Policy tools report launched

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 SBCI, in partnership with the Central European University in Budapest, has undertaken a worldwide review of lessons learned from the application of different types of governmental policy tools supporting energy efficiency in buildings. The study entitled, Assessment of policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, looked at some 80 case studies from 52 countries and evaluated the different policy tools based on their effectiveness in terms of reduction of CO₂ emissions, their cost effectiveness and associated success factors. The review is a unique comparison of experiences from all parts of the world in developed and developing countries alike. The report was launched by Niclas Svenningsen at the regional conference on Sustainable Buildings SB07 Prague in September.

Preliminary findings include that regulation is the most cost effective means to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions from buildings, a sector which accounts for some 30-40 % of global energy use. Regulatory and control instruments such as building codes and appliance standards are the most effective way to increase energy efficiency, and so mitigate the industry’s impact on global warming. The key precondition for their success is that sufficient resources and efforts are invested in their implementation and enforcement, as well as a regular updating of the relevant specifications.

"According to the latest assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 2020 by measures such as improved energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. Importantly, this could lead to gains in global GDP--not costs,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director

“The new UNEP SBCI study demonstrates the critical roles that governments need to take in establishing, implementing, and enforcing regulatory policies so as to realize these emission reductions and these environmental, social and economics gains,” he said

The complete report can be downloaded from the SBCI website : http://www.unepsbci.org/Ressources/ReportsStudies/sept2007.asp