Climate change and EU territorial policies. Vitoria-Gasteiz 24 Nov 08

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1 Climate change and EU territorial policies Vitoria-Gasteiz 24 Nov 08 1

2 Climate changes so politics does 2

3 Let me say this. It is as if I have three children the economy, our social agenda, and the environment. Like any modern father if one of my children (economy) is sick, I am ready to drop everything and focus on him until he is back to health. That is normal and responsible." President Barroso, 2 February 2005 presenting the renewed Lisbon strategy before the European Parliament 3

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5 «An Inconvenient Truth» (May 2006) Box office: 49 mln $. 4th place all time Oscar Prize 2007: best documentary Al Gore Nobel Peace Prize

6 Stern Review (October 2006) do nothing: the cost and risk will be equivalent at least 5% annum of global GDP from now on, and may even reach 20%». 4th Assessment Report IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Nobel Peace Prize

7 Eurobarometer 69 (Aug 2008) Europeans' attitudes towards climate change 7

8 Climate change is not a "luxury" we now have to forego. Saving the planet is not an "after-dinner drink", a "digéstif" that you take or leave. Climate change does not disappear because of the financial crisis. Tackling climate change is central to Europe's future prosperity. President Barroso, 29 October 2008 Speech From financial crisis to recovery: A European framework for action 8

9 The global green new deal? The pressure Citizen concerns, because of direct extreme experiences Converging concerns by natural sciences and economics Spiral of energy and food prices The room of opportunity Room for «low-carbon revolution»: technology, economy, society Driver for reform of EU policies (energy, CAP, cohesion, industrial policy, etc.) The roadmap for new global governance «Green» revolution to respond to financial crisis, fight poverty, secure food 9 Field for EU leadership at global level

10 The EU agenda The EU policy response 2000 European Climate Change Programme (ECCP 1: , ECCP2: ) 2003 European Emission Trading Scheme 2007 Green Paper Adapting to climate change in Europe - options for EU action /20/20 by "Climate action and renewable energy package 10

11 A competitive and cohesive Europe Where to invest? Who pays the bill? EU budget < 1% GNI = 2,5% total public exp. in the EU < 1 % total EU budget (866.3 bln Eur) for

12 The EU budget review Open consultation (2007/2008) on future EU priorities and EU budget allocations At the top of the list: Climate change Two thirds of contributors consider it Europe s big test for future Energy supply security One in two respondents concerned about energy issues. Conference Brussels, 12 Nov 2008 "Reforming the budget, changing 12

13 Climate changes so territorial policies do 13

14 Is there a momentum? Territorial Agenda of the EU Green Paper on European Territorial Cohesion Ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon - new objective Territorial Cohesion Elaboration of macro-regional strategies (Baltic Sea Region, Danube River Strategy, Union pour la Méditerranée, etc.) EU budget review Territorial vs. sectoral policies Cohesion policy beyond 2013 The place for cooperation 14

15 October Community Strategic Guidelines Cohesion Policy textual recurrences 9 times: nature (resource), natural, etc. 20 times: rural 34 times: urban 37 times: environment, environmental, etc. 11 times: energy, energetic, etc. 41 times: RTD, research, researcher, etc. 48 times: infrastructure, infrastructural, etc. 58 times: technology, technological, ITC (25), etc. 74 times: innovative, innovation, etc. 87 times: enterprise, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship Lisbon 30 Gothenburg 2 Climate 0 25 times: SMEs 15

16 Lisbon earmarking of cohesion policy Article 9 of Regulation 1083/2006 The assistance co-financed by the funds shall target the EU priorities of promoting competitiveness and creating jobs The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that - 60% of the expenditure for the Convergence objective - 75% for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective is set for these priorities Annex VI of Regulation 1083/2006): list of relevant expenditure categories Section Environmental protection and risk prevention: Covered: promotion of clean urban transport Not covered: all the other categories (e.g. infrastrutures related to water, waste, air quality, land decontamination, biodiversity, risk 16

17 October Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion textual recurrences 3 times: environment, environmental, etc. 6 times: urban 7 times: nature (resource), natural, etc. 17 times: rural Lisbon 1 Climate 4 1 time: technology, technological, ICT, etc. 1 time: enterprise, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship 2 times: infrastructure, infrastructural, etc. 3 times: innovative, innovation, etc. 6 times: RTD, research, researcher, etc. 11 times: energy, energetic 17

18 The green paper on territorial cohesion From the frozen tundra in the Arctic Circle to the tropical rainforests of Guyane, from the Alps to the Greek islands, from the global cities of London and Paris to small towns and villages dating back centuries, the EU harbours an incredibly rich territorial diversity. the concept of territorial cohesion builds bridges between economic effectiveness, social cohesion and ecological balance, putting sustainable development at the heart of policy design. 18

19 The cohesion policy s investments The total support from the European budget under Structural and Cohesion Funds allocated to environmental programmes in has doubled since the previous period, to around 100 billion. Half will go to investments with an environmental impact on areas such as transport and energy systems, ecoinnovation, urban and rural regeneration, environmental management for businesses and ecotourism. 19

20 The cohesion policy s intervention Fostering green investments infrastructures innovation and renewable energies sustainable urban renewal Conditionality and mainstreaming of environmental policy Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Authorities capacity building Cooperation and exchange of experiences cross-border and transnational interventions interregional networks Monitoring of territory trends ESPON Programme 20

21 One example of priority-shift... the first call for projects INTERREG IVC under Priority 2 Environment Applications (by 15 Jan 08) EUR Approval (19 Sept 08): 30 mln 21

22 the second example... the first call for projects INTERREG IVB Atlantic Area Project proposals by priority 22

23 Risk management: what is at stake for regions? Citizens proximity to citizens and visitors and political / legal responsibility for their safety Environment prevention of major environmental damages and preservation of local natural assets To protect Lives and Investments Property Preservation of public and private assets Local economy Reducing risk of interruption of economic activities with possible medium-to-longer term consequences Image / external perception Avoid perception of neglected territory and «no-care» policies 23

24 Risk management: territorial cooperation Further development and capitalisation under New Objective European Territorial Cooperation ( ) and in particular Regions for Economic Change 24

25 Risk management: satellite-based innovation Despite notable differences in mandates and competences between the various European Regions and Local Authorities, they do appear to be priority users and beneficiaries of satellite infrastructure-based services to fulfil a number of direct management tasks in areas linked to the environment, emergencies and security (urban transport, spatial planning, flooding, fire, pollution control) 25

26 Climate changes territories at the forefront 26

27 Argument 1: geography matters, uneavily distributed exposure to Climate change More than one third of EU population a total of 170 million people live in the regions most affected by climate change. Generally located in the South and East of Europe. Particular exposure for costal regions. Source: EC(Nov 2008), Regions 2020, 27

28 Argument 1: geography matters, uneavily distributed exposure to Energy prices 3 factors determining Energy vulnerability Internal and external security of supply Energy use and efficiency Carbon emissions as indicator of sustainability Source: EC(Nov 2008), Regions 2020, An assessment of future challenges 28

29 Argument 1: geography matters, uneavily distributed exposure to natural catastrophies While 7 % of the Union s population live in flood-prone areas, another 9 % live in areas where there are over 120 days a year without rain. In total, that is one in six of the EU population. The different effects of climate change will pose serious problems for quality of life, tourism and agriculture in these regions. Source: EC(2007) Fourth Cohesion Report 29

30 Argument 2: invest locally for new growth and jobs Even the fight against climate change can present new opportunities: by exploiting their natural assets and specific knowhow, regions can improve their energy balance and strengthen their competitiveness. They can innovate and create new jobs. As difficult as ecological challenges may be, they can be overcome with creativity. 30

31 Argument 3: mobilise actors locally and regionally Eurobarometer 69 (Aug 2008) Europeans' attitudes towards climate change

32 Argument 4: catching basins, cooperation initiatives Pirinioetak o lan elkartea Eurorégion Alpes-Méditerranée Eurorégion Pyrénées-Méditerranée EURIMED Mediterranean Islands New basins of intervention, e.g. the Euroregional approach, the EGTCs 32

33 European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation - EGTC What? stable legal structure with autonomous legal personality Who? constitued by territorial authorities (national, regional, local, other bodies) Where? from at least two Member States (Third Countries, if legislated or agreed) Why? to deliver cooperation actions across the borders How? joint staff, joint properties, joint finance 33

34 EGTC and cities-regions, cooperating while competing? Eurorégion Pyrenées-Mediterranée the DOTs: Barcelona, Zaragoza, Toulose, Montpellier, Palma and the border-towns : e.g. Perpignan Girona Eurometropole Lille the cross-border DOT (TGV) within the triangle London-Paris-Brussels Eurorégion Alpes Méditerranée the cross-alps Axe (Turin Lyon), 34 the Med-Arc (Marseille-Genoa) and the external anchors (Paris, Milan)

35 EGTC in fieri, la Grande Region «Les participants au Sommet souhaitent créer d ici 2009 un Groupement Européen de Coopération Territoriale (GECT) qui exercera les activités de l Autorité de gestion.» 35

36 Argument 5: inclusive governance At local and regional level as well as at European ant international level

37 Key questions How and to which degree will climate change impact on the competitiveness and cohesion of different European regions? Which will be the impact on quality of life? And on local economy? In which way can policy contribute to mitigate climate change, and to adapt to it? Where are the room for improvement? Where are the best practice? How can we share them? 37

38 We may need... Better governance Integration of policies Upgraded partnerships New scales of intervention Rationalisation and cooperation New policy delivery mechanisms New ways of engaging citizens 38

39 now and here

40 CoR political position on climate change Outlook Opinion «How regions contribute to achieving European climate change and energy goals, with a special focus on the Covenant of Mayors» The citizenship s dimension of fighting climate change collective effort shared action from the bottom, day-to-day protect the most vulnerable citizens (those on low and fixed incomes) from the effect of high energy prices and from suffering fuel poverty The local and regional dimension of fighting climate change Why regions, cities and towns: major competences and responsibilities (planning, transport, housing, etc.) leverage for behavioural changes among citizens / economic actors catalyst for large partnerships opportunity to draw new vision for their future development: social, economic and technological innovation

41 The geographers and the explorers

42 Gianluca Spinaci Cellule de prospective Committee of the Regions tel