News and Events
Conference Climate Proofing of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds20.11.2009
On 17 November 2009 at the European Parliament in Brussels took place an international conference entitled Climate Proofing of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds Conference. The event was co-organized by the European NGOs Friends of the Earth and CEE Bankwatch, in cooperation of the European Green Party.
The conference succeeded to engage members of the European Parliament, EU officials and national and regional governments, civil society and the media in a discussion on the following issues:
• climate impact of EU funds programmes and projects;
• opportunities and success factors for the 'de-carbonisation' of EU funds programmes and projects in the transport and energy sectors;
• common problems and barriers affecting the use of the EU funds for climate mitigation and adaptation projects;
• priorities of EU cohesion policy in order to deliver “low carbon development” in the European regions;
• recommendations for the climate proofing of the future cohesion policy during 2014-2020.
The debate during the conference re-confirmed the observation that climate change was one of the biggest challenges for European regions as its impacts would hit both the human and non-human environment and would pose significant constraints to regional and local economies. Therefore, mitigating and adapting to climate change requires urgent policy actions supported by targeted funding resources. Taking timely action to place society and the economy on a low carbon development pathway can also help to create green jobs and market opportunities while ensuring energy security and long-term prosperity in the EU and worldwide.
EU structural and cohesion funds are the second biggest line in the EU budget, providing 347 billion euros in the 2007-2013 period for the purpose of delivering regional development and social cohesion. The 2007-2013 financial period provided new opportunities for EU funds to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transport systems and integrated urban development. Yet, at the same time, a considerable amount of the funds are still allocated for interventions which are likely to lock countries into climate intensive development scenarios. This is especially true for the CEE countries which joined the EU in 2005-2007 period and which are the most significant recipient of the cohesion and structural funds in 2007-2013 period (55 billion EUR), the major part of which go towards road infrastructure and hence, to dramatic increase in GHG emissions due to increased traffic volumes of private cars. At the same time, little attention is paid to the development of efficient public and railway transport in those countries, despite the fact that, for instance, buses and trams produce 1/3 of CO2 emissions per passenger per km then private cars.
The participants in the conference re-confirmed that next the European Commission needs to maintain the momentum towards a low emission economy, and in particular towards decarbonising EU electricity supply and the transport sector. In addition, far greater share of EU budget needs to go to the „green transport“ measures, since statistics unequivocally demonstrate that transport alone causes more then 17% of EU GHG emissions.Therefore, in order to meet its ambitious objectives for reducing GHG emissions by 20% from the 1990 levels by 2020 the EU needs to earmark at least 75% of all transport funding from social and cohesion funds for low-carbon and environmentally friendly transport. Explicit priority should be given to the development of rail links between major cities. With respect to public transport the focus should be on improvements both in infrastructure and rolling stock and be part of integrated transport strategies including the enhanced accessibility, frequency, quality, safety and environmental performance of the public transport services
Finally, the participants of the conference recommended that for the future programming period EU should set requirements for “climate proofing” of financed projects (изисквания за климатично „сигурни и безопасни” проекти) by the different operational programs and introduce GHG emissions indicators in order to improve monitoring and evaluation of such projects. To this respect, a special guidance document on sustainable development is expected from DG Regional Development in the first half of 2010 directed towards the managing authorities of operational programs (OPs) on regional development. The guidance shall give recommendations and directions for enhanced “climate proofing” of financed projects during the pending midterm evaluation of OPs.
Agenda and presentations of the conference
Gallery
6 pictures in gallery
