Low carbon cities and regions
Priority 2: Cooperating on low - carbon strategies in CENTRAL EUROPE
This priority aims at increasing the use of renewable energies and improving energy efficiency while exploiting the economic growth potential of the low-carbon sector. The programme will also contribute to enhancing knowledge and skills with regard to efficient energy management of public infrastructures. The development and implementation of territorially based low-carbon strategies and mobility in functional urban areas will be supported to tackle the challenges central Europe is facing in energy production and consumption. This will also contribute to mitigating climate change. The financial allocation to this priority is around EUR 44 million ERDF. Projects to be funded will have to tackle one of the three specific objectives formulated under this priority:
Specific objective 2.1: To develop and implement solutions for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy usage in public infrastructures
Transnational cooperation will help to reduce know-how disparities and increase capacities of the public sector and related entities for improving the energy efficiency of public infrastructures and ultimately reducing their energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This will be achieved through strengthening competences as well as developing and implementing strategies, management approaches and financing schemes, which will serve as seedbed for achieving higher energy efficiency. This will consequently leverage further investment such as the renovation of public buildings and the upgrading of the energy efficiency level of public infrastructure. Furthermore, the usage of renewable energy in public infrastructures will be fostered through identifying potentials, testing innovative solutions and preparing follow-up investments.
Specific objective 2.2: To improve territorially based low-carbon energy planning strategies and policies supporting climate change mitigation
Transnational cooperation will help building new knowledge as well as exchanging existing knowledge and experiences between and within regions concerning the planning, financing and implementing of concrete actions to deliver sustainable energy measures. It aims to improve the capacity of the public sector and related entities, as a key starting point for mobilising investment for low-carbon measures at territorial level. Transnational cooperation will thereby contribute to triggering activities especially in regions with a lower usage of their renewable energy potentials. Furthermore, it will support the linking of approaches between the demand and supply sides, taking into account the quality and capacity of energy distribution grids. This will be achieved through strengthening the knowledge and planning capacity of the public sector and related entities that facilitate the transition towards ‘Sustainable Energy Regions’. The programme will support them in the development and implementation of innovative local and regional energy planning strategies leading to an enhanced use of endogenous renewable energy potentials in a balanced way and to a reduction of CO2 emissions. This will in many cases also imply positive effects on air quality.
Specific objective 2.3: To improve capacities for mobility planning in functional urban areas to lower CO2 emissions
Transnational cooperation will help increasing planning capacities of the public sector and related entities for low-carbon mobility by bringing together fore-riders with territories lagging behind, thus enhancing low-carbon mobility in central European functional urban areas and reducing air pollution. This will allow for the development and implementation of integrated mobility concepts, the setting up of coordinated management structures and the deployment of innovative technologies. The promotion of innovative low-carbon mobility solutions at transnational level will support authorities in their efforts towards the goal of sustainable mobility.
