Supporting the energy transition to a climate-neutral central Europe
Central Europe needs to speed up its performance related both to energy efficiency as well as the production and use of renewable energy to meet EU targets and climate objectives of the European Green Deal. Significant regional disparities between central European regions have to be tackled. Energy efficiency and renewable energy need to be promoted and exploited to reach a wider geographical coverage.
Potential fields to be addressed
Smart integration of carbon-neutral solutions across sectors
Energy efficiency of buildings and public infrastructures
Energy planning at local and regional levels
Financing schemes for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments
Renewable energy sources
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from industry and other sectors
Energy demand management and behavioural change
Energy poverty
Increasing the resilience to climate change risks in central Europe
Resilience to climate change risks represents an important need for central Europe, especially in view of its significant environmental and socio-economic impacts. A specific territorial aspect is the need for integrated and cross-sectoral approaches to best adapt to climate change. In order to build up climate resilience, general approaches need to be locally adapted towards workable and manageable, integrated solutions which can be proliferated across the entire central Europe area.
POTENTIAL FIELDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Climate change resilience and adaptation measures
Resilience to weather extremes and related hazards (rainfall events, floods, landslides, heat, draughts, water scarcity, wildfires etc.)
Socio-economic and health-related impacts of climate change
Climate-proof landscape and urban planning
Risk awareness, prevention and management
Taking circular economy forward in central Europe
A climate-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy requires up-scaled circular approaches. This economic transformation has to pay attention to the fact that a circular economy will often require a re-arrangement of value chains, changes of interdependencies and the creation of new profit options. It is important that this socio-economic transformation happens across the entire territory of central Europe and does not concentrate on only a few regions.
POTENTIAL FIELDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Waste prevention & management, recycling and recovery of resources & raw materials
Circular economy value chains
Sustainable product design (e.g. eco-design) and product development processes
Repair and re-use
Clean production processes and closed loop systems
Behavioural changes of producers, consumers, public buyers etc.
Safeguarding the environment in central Europe
The economic and environmental significance of natural assets and landscapes in central Europe calls for a co-ordinated valorisation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. There is a strong need to counteract negative effects of human action through integrated environmental management approaches.
POTENTIAL FIELDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Biodiversity conservation and recovery including urban green spaces
Reduction of environmental pollution (air, water, soil, noise, light etc.) and their human health impacts
Sustainable land management and landscape planning
Restoration of degraded ecosystems
Protection of natural heritage, ecosystems and valuable areas incl. Natura 2000 sites
Integrated environmental management and sustainable use of natural resources
Ecosystem services (e.g. production of food and water, clean air, recreational benefits)
Sustainable tourism and the valorisation of natural heritage
Greening urban mobility in central Europe
A reduction of transport emissions is one of the key targets of the European Green Deal. Smart and greener urban mobility will need an integrated response. Many functional urban areas in central Europe face similar challenges when greening their mobility. The specific territorial need lies in the vast diversity of topics (e.g. pollution and congestion) that need to be addressed in an integrated approach. Furthermore, the topic does not only include different ways of mobility, but also urban as well as urban-rural logistics.
POTENTIAL FIELDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Sustainable urban mobility planning
Smart traffic and mobility management, including commuting solutions
Sustainable multimodal urban freight and logistic solutions (including the “last mile”)
Accessibility of urban public transport for everyone, especially for elderly and frail people
Quality and efficiency of green, urban public transport services
Sustainable multimodal connections between urban and peri-urban areas
Reduction of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants from urban transport