The European Commission has proposed a second package of regulations focused on buildings, natural gas markets, and methane emissions. The measures aim to ensure the regional block meet its goal to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Specifically, the commission proposed to align the rules for the energy performance of buildings with the European Green Deal and decarbonise the EU's building stock by 2050. As of 2030, all new buildings would have to be zero-emission. In addition, new EU-level minimum energy performance standards would oblige Member States to upgrade the worst-performing 15% of their building stock to at least Grade F by 2027 for non-residential buildings and by 2030 for residential buildings. Finally, National Buildings Renovation Plans would have to be fully integrated into National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), and would have to include roadmaps for phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040 at the latest.
The proposed measures also include a reform of EU gas markets, which aims to integrate low-carbon gases such as hydrogen into the network. Long-term contracts for unabated fossil natural gas should not be extended beyond 2049. The Commission also plan to a system to allow countries to jointly buy gas to form strategic reserves. The package also comprises a proposal to tackle emissions of methane, forcing oil and gas operators in the EU to find and fix leaks of methane in their infrastructure.
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