On 23 February, the European Commission closed the public consultation on the future integrated framework for European Climate Resilience and Risk Management. The regulation proposal is expected to be adopted by the end of 2026 (last quarter).
Published in 2024, the first European Climate Risk Assessment identified several risks related to health and infrastructures including “wellbeing due to non-adapted buildings” and the “damage to infrastructure and buildings”.
The building sector is central to climate resilience by design because buildings shape daily living conditions and directly influence human health. As part of the public consultation, Glass for Europe therefore stressed the need to integrate climate resilience at the design stage, for instance through passive cooling strategies which rely on high-performance glazing to prevent overheating before it occurs. Many solutions are already available and should be further considered when designing resilience policies, namely: solar control glass, low-emissivity coatings, dynamic glazing.
The contribution also emphasised that flat glass manufacturing is an ongoing, energy-intensive process that requires a continuous supply of energy and water to maintain the furnaces at the required temperature. Therefore, climate adaptation policies should prioritise energy supply security, including timely and affordable access to renewable electricity to enable electrification, as well as access to water, which is essential for cooling and processing flat glass.
Glass for Europe will continue engage with policymakers and stakeholders on this important initiative.
