New timeline makes climate targets and sustainability regulations tangible for the construction sector
GROUP A’s Carbonlab and Aveco de Bondt have updated the Timeline of Key Regulations and Targets for the Built Environment. Covering everything from European climate targets to legal obligations relating to energy, circularity and biodiversity, the 2026 edition maps climate targets and legal obligations from 1995 to 2050.
Regulations governing the transition to a more sustainable built environment are becoming increasingly extensive and complex. At the same time, building and area development projects require decisions that often have long-term implications.
The timeline provides guidance for everyone involved in the built environment, from clients, investors and developers to designers, consultants and contractors. Through this initiative, Aveco de Bondt and GROUP A’s Carbonlab aim to share knowledge and provide a common starting point for dialogue on a sustainable built environment. This helps stakeholders take future obligations and sustainability targets into account and make well-informed decisions.
Refined and updated content
The first version of the timeline was published in 2023 and has been updated several times since. It has been positively received and is widely used in projects and processes. The 2026 edition focuses on concrete sustainability targets and legally binding obligations. This shifts the emphasis away from legislative acts and policy programmes towards the obligations and targets that guide the transition to a more sustainable built environment.
To place these developments in a broader historical context, the timeline now reaches back to 1995, providing a more coherent overview of the evolution of Dutch legislation and regulations. The design has also been updated, and the content is organised into four themes: ESG reporting and due diligence, energy and emissions, biodiversity and nature conservation, and raw materials and circularity. These changes make the timeline more accessible and help users identify relevant developments and connections more quickly.
The Timeline of Key Regulations and Targets for the Built Environment is available in English only via this link. GROUP A and Aveco de Bondt invite everyone to consult, share and use the timeline in projects and discussions about the future of the built environment. Additions and suggestions are welcome, allowing the overview to evolve further through knowledge and insights from professional practice.
