Cohesion Policy and Climate ChangeCohesion Policy and Climate Change

Viktoria BollaViktoria BollaDG ENV Unit C.1 ‘Climate strategy, International Negotiation and Monitoring of DG ENV Unit C.1 ‘Climate strategy, International Negotiation and Monitoring of

EU Action’EU Action’

Tallinn, 4 October 2007Tallinn, 4 October 2007

Outline

Role of Structural Fund and Cohesion Fund

Regulatory background

Best Practices

Role of Structural Funds in climate change mitigation and adaptation

Mainstreaming climate change in EU Cohesion Policy (1): assessment stage

Make use of existing instruments such as the Strategic Enviromental Assessment (SEA)

and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Implementation of the requirements of both SEA and EIA directives is planned to prevent potentially damaging projects to be funded

by SF/CF

Ideally assessment should be broadened to include

impacts on GHG emissions & climate change impacts

in a thorough and systematic manner

Mainstreaming climate change in EU Cohesion Policy (2): project opportunities

We need to act locally. Climate change mitigation and adaptation can be financed from Structural Funds. Under the European Regional Development Fund Regulation and specifically the Convergence objective (Article 4) eleven priorities are set up, including

●Environmental investment - aid to mitigate the effects of climate change

●Prevention of natural risk●Integrated strategies for clean transport●Energy investments including renewable energy and

energy efficiency

Mitigation challenge: No silver bullet to reduce GHG emissions

Energy industries 32,1%

Agriculture 9,2%

Other 3,0%Household and services 15,5%

Industry 20,8%

Transport 19,4%

Sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU

Mitigation under the Cohesion Policy in practice

• Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion (SGC 2007-2013) give priority to• waste and waste-water infrastructures • management of natural resources• decontamination of land• sustainable transport• energy efficiency and renewable energies

• EU funds should support low-emitting projects. Few examples:• all new buildings and reconstructions should be

highly energy efficient • new car fleet and all machinery should be fuel

efficient• renewables in accordance with country

specificities• clean transport modes

Adaptation is needed in the EU

• Climate change has significant influence on the probability and hazard of natural risks in all regions. It is crucial to make regions more resilient. Majority of adaptation projects has inter-regional aspects

• Cohesion Policy aims at reducing the disparities between EU regions. Climate change affects regions differently, potentially further increasing disparities

• Climate ‘proofing’ of all medium and long-term investment projects is not a luxury but an economic necessity, and should be the first step.

• Cohesion Policy should support specific adaptation projects.

Adaptation under the Cohesion Fund in practice

● Impacts on water cycle and water resources management and prediction of extreme events

● Marine resources and coastal zones and tourism

● Human health ● Agriculture and forestry● Biodiversity● Regional planning, built

environment, public and energy infrastructure,

● Urban planning and construction

• Can be financed from the Structural Funds under risk prevention

• This aspect shows very different level of consideration in Member States

Where to look for best practices?

French tool on carbon neutrality Greening Regional Development Policies http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/grdp/1393647/1739700/1739726 Ideas Paper http://www.environment-ency.gov.uk/grdp/1393647/1739700/1739726 European Network of Environmental Authorities Climate

Change and Cohesion Policy Working Group

Espace project: putting adaptation at the heart of spatial planning

http://www.espace-project.org/

Cities for climate Protection (ICLEI)

http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=800

New projects under INTERREG IV

Conclusions I:Huge opportunity not to be missed!

● Urgent action required to reduce GHG emissions.● New industrial revolution – unique opportunity to

incorporate decarbonization of the economy into Cohesion Policy.

● New co-financed infrastructure wearing the EU logo provides ample opportunities to serve as example that low-carbon development is feasible.

● Opportunity to take full account of potential climate change impacts on long-term infrastructure investments and to adapt design adequately.

● Systematic assessment of greenhouse gas impacts and potential risks due to climate change impacts are the first steps (“climate proofing”).

Conclusions II

● The same principles should apply for● any new infrastructure investments ● planning and developing transport

systems● constructions and reconstruction● water management

…..Regardless of the origins of the funds: Community, national, regional , public, private investments should all build on the principle of climate protection and climate proofing.

Climate Change & Financing:community instruments

Community instruments

Total EU budget for 2007-2013 about 864,3 billion euros includingRTD – FP 7 (7th Framework

Programme) Structural/Regional fundsCAP (Common Agricultural Policy)CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation

framework Programme) Mid-term budgetary review / next

financial perspective 2014

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/future_action.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/index_en.htm

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