The climate crisis and EU in the Anthropocene: May European Green Deal affect asbestos removal?

In the Anthropocene, humanity faces many questions related to the condition of our planet, as well as severely damaging effects on humans and the surrounding environment. An example of a mineral with versatile applications in daily human activities, yet which eventually revealed harmful consequences for both human health and the environment, is asbestos. Europe was, after the United States, the second region in terms of the development of the asbestos-containing products industry. The ban on asbestos use was introduced in the European Union (EU) in 2005. However, most Member States have not adopted comprehensive removal frameworks or quantified the remaining stock for systematic decontamination. We conducted a cross-national comparison of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Belgium, evaluating six dimensions of policy readiness: statutory mandate, stock estimation, removal programs, registry/GIS coverage, dedicated funding, and health and safety measures. A comparison of the policies applied, and activities undertaken made it possible to identify a pathway for both the EU and other countries. Our analysis highlights Poland as best practice exemplar, combining clear legislative deadlines (e.g. completion of roof inventories by 2032), performance-based co-financing schemes, and centralized data infrastructures (e.g. GeoAzbest). These local decisions on policy development have a great influence on environmental change since buildings represent one of the most important sectors for final energy demand in Europe. We recommend that high-consuming Member States adopt mandatory removal timelines, establish national registers of asbestos-cement roofs, and implement tailored financial incentives such as competitive grants. Given that the EU has committed to reducing its emissions by 80%–95% by 2050, coupling asbestos removal with energy efficiency renovations will deliver co-benefits that advance both public health and climate objectives.