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EU Slashes Green Rules for AI, Housing
10 Dec
Summary
- EU may exempt datacenters, AI, and housing from environmental impact rules.
- Plans aim to speed up permits for strategic projects and cut business red tape.
- Green groups warn deregulation dismantles environmental policy and health protections.
New proposals from the European Commission suggest exempting sectors such as datacenters, AI gigafactories, and affordable housing from mandatory environmental impact assessments. This initiative aims to accelerate permitting for critical projects and reduce the scope of environmental reporting rules for businesses across the EU. Member states would gain discretion over whether these strategic projects undergo such assessments.
Further simplifications include repealing a hazardous chemical database and easing requirements for farms and industries regarding environmental management systems. The Commission estimates these measures will save companies approximately €1 billion annually. However, environmental advocacy groups decry the plans as a significant rollback of established environmental protections, raising concerns about long-term consequences for ecosystems and public health.
These deregulation efforts come alongside agreements on modernizing the EU's electricity grid and a new climate target for a 90% emissions reduction by 2050, with flexibilities including the use of foreign carbon credits. Concurrently, a deal was reached to scale back corporate sustainability laws, limiting company scope and delaying compliance deadlines, which has been welcomed by business lobby groups.
