On 2 April 2025, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system released updated criteria for the European market, enhancing its alignment with the EU Taxonomy and the Level(s) framework – two key tools for sustainable building in Europe. Since 2022, LEED has been working to better align its standards with European requirements, including an alternative compliance path to assess a building’s global warming potential according to Level(s) criteria. 

LEED version 4 had already incorporated most EU Taxonomy requirements, supported by the Arc self-assessment tool that helps users demonstrate compliance. The newly launched version 5 further strengthens this alignment by introducing specific credits to cover aspects not previously addressed, making it easier to certify projects under European sustainability standards. 

This closer alignment has been welcomed by the European Commission as an opportunity to reinforce EU building policies. The Managing Director of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) Europe emphasised that this regional pathway simplifies documentation for European projects and helps navigate the complex landscape of certification schemes. 

This update reflects a broader trend among certification bodies to integrate EU standards and legislation, supporting the goals of the EU Green Deal and the transition to a carbon-neutral society by 2050 through a more sustainable built environment across Europe. 

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