The 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) highlights the need to cut carbon emissions across all sectors, including the way we heat our homes. Buildings account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and heating in particular is a major contributor. At COP30 in Belém, world leaders reinforced that meeting global climate goals, such as limiting warming to 1.5°C, requires a rapid transition to sustainable domestic heating.
This means moving away from fossil-fuel boilers and inefficient solid fuels, such as open fires and embracing cleaner technologies like electric heat pumps, modern biomass and low-carbon heating solutions such as Ecodesign wood-burning stoves. COP30 builds on momentum from recent years; for example, COP28 launched a “Buildings Breakthrough” initiative, with dozens of countries pledging to make new buildings near-zero-emission by 2030.
Global Policies – Driving Cleaner Heating:
Worldwide, decarbonising domestic heating is rising on the policy agenda. Space and water heating in buildings still rely heavily on fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, and coal) in many countries, driving up emissions and air pollution. Nearly 10% of global climate pollution comes directly from burning fossil fuels in buildings, mostly oil and gas boilers. Recognising this, governments at COP30 have highlighted clean heating as a climate priority. The push aligns with the Paris Agreement goals and national net-zero pledges, which demand phasing out carbon-intensive heating over the next two decades.
One major policy trend is the electrification of heating through heat pumps. Global heat pump sales have surged in recent years, growing 11% in 2022 and 38% in Europe that year, driven by climate policies and energy security concerns. However, recent data suggest a slight slowdown in 2023, with sales falling around 5% in some European markets.
This indicates that while heat pump adoption is accelerating, more policy support may be needed to sustain exponential growth. Many countries have set ambitious targets: for example, under the Breakthrough Agenda launched at COP26 and reaffirmed since, governments aim to make clean technologies, like heat pumps, the most affordable and accessible option globally by the 2030s. COP28 saw over 20 nations join the Buildings Breakthrough coalition to transform the building sector to near-zero emissions by 2030, signalling a high-level commitment to cleaner heating and cooling.
The EU’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) mandates a sharp move away from fossil-fuel heating. EU countries must decarbonise heating and cooling systems with a view to phasing out fossil fuels by 2040. In practice, this means that starting mid-decade, installing conventional gas or oil boilers in Europe will be heavily restricted or banned, accelerating the switch to heat pumps, district heating, and other renewable heat sources.
Importantly, COP30 discussions highlighted that tackling heating isn’t only about carbon, it’s about health and pollution too. In many developing countries, the focus is on replacing traditional biomass (unseasoned wood/charcoal) being burnt on highly inefficient cookstoves with cleaner alternatives to save lives and reduce CO2 emissions. In developed nations, phasing out coal and curbing wood smoke from open fires have climate and health benefits.
How to reduce indoor air pollution:
* Avoid smoking in a home
* Reduce the use of harsh household cleaners
* Reduce or eliminate the use of an open fire
* Open windows when possible
* Minimise air freshener use
* Make sure extractor fans are working correctly
* Avoid using scented candles
* Dust surfaces and vacuum frequently
The transition to sustainable heating presents both challenges and opportunities across the industry, from boiler manufacturers to wood-burning stove producers like ourselves. Recent outcomes from COP30, along with evolving national policies, confirm that the market is steadily and continuously moving toward low-carbon, low-emission technologies. This aligns with our long-standing focus on sustainability, reflected in our Ecodesign, clearSkies-certified stoves and our hydrogen-ready gas fires.
Modern Ecodesign wood-burning stoves can be part of a low-carbon future, especially when used alongside other appliances. For instance, a household might primarily use a heat pump (electric heating) but have an Ecodesign wood-burning stove as a secondary heating source, providing flexibility and backup during peak demand or power outages. Wood is a renewable fuel that can be locally sourced. Carbon budgets are tightening, and electricity is getting cleaner each year, but a one-size-fits-all strategy relying on a single energy source could be risky.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, COP30 shone a spotlight on sustainable domestic heating as a critical piece of the climate puzzle. Globally and in the UK, policies are increasingly aligned with the need to cut emissions from our homes while also reducing pollution. The key takeaway is that the era of unabated fossil fuel heating is drawing to a close. It will be replaced by an era of diverse, cleaner technologies, from electric heat pumps warming well-insulated homes, to ultra-efficient wood-burning stoves burning seasoned logs, to perhaps new solutions we have yet to scale. Achieving this transition will demand supportive policy, consistent subsidies, building codes, R&D, industry adaptation, and public buy-in. The efforts are well underway, as evidenced by COP30 commitments and national strategies, but the 2020s will be the make-or-break decade to implement the change at pace.
For businesses and consumers alike, the message is to prepare and embrace the heating revolution. As our experience shows, adapting products to be cleaner and more efficient is not just about compliance but also about staying relevant in a carbon-constrained world. The heating of our homes, a fundamental part of daily life, is evolving rapidly.
