EU’s Accelerated Net-Zero Renovation Plan Raises Asbestos Risks

The European Union must confront a significant asbestos problem as it works to make buildings more energy efficient in its push to hit net-zero emissions, the bloc’s executive said in a plan published Wednesday.

The legal limit for asbestos exposure should be cut to a tenth of the current level, and EU countries should create registers of asbestos in buildings, the European Commission said.

“All forms of asbestos have been banned in the EU since 2005, but asbestos remains present in many buildings; we estimate 220 million units were built before the ban,” said Nicolas Schmit, EU commissioner for jobs ...