Open Letter: NGOs and industry associations urge the European Commission to accelerate decarbonisation of heating and cooling
The Cool Heating Coalition has issued an open letter to the European Commission, calling for urgent action to accelerate the decarbonisation of heating and cooling (H&C) across the EU. The letter has received support from 29 NGOs, think tanks and industry associations, among which Kyoto Club.
H&C accounts for almost half of the EU’s final energy consumption, with residential use making up nearly a quarter. The sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with over 94% of homes’ emissions stemming from H&C, predominantly powered by fossil fuels.
To achieve a fully climate-neutral EU economy by 2050, H&C must be decarbonised by 2040. Research commissioned by the Cool Heating Coalition shows that Member States are currently not on track to decarbonise H&C by 2040.
Although the European Green Deal includes measures for decarbonising renewable H&C, progress remains insufficient. Less than 6% of H&C is currently powered by decarbonised renewables.
The geopolitical risks associated with fossil fuel dependence have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Renewable H&C can enhance the EU’s energy independence and security, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Accelerating the transition to renewable H&C is a no-regrets policy that will bolster the EU’s economic competitiveness, reduce energy costs, and improve living conditions, particularly for vulnerable and lower-income households.
The coalition calls on the European Commission to position H&C decarbonisation as a key pillar of the 2024-2029 policy cycle, ensuring a safer, more competitive, socially just, and climate-neutral EU.
We ask the European Commission to:
- Pursue a disciplined, ambitious implementation of the European Green Deal as a top-level priority in its 2024-2029 mandate. This includes supporting guidance for Member States on the Fit for 55 legislation, such as for the local heating and cooling plans mandated under the EED.
- Include heating and cooling as a key sector for our 2040 climate goals and carefully monitor the EU’s progress towards achieving them, as demanded by 15 Member States in their recent letter to the Commission.
- Task the Energy Commissioner with realising a transition to affordable, decarbonised and renewable heating and cooling by 2040 in their Mission Letter. Furthermore, we advise that the mandate for the Commissioners for Climate, Internal Market and Cohesion will require them to work with the Energy Commissioner towards this goal.
- The mandate should include creating a new strategic and holistic action plan on H&C, along with publishing the long-postponed Heat Pump Action Plan. Additionally, the mandate should include creating a geothermal strategy as called for by the European Parliament and Committee of the Regions, and dedicated plans for the other main renewable H&C technologies (decarbonised district heating and solar thermal), and halting the launch of new fossil fuel technologies in the EU single market by 2030.
- Allocate sufficient funds to heating and cooling decarbonisation under the Multiannual Financial Framework to unlock the sector’s energy security and socio-economic benefits by enabling workers and citizens to own and participate in the transition. This would also support the design and implementation of ambitious National Building Renovation Plans. Spending should be socially targeted to cover decarbonisation costs for citizens for whom individual and private investments are not an option.
The coalition calls on the European Commission to position H&C decarbonisation as a key pillar of the 2024-2029 policy cycle, ensuring a safer, more competitive, socially just, and climate-neutral EU. Delia Villagrasa, director of the Cool Heating Coalition, says “An accelerated rollout of decarbonised, renewable, and affordable heating and cooling means the EU can improve energy sovereignty while delivering affordable energy for comfortable homes for its citizens. The Cool Heating Coalition, along with other NGOs and industry associations, urge the European Commission to prioritise heating and cooling to unlock the pathway to net zero by 2050.”
Valérie Séjourné, Managing Director of Solar Heat Europe, says “Solar thermal is a long-established and EU-made technology, providing ready-to-deploy solutions that can decarbonise heating and cooling whilst creating thousands of jobs across the continent. Tripling the deployment of solar heat in Europe by 2030 is crucial for achieving the EU climate and energy targets and protecting the competitiveness of the European industry in clean tech manufacturing. Therefore, we call on the Commission to prioritise the decarbonisation of heating and cooling and support EU-made renewable heating and cooling solutions with measures targeting both demand and supply.”
Oliver Rapf, Executive Director of the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), says “As members of the Cool Heating Coalition, BPIE fully supports the call to the European Commission to decarbonise heating and cooling. Transitioning to a low-carbon building stock is essential for our climate goals, and will increase business opportunities for the construction value chain through the adoption of technologies and renovation work. This initiative will spur innovation, create green jobs, and pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future in the European construction sector.”
