Wooden construction for CO2 reduction in building sector

Key points:

The EESC considers that:

•  An increase in the use of sustainable wood in construction, especially in public buildings, is essential to reduce carbon emissions and must be promoted through active and responsible forest management in the EU.

• Quality-based procurement procedures, including allowing innovative solutions and including sustainability and life-cycle criteria, are a prerequisite for achieving climate objectives and promoting timber construction.

• It is key to establish minimum standards for life-cycle carbon emissions from buildings and for the corresponding carbon reporting requirement across the construction sector.

• Barriers to timber construction arising from formal, legal and technical requirements should be scrutinised as to their necessity with respect to planning quality.