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Regional Policy investing in ecosystems & green
infrastructure for regional development
Mathieu FichterPolicy Analyst Environment
European Commission - DG REGIO
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Content
• Why ecosystem services & Green Infrastructure matter for regions/cities
• The 2007-13 framework on Regional Policy investments in ecosystems & GI
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Why ecosystem services & GI matter for regions/cities
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Why invest in ecosystems / GI at in regions ?
• 16.8% of European jobs are indirectly linked to natural assets
• € 300 Millions = total economic value per year of wetlands in Europe
• € 22 billion per year = estimated value of pollination by insects for European agriculture
• €2,573 million per year to local citizens = ‘value’ of ecosystems in the Catalan coastal system
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• Socio-economic development of regions/cities depending on:– Provisioning services (fresh water, raw
materials...)– Regulating services (carbon sequestration,
pollination, erosion prevention, extreme weather moderation…)
– Cultural services (recreation/leisure, tourism…)
– Supporting services (habitats for species…)
Why invest in ecosystems / GI at in regions ?
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Environmental characterisation of European regions
Regional characterisation (raw data, 10 x 10 km grid)Source: EEA/ETC-LUSI, 2010
classification of ‘environmental assets’
Environmental assets and features = key aspects of defining a territory
Identification of assets = needed to support their development and / or to identify common challenges and pressures
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Some tools & instruments for action
• Identify and preserve/re-develop Green Infrastructure
• Environmental Impact or Strategic Environmental Assessments (EIA/SEA);
• Cost-Benefit Analysis - Life Cycle Analyses/Costing including ‘Green accounting’ for public infrastructure;
• Local and regional tax incentives;
• Spatial planning;
• Cross-border, transnational, interregional cooperation
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Work together: key role of governance
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The 2007-13 framework on Regional Policy
investments in ecosystems & GI
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Potential for investments with 2007-13 Regional Policy
Environmentalservices & infrastructure
Low Carbon
Economy
RTD&
Innovation
30% of total available funding 2007-2013
€ 105 billion for the environment
Investments in ecosystems & GI:
- € 3.5 billion for rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land
- € 3.9 billion for biodiversity & nature protection (incl. N2000)
- € 6.5 billion for ‘natural risk prevention’
- € 13.9 billion for waste water treatment
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Message of COM(2011) 17
• Invest more in protection of ecosystems and biodiversity & GI through Regional Policy!
• Calls on regions/cities to:– Invest in natural capital/assets & GI as source
of development;– Use significant funding on natural risk
prevention (ecosystem based adaptation to climate change)
– Invest in Natura2000, protected areas/parks
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RegioStars Awards 2012
Open to any project co-funded by Cohesion Policy in a range of pre-defined areas, for 2012 one category on:
Investments in ecosystem services and green infrastructure leading to sustainable regional development
Deadline for applications: 15 July 2011
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/interregional/ecochange/regiostars_en.cfm
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Conclusions
• Investments in ecosystems and GI is essential for regional socio-economic development
• Regional Policy provides many opportunities to co-fund programmes & projects: win-win investments
• Scientific/economic evidence is there, tools & instruments as well, so it’s time for action!
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Thank you very much for your attention !!