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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 !!