Paris, 21–23 May 2025 – The European Federation for Living (EFL) convened its Spring Conference in Paris, bringing together housing associations, policymakers and practitioners from across Europe to address affordable housing and climate resilience. Over two days of presentations and discussions, attendees exchanged experiences and explored pathways toward more sustainable, resilient housing solutions.
The conference covered how different countries face climate change in their housing sectors and examined strategies to improve climate resilience. On Friday, representatives from the European Union and the European Investment Bank (EIB) presented their current and forthcoming investment plans in affordable housing, providing valuable context on funding and policy directions.
Living Future Europe’s Regenerative Perspective
At the heart of the event, Carlo Battisti, President of Living Future Europe (LFE), presented the Living Building Challenge (LBC) framework, offering a regenerative design approach tailored to affordable housing. He framed regeneration as an opportunity for housing associations to deliver projects that restore ecological systems while meeting affordability goals.
Drawing on case studies from completed and in-progress LBC projects, Battisti demonstrated how early integration of regenerative principles can guide site selection, material choice, energy strategy and community engagement. He emphasised measurable targets — such as net-zero energy, net-positive water use and equitable access to healthy indoor environments — and detailed the process by which projects document and verify their performance through the LBC’s rigorous certification pathway.
Key Takeaways
Cross-Border Learning: Housing associations from France, Germany, Spain and beyond shared case studies on social housing models, energy efficiency retrofits and tenant engagement strategies.
Policy & Finance: EU and EIB updates clarified funding timelines and priorities, reinforcing the critical role of public financing in scaling up climate-resilient housing.
Regenerative Mindset: The Living Building Challenge perspective broadened the conversation from “lessening impact” to “creating positive social and ecological outcomes.”
- Resilience & Risk: Delegates repeatedly emphasised resilient, future-proof buildings, the importance of climate-risk assessment, and practical solutions to safeguard affordable housing against emerging climate challenges.
“It was a pleasure to welcome so many of you in person,” the EFL team wrote in its post-conference note, underlining the value of “valuable interaction among all participants” throughout the sessions.
“We look forward to seeing you again at future EFL events and continuing our collaboration across Europe,” the organisers concluded, inviting all delegates to build on the momentum generated in Paris.
About the European Federation for Living (EFL)
The European Federation for Living is a network of housing associations, social landlords and allied organisations committed to advancing sustainable and resilient housing across Europe. EFL convenes conferences, working groups and research initiatives that promote best practices in energy efficiency, affordability and social inclusion.
