Latest in: EU chapter.

Aerial view of rooftop garden in urban residential area. ID: 1361273999 22 January 2024 – With the interinstitutional negotiations on the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) in full speed, WGIN joined forces with 18 organisations to call upon co-legislators to adopt an ambitious recast of the directive. The signatories, non-profit association, businesses and business associations underlined the opportunity that represents the revision of this 30-year-old legislation to adapt it to modern water challenges. In particular, the letter stresses that many technical advances, such as green infrastructure solutions, have not yet been mainstreamed for the reduction of wastewater treatment needs. Therefore, the signatories call for, among others, “Ensuring a timely introduction of integrated urban wastewater management plans that prioritise green and blue infrastructure to climate-proof cities and reduce pollution from urban wastewaters and runoffs”. The letter comes ahead of the next trilogue meeting on the UWWTD, planned for the 29 January, which is expected to significantly progress negotiations on the revised directive. Read the full letter here.

Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. presents its Market report on Building Greening 2021: Green Roofs, Green Facades and Interior Greening in Germany. Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. (BuGG) published its first market report about 2020 which comprised an overview of the most important figures on green roofs, facades, and interiors in Germany. In doing so, a reference work has been created that, was used thousands of times by policymakers, industry, construction, the media, universities, and students. With the present market report of 2021, the figures of the building greening market are updated, focusing on the increase of green roofs and facades, and the BuGG City Survey 2021 on municipal subsidy instruments. Read the Market Report on Building Greening 2021. * Excerpted translation of the original German version

Solar panels on a green roof with flowering sedum plants. Green rooftop garden with renewable solar energy system. Groene daktuin. ID: 1984038581 On 15 January 2024, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) approved the trilogue agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with a comfortable majority. EPBD For the first time, the agreed text requires EU countries to consider green roofs when meeting their solar energy on buildings obligation. This is a clear recognition of the potential of biosolar roofs! The text now needs to be approved by the European Parliament’s plenary and EU ministers. Both votes are tentatively scheduled for March 2024. Read the full EPBD text here.

In Norway, first pilots with biosolar roof projects have been a significant source of inspiration for further uptake & market development, says David Vernon Brasfield, Chairperson of the Norwegian Association for Green Infrastructure and Secretary of the World Green Infrastructure Network. Explore the advantages & challenges of Biosolar Roofs in the winter 2023 issue of Living Architecture Monitor 

An aerial view of a district in Duesseldorf, Germany. ID: 2151579185 The increasing attention to policies and regulations concerning green infrastructure in urban areas signifies noteworthy advancements. However, with the EU elections next year, we must work diligently to ensure urban green infrastructure remains high on the agenda of the new EU institutions. The growing focus on policy and regulations pertaining to green infrastructure in urban areas indicates significant progress – Nature Restoration Law; Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD); Pollinators Initiative; Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). However, with the European elections scheduled for next June, we must work diligently to ensure urban green infrastructure remains high on the agenda of the new EU institutions. Forecasts predict around 70 per cent turnover in the members of the European Parliament, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy. Read the full article by Luigi Petito in the winter 2023 issue of Living Architecture Monitor. 

The European Parliament approves a resolution endorsing & sharing its priorities on the European Commission’s Revised Pollinators Initiative.  On 23 November 2023, the European Parliament approved a resolution on the revised Pollinators Initiative. This is a non-binding document expressing the priorities of the European Parliament on the initiative in order to best shape and ensure the successful implementation of the Commission’s Revised Pollinators Initiative, adopted earlier this year.  The resolution highlights key points aimed at promoting the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in urban areas, specifically focusing on protecting the pollinator populations. It emphasizes the importance of the integration of these concerns into urban planning practices and calls on all Member States to monitor pollinator populations in cities, while encouraging the sharing of best practices among cities.  A significant aspect of the resolution is that it stresses the benefits of green roofs and vertical gardens in providing habitats for pollinators, contributing to urban sustainability, and enhancing the quality of life of citizens.   The resolution also proposes the creation of a “nature fund” in the European Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF itself will be defined sometime in 2027. The resolution’s various elements will be subject to the considerations of the European Commission and the Member States.  Read the full text here: bit.ly/47xNRZM 

The agreed text on Nature Restoration Law sets urban greening targets for EU countries. During the night of 9 November 2023, the EU Parliament and Council of EU reached an agreement on the first ever Nature Restoration Law in Europe. The final text, which has not yet been publicly shared, mandates Member States to set greening targets in cities.  More specifically, Member States will need to ensure that there is no net loss of urban green spaces by the end of 2030, unless for urban ecosystems that already have over 45% of green space. After 2031, Member States will have to increase urban green spaces until a “satisfactory level” is reached (which they have to define). The increase in urban green spaces shall also include the integration of green spaces on buildings and infrastructure.  This is a positive result as it will create momentum for the greening of cities, including roofs and walls, supporting the restoration of biodiversity in urban areas. However, specific attention will have to be given to the way the “satisfactory level” of greening is set and to monitor each cities’ progress.  Find the Council of the EU Press Release on the Nature Restoration Law agreement here.

WGIN is thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure as our newest national association member.  The Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure (Asociácia pre zelené strechy a zelenú infraštruktúru) is renowned for its advocacy of greening roofs, building walls, and other structural elements, as well as the incorporation of green infrastructure components, water management, and energy efficiency in urban areas. This aligns with the principles of sustainable construction, environmental preservation, and the reintroduction of green spaces within communities.  The Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure covers green roof associations in all 27 countries of the European Union, Great Britain, Norway, Switzerland and Serbia as well as cooperating with major universities. It has its own publishing activity and cooperates with top domestic and foreign experts, creating a methodology for the design, projection, implementation and maintenance of green roofs and green infrastructure.  Manfred Koehler, President of the World Green Infrastructure Network, commented:   “We are delighted to announce the addition of the Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure as a new national association member of WGIN. This partnership comes at a timely moment in the promotion and deployment of green infrastructure, both within the EU and beyond. We are excited to collaborate and work together on advancing this important agenda.”  Jan Rapan, Vice-President of the Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure stated:  “We are happy to announce our membership in the World Green Infrastructure Network. With our expertise in sustainable construction, environmental conservation, and the revitalization of green spaces in communities, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate in advancing the urban green infrastructure agenda in the EU and on a global scale.”  MEDIA CONTACTS  Luigi Petito   Head of Secretariat  World Green Infrastructure Network – EU Chapter  luigi.petito@wgin.org  asociacia@zelenestrechy.org  Slovak Association for Green Roofs and Green Infrastructure  ABOUT WGIN  The World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) is a collaborative global network promoting the integration of green infrastructure in urban planning. Since 2009, WGIN has expanded to represent 22 National Associations and has held 10 World Green Infrastructure Congresses. WGIN has established supportive working research committees and has an active board of directors representing 11 nations. In 2019, WGIN set up a European Chapter to raise awareness among EU policymakers about the multiple benefits of green infrastructure. Our motto is “vegetation makes it possible.”  Download the full PR in PDF format 

Green roof top of sustainable library at Delft university. ID:1411972991 The European Commission’s recently published “EU-level technical guidance on adapting buildings to climate change” advocates for green roofs and walls, representing stride towards a sustainable and resilient future for EU urban areas. Read the full article by Luigi Petito in the autumn 2023 issue of Living Architecture Monitor. Read the EU Level Guidance Document on Adapting Buildings to Climate Change.

Macro of a honey bee (apis mellifera) on a mint (menta piperita) blossom with blurred bokeh background; pesticide free environmental protection save the bees biodiversity concept. The Nature Restoration Law is crucial for the transformation of our cities. It’s time to support it, for citizens, future generations & our planet, writes Luigi Petito for Living Architecture Monitor.  A few issues ago, I wrote a piece about the vital contribution of green and blue infrastructure to urban biodiversity. I sang the praises of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 – a strategy that recognises the wide-ranging societal benefits of greening urban and peri-urban areas.  The cornerstone of that strategy is the Nature Restoration Law, a proposal from the European Commission for legally binding EU nature restoration targets to restore ecosystems and help to increase biodiversity, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and prevent and reduce the impacts of natural disasters. One of the ecosystems addressed in the law is urban areas for which the European Commission proposes a framework of legally binding urban greening targets in public spaces and in the design of buildings. Many readers will have probably read the headlines about the law over the last few weeks, but unfortunately not for the right reasons.  With the Nature Restoration Law the European Commission made an unprecedented and ambitious move. And in my view the law is a crucial step to guide the transformation of our cities. Let’s be clear here, the green transformation of our cities is a “must have”, an urgent and absolute necessity. Climate action is no longer a “nice to have”.  Read the full article by Luigi Petito in Living Architecture Monitor.