Heating and Cooling

07 Jul 21

Member States’ ambition to phase out fossil-fuel heating – an analysis

28% of the total energy consumed in the EU is used in space and water heating. For the residential sector, more than 75% of the energy produced for heating currently comes from fossil fuels (gas, oil, and coal). As a result, CO2 emissions from space and water heating represent 12% of the total EU emissions: as much as all cars in Europe combined1.
Decarbonising heating is key if we are to meet our climate and emission reduction objectives.

This briefing showcases how certain national measures are, at this stage, more ambitious than the EU regulations when it comes to phasing out fossil fuels in the building sector from 2020 to 2050. If the Commission’s ambition for the revision of the ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for space heaters remains low, it will not only compel
countries wanting to achieve more and faster to align, but it will also endanger everyone’s climate goals.

Read the ECOS background briefing here.

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