Written by members of the European Citizen Initiative HouseEurope!
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Europe is in the midst of a deepening housing crisis. Rents are soaring, communities are being displaced, and the dream of a secure home is slipping out of reach for millions. At the same time, the climate emergency intensifies, and the building sector which is responsible for 36% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions continues to pump out carbon as if we have time to spare.
What if the solution to both these crises already exists?
What if the future is already built ?
We are HouseEurope! A European Citizens’ Initiative fighting to make the renovation and transformation of existing buildings the new norm across the EU. Our message is urgent and clear: we cannot afford to keep demolishing houses while millions are in desperate search of a home. We are calling on EU citizens to stand with us and demand a future where buildings are for people, not profit. We are joining the fight with the Build Better Lives campaign to ensure decent, affordable and energy efficient homes and buildings for all becomes a reality.
Today, demolition is the default. Entire neighborhoods are destroyed to make way for more expensive, speculative developments. By 2050, Europe will have demolished 2 billion square meters of existing space, the equivalent of half of Germany’s building stock. What do we lose with each demolition? Homes, jobs, embodied energy, memories, and our shared cultural heritage.
This Must Stop
Right now, we demolish buildings that could house over 50 million people, often for no reason beyond financial gain. Tenants are evicted because developers find it more profitable to tear down and rebuild than to care for and improve what already exists. Even when new housing rises in the rubble, original residents are locked out by skyrocketing prices. This isn’t just an urban planning failure, it’s a social catastrophe.
The current model rewards big developers and sidelines the people who actually build our cities. Renovation, on the other hand, creates local jobs, supports small businesses, and offers real opportunities for small construction and architecture firms, 92% of which are made up of 1–5 people.
Demolition is an environmental crime. Every building we destroy wastes the immense amount of grey energy already invested in it. The construction sector is responsible for nearly a third of global CO2 emissions. If we are serious about climate targets, we must shift from destruction to transformation. Renovation preserves embodied carbon, slashes emissions, and makes our cities more energy-efficient and resilient.
It’s Time to Rethink Based on the Most Radical Concepts of All : Common Sense.
Wow, can the impact of yesterday become the value of tomorrow? We advocate for a Right to Reuse for existing buildings based on three key pillars: (I) tax reductions for renovation works and the reuse of materials, (II) fair rules for the assessment of existing buildings, and (III) new values for the embedded CO2 in existing structures.
1. Boosting Renovation Markets with Tax Incentives
Exemptions from VAT must be granted for the renovation of buildings in order to promote the renovation market and in this way contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector.
2. Fair and Harmonized Assessment Standards for Renovations
The introduction of mandatory Europe-wide standards for risk assessment of the building stock is necessary to harness the potential of existing buildings, strengthen the internal market, and promote investment in renovation projects.
3. Introduction and Application of Intertemporal Life Cycle Assessments in the Building Sector
The introduction of intertemporal life cycle assessments is key to revealing how many CO² emissions are actually associated with a building, from the past to the present and future. It is necessary to extend the scope of application of life cycle assessments to all existing buildings.
This isn’t just Policy, it’s a Cultural Shift.
With these tools, we can activate underused urban space, save billions in emissions, and finally put people and the planet above profit. Because homes are not just structures. They are stories. They are safety. They are a human right.
The future of housing in Europe cannot be built on rubble. It must be built on care and on a collective commitment to preserve what matters most. Every square meter saved is a stand for justice. Every renovation is a vote for climate action. Every signature brings us one step closer to a Europe where everyone has a place to live and a planet to live on. We Have Until February 2026—Let’s Reach 1 Million Voices for Change
Sign now at https://eci.ec.europa.eu/052/public/#/screen/home
Want to know more about House Europe, check out their trailer below: