On 16 September 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered her 2020 State of the European Union address before the Members of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, presenting her priorities for the year ahead and outlining her vision for how the European Union could evolve in the future. From this perspective, Ursula von der Leyen advocates a Europe emerging stronger from the pandemic and paving the way for a new vitality. NextGenerationEU, the new instrument for recovery, is a unique opportunity of changing in this direction. In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen presented the actions of the European Commission in order to give Europe the means to become green, digital and more resilient. In this sense, the use of organic materials in the construction of buildings, such as wood, was highlighted as a commitment to reduce CO2 emissions.
“Our buildings generate 40% of our emissions. They need to become less wasteful, less expensive and more sustainable. And we know that the construction sector can even be turned from a carbon source into a carbon sink, if organic building materials like wood and smart technologies like AI are applied.”
Ursula von der Leyen – President of the European Commission – September 2020
