Issues and challenges of a low-carbon Paris

As one of the most advanced and committed cities in terms of sustainable development, the city of Paris has set for itself the ambitious goal of Net Zero Carbon by 2050. With a predominately aging real estate stock, buildings account for 70% of the capital’s greenhouse gas emissions. The effort required to achieve this goal will be considerable, but above all complex, as Paris presents particular issues and challenges. For real estate, the renovation of the existing stock will become a priority. All market players, including investors, developers and public authorities, will have to work together to complete these projects and meet this challenge.

Our latest research will help you identify the specific challenges that Paris faces, and the action required in order to become a decarbonized city by 2050.

When using the term decarbonization, we refer to the combined effort required to reduce the carbon footprint of a building throughout its full life cycle (construction, renovation, operation).

These actions require the involvement of all stakeholders (designers, builders, owners and occupiers) and apply to choices in design (performance targets, envelope quality, landscaping and biodiversity, energy mix), construction (construction materials and methods, management of site waste) as well as during the building’s operational use (monitoring tools and actions, measured approach to management and operational use).

There may be a long road ahead, but France is one of the most advanced countries in terms of regulatory change to encourage decarbonization. The private sector also needs to make the most of this framework, seeing it not as a constraint, but as a genuine opportunity for sustainable value creation.

#1
Under French legislation, sustainable development, decarbonization of the economy and environmental protection have been addressed in detail for the last 15 years. The law therefore provides full guidance to all stakeholders.

#2
Globally, Paris is one of the cities most committed to sustainable development with a zero-carbon target set for 2050.

#3
Paris has already developed a range of tools and will set tougher targets by taking a highly innovative approach under the new bio-climatic PLU (local development plan) which comes into force in 2024.

#4
Paris La Défense, the public body that develops and manages La Défense, has set itself high targets in terms of sustainable development with the aim of La Défense becoming a post-carbon business district

For real estate, the clear priority needs to be the decarbonization of existing stock by renovating buildings. To meet the 2050 target, annual investments in renovation need to triple.

#1
Real estate accounts for 70% of the capital’s greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings therefore need to play a key role in decarbonization policy. In seeking to decarbonize real estate, the full building life cycle needs to be considered and not just, as is often the case, the operational stage alone.

#2
Aiming for real estate decarbonization requires a change in the energy mix used by buildings and the decarbonization of urban heat and cooling networks. Local authorities and the State both have a key role to play in this.

#3
In terms of offices, not only does the level of investment need to triple in order to meet the 2050 targets, but there needs to be a far greater emphasis on renovating or redeveloping rather than developing new buildings

#4
The investment required to address the office and housing stock could amount to 2% of the Greater Paris Region’s GDP, every year for the next 25 years.