January-February. 2026 | @ green

� The European Commission has proposed the Industrial Accelerator Act to boost demand for lowcarbon technologies produced within the European Union while strengthening domestic manufacturing competitiveness.

� The policy prioritises European-made clean industrial products through public procurement and investment rules, targeting sectors such as steel, cement, automotive manufacturing and renewable energy technologies.

� The Green Building Initiative( GBI) has launched Ascent Building Certification, a science-based programme that assesses sustainability, health, and resilience in commercial buildings.

Known as the Industrial Accelerator Act, the plan seeks to expand demand for low-carbon technologies produced within the European Union while strengthening the region’ s industrial base in an increasingly competitive global market.

Manufacturing remains a central pillar of the European economy, currently accounting for about 14.3 per cent of EU GDP. Under the new proposal, Brussels aims to raise that share to 20 per cent by 2035 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen economic resilience, innovation capacity, and employment across the region.

A core element of the legislation focuses on a new framework for public procurement and public support schemes that will prioritise low-carbon industrial products manufactured in Europe.

This will lead to a more predictable demand for domestic producers. Strategic sectors such as steel, cement, aluminium, and automotive manufacturing will be among the first industries covered by the framework, alongside clean energy technologies including batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps.

The proposal also addresses growing concerns about supply chain security. Production capacity for many technologies linked to the energy transition remains heavily concentrated outside

Europe. By promoting local manufacturing, the European Union hopes to reduce its reliance on external suppliers while maintaining its commitment to open trade.

New conditions may also apply to large foreign investments in strategic

EUROPE INDUSTRIAL SHIFT: EU plan aims to boost domestic clean manufacturing and industrial competitiveness.

GLOBAL BUILDING STANDARD: GBI new certification programme expands sustainability benchmarking for commercial buildings worldwide.

THE Green Building Initiative( GBI) has introduced Ascent Building Certification, a new science-based whole building programme designed to assess sustainability, health, and resilience in commercial real estate projects across multiple regions.

The certification will be available for developments in the European Union industries. Projects exceeding US $ 115 million could face additional requirements if a single country outside the European Union dominates more than 40 per cent of global manufacturing capacity in that sector. Investors will be expected to demonstrate benefits such as technology transfer, innovation, and job creation within Europe.

Additionally, they must ensure that at least 50 per cent of the jobs created by the project are in Europe and adhere to local content regulations. Officials suggest that the policies will ensure that foreign investment strengthens domestic industry ecosystems rather than increasing reliance on outside sources.

( EU), the United Kingdom( UK) and other global markets. Canada and the United States are excluded from the rollout, as those regions already operate under the organisation’ s existing certification systems. The expansion reflects growing global demand for consistent environmental performance standards in commercial buildings.

To support industrial expansion, the plan introduces faster permitting procedures and a digital approval system, especially for certain decarbonisation projects in energy-intensive sectors. The proposal also outlines the creation of Industrial Acceleration Areas, where infrastructure, investment support, and regulatory processes are aligned to encourage clusters of clean manufacturing.

The Industrial Accelerator Act will now proceed through negotiations within the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before it can be officially adopted and implemented.

The new programme builds on the organisation’ s earlier work through its Green Globes certification system, which has already assessed more than 93 million square metres of commercial real estate. Strong adoption of that framework encouraged the development of a model capable of fuelling global market demand for a consistent, proven, and transparent methodology.

Ascent Building Certification is structured as a whole building assessment, covering projects at various stages of their lifecycle. The programme combines a consensus-based framework with the flexibility to adapt to local regulations and standards, thereby offering trust and transparency.

GBI Chief Executive Officer Vicki Worden said:“ Property owners and investors are under growing pressure to show measurable performance and return on performance across international portfolios.” – @ green