law (Proposed, Pending Adoption) | 2024 | Mandates the restoration of degraded ecosystems and includes urban-specific restoration targets. | Obligates cities to restore urban rivers, wetlands and degraded habitats. Encourages adaptive rewilding and sustainable landscaping practices. Supports dual-purpose projects to mitigate emissions and enhance resilience. |