Cohesion Policy and Climate Change

1. Cohesion Policy and Climate Change Viktoria Bolla DG ENV Unit C.1 ‘Climate strategy, International Negotiation and Monitoring of EU Action’ Tallinn, 4 October 2007

2. Outline Role of Structural Fund and Cohesion Fund Regulatory background Best Practices

3. Role of Structural Funds in climate change mitigation and adaptation

4. 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

5. 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

6. Mitigation challenge: No silver bullet to reduce GHG emissions Sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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”).

12. 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.

13. Climate Change & Financing:community instruments

14. Community instruments • Total EU budget for 2007-2013 about 864,3 billion euros including • RTD – FP 7 (7th Framework Programme) • Structural/Regional funds • CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) • CIP (Competitiveness and Innovation framework Programme) • Mid-term budgetary review / next financial perspective 2014

15. THANK YOU FOR YOURATTENTION! 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