Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The blind spots of sustainable construction policies from a growth-critical perspective - A policy analysis of the EU built environment

Lauenburg, Marvin Philipp Niwes LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20242
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
The buildings and construction sector plays a key role for the European Union to achieve its climate targets. Continuous failure of the sector ́s climate mitigation has brought up a rising discussion about the compatibility of infinite economic growth and long-term socio-ecological sustainability. Grounded in the concept of degrowth, this study analyzes the implicit sustainability understandings and discourse of current EU building sector policies and make respective policy recommendations. A qualitative policy document analysis is conducted to identify and critically analyze all relevant policies updated under the current legislature. The study finds that while the declared ambition of the EU climate policy in the building sector has... (More)
The buildings and construction sector plays a key role for the European Union to achieve its climate targets. Continuous failure of the sector ́s climate mitigation has brought up a rising discussion about the compatibility of infinite economic growth and long-term socio-ecological sustainability. Grounded in the concept of degrowth, this study analyzes the implicit sustainability understandings and discourse of current EU building sector policies and make respective policy recommendations. A qualitative policy document analysis is conducted to identify and critically analyze all relevant policies updated under the current legislature. The study finds that while the declared ambition of the EU climate policy in the building sector has increased in the current legislature, implemented targets do not align with the transition required for a sustainability transition and policies are framed highly optimistic about their achievement. An alternative degrowth policy agenda would bindingly address environmental pressures along the whole lifecycle of buildings with clear caps for resource use and emissions, and instead of relying on the sectors ́ growth to cover housing needs through public provisioning systems, redistributive policies, and the principle of sufficiency. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lauenburg, Marvin Philipp Niwes LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20242
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Buildings, EU policy, Degrowth, Sustainability Science, Construction, Housing provision
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:041
language
English
id
9176772
date added to LUP
2024-10-18 15:08:12
date last changed
2025-06-18 09:20:55
@misc{9176772,
  abstract     = {{The buildings and construction sector plays a key role for the European Union to achieve its climate targets. Continuous failure of the sector ́s climate mitigation has brought up a rising discussion about the compatibility of infinite economic growth and long-term socio-ecological sustainability. Grounded in the concept of degrowth, this study analyzes the implicit sustainability understandings and discourse of current EU building sector policies and make respective policy recommendations. A qualitative policy document analysis is conducted to identify and critically analyze all relevant policies updated under the current legislature. The study finds that while the declared ambition of the EU climate policy in the building sector has increased in the current legislature, implemented targets do not align with the transition required for a sustainability transition and policies are framed highly optimistic about their achievement. An alternative degrowth policy agenda would bindingly address environmental pressures along the whole lifecycle of buildings with clear caps for resource use and emissions, and instead of relying on the sectors ́ growth to cover housing needs through public provisioning systems, redistributive policies, and the principle of sufficiency.}},
  author       = {{Lauenburg, Marvin Philipp Niwes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{The blind spots of sustainable construction policies from a growth-critical perspective - A policy analysis of the EU built environment}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}