The EU Green Deal plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and environmental risks. With the goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, it does this by promoting the uptake of greener technologies, encouraging responsible business behaviour, addressing issues in disadvantaged communities and investing in a just transition. As the buildings sector is a major contributor to climate change – nearly a third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions within the EU come from buildings – improving energy performance of buildings is central to these efforts.
In December 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a provisional agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Its final adoption is expected under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The next step is for Member States to transpose the Directive and other Green Deal related legislation into their national legislation and ensure that their green ambitions are well financed, that they are socially inclusive and that human rights are protected. Read more on our concept note.
On Friday 8 March 2024 took place the Human Rights Talk on Ensuring the right to housing in Europe’s just transition, organised by Housing Rights Watch, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Rights Regional Office for Europe and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
The event brought together the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, representatives from international organizations, EU institutions and civil society organizations. You will find the programme of the event below.
11:00 Welcome
- Elena Kountouri Tapiero, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for Europe
- Maria Aldanas, Policy Officer at FEANTSA and Coordinator of Housing Rights Watch
11:10 Setting the scene:
- UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Balakrishnan Rajagopal
11:25 Reactions from the panel:
Discussion moderated by Annika Lenz, Programme Management Officer UN Human Settlements Programme
- Tadhg O’Briain, Deputy Head of Unit Consumers, Local Initiatives, Just Transition at DG Energy, European Commission
- Bernard Mazijn, Director, Cabinet of the Minister for Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal of Belgium
- Anna Zsófia Bajomi, Energy Poverty Policy Officer, European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless
- Marlies Hesselman, Assistant Professor International Law at the University of Groningen
Questions & answers
12:25 Closing by Elena Kountouri Tapiero, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for Europe a.i.
12:30 Networking lunch
English
Events
Subject:
Quality of housing
Right to housing
Country:
