Recommendations for political action

In 2015, the Paris Agreement resolved to limit global warming to 1.5 to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius. In Germany, this is implemented through the Climate Protection Act of 2022, which provides for greenhouse neutrality by 2045. Emissions are to be reduced by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990. The building industry and the existing building stock play a key role in this: the operation of our buildings causes approx. 35% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. A figure that illustrates the great - unfortunately not yet sufficiently exploited - potential that the building sector offers with regard to meeting our climate action targets.

Past experience shows that voluntary commitments by industry and the building sector have so far not led to a satisfactory energy standard of the existing building stock and new buildings. In order to increase the climate action potential in the building sector, an appropriate regulatory framework is needed. To this end, the DGNB, together with its network, is developing recommendations for political decision-makers in the context of the "Wissenstransfer Bau" (i.e.: Knowledge Transfer Building) research project funded by the German Environment Agency and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. In this context, the recommendations are initially to be regarded as drafts that are to be sharpened in the network and with stakeholders in a possible follow-up project. To make it clear that these are drafts, they are labelled as a discussion paper (WiTraBau).

Recommendations for decision-makers at federal level

Document|pdf|English|580 KB

DGNB's feasibility assessment of the requirements of the EU taxonomy for Construction of New Buildings and Renovation of the Do No Significant Harm criteria for "Pollution prevention and control"

Discussion Paper | DGNB has evaluated the feasibility of the DNSH criterion for pollution prevention and control with DGNB's advisory committee for hazardous and risk related substances.
Document|pdf|German|928 KB

Nine points for purposeful climate action legislation in the building sector

Discussion paper | Back in spring 2018, AKBW, DGNB and the Association of German Cities formulated nine demands for a purposeful legislation in the building sector. Please note: The paper is in German.
Document|pdf|German|964 KB

Eliminate tax obstacles for investments in the energy upgrading of the building stock

Discussion Paper | Investments in the building stock that are relevant to the climate face various tax obstacles that need to be removed. Please note: The paper is in German.

Recommendations for decision-makers at the municipal level

Publication|pdf|German|1 MB

Handout for planning and procurement geared to sustainability

This handout aims to remove uncertainties regarding the use of central overarching urban and municipal instruments as well as for specific building projects, and to create a point of entry for integrating methods to increase sustainability aspects in relevant work processes. Please note: The paper is in German.
Document|pdf|German|796 KB

Align approval procedures with the climate action target

Discussion Paper | In realising concrete building projects, local government plays an important role, because as a licensing authority they have the power to co-determine actual building practice. Please note: The paper is in German.
Document|pdf|German|837 KB

Affordable housing - alternatives to the conventional development plan procedure

Discussion Paper | In our conurbations, the question of affordable housing is becoming one of the main issues of sustainable and social urban development in the coming years. Please note: The paper is in German.

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Dr. Kathrin Quante

Manager System Development

Dr. Anna Braune

Director Research and Development