EU business groups push for mandatory low-carbon criteria in public procurement to accelerate decarbonisation

European companies, business groups and civil society organisations representing more than 11,500 firms have written to the European Commission urging it to make low-carbon requirements mandatory in public procurement, arguing that the bloc’s €2.5 trillion purchasing market could become one of the most powerful levers for industrial decarbonisation. (carbon-...

According to Carbon Pulse, the appeal comes as Brussels weighs a broader overhaul of procurement rules, after leaked draft plans last month suggested the Commission wants to use public tenders to push decarbonisation, circularity and energy efficiency more directly into EU buying decisions. (carbon-pulse.com)

The campaign adds to a growing debate inside the bloc over whether public purchasing should reward lower-emission products and materials, or remain focused mainly on price and technical criteria. In July, the Commission published guidance under the Net Zero Industry Act aimed at ensuring sustainability and resilience factors are reflected in certain tenders and renewable energy auctions, a move intended to bolster domestic clean-tech manufacturing and reduce reliance on China. (carbon-pulse.com)

But the push is likely to face resistance from capitals that fear the new rules could favour member states and industries already further along the transition. Carbon Pulse reported earlier this year that Poland warned low-carbon criteria in the proposed procurement regime could disadvantage countries with carbon-intensive power systems and widen divisions between greener and lagging economies. (carbon-pulse.com)

For supporters, however, procurement offers something emissions policy often lacks: scale and certainty. Public authorities across the EU buy everything from buildings and transport to steel, cement and energy equipment, meaning a shift in purchasing rules could create steady demand for cleaner industrial goods and help companies justify investment in lower-carbon production. (carbon-pulse.com)

Source: Noah Wire Services