Greener policies inside and outside Europe

An EU-funded project is helping emerging economies to develop effective policies to combat climate change. Collaboration at an international scale is needed to find acceptable solutions to common problems.

Climate change and sustainable development are two of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Addressing these problems, especially in countries with developing economies, requires international cooperation for the development and implementation of effective policies. The 'Knowledge transfer and research needs for preparing mitigation/adaptation policy portfolios' (PROMITHEAS-4) project was set up to help 12 such countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine).

The identification of scientific needs and knowledge gaps is an on-going and parallel process, which shows the existing difficulties in most of the target countries towards developing and implementing effective Mitigation/Adaptation policy mixtures. Knowledge gaps are also a key factor in delaying the participation of target countries in New Market Mechanisms under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework and their reluctance to engage with efforts for developing a global Emissions' Trading Scheme.

The EU-funded project aimed to train both scientists and decision makers in developing and assessing Mitigation /Adaptation (M/A) policy portfolios for their countries, based on their official policies, perspectives and data, while the authorities committed themselves to providing data and information relevant to climate change issues.

Three workshops, a tele-training process and an e-learning network were established by the project team to help all 12 beneficiary countries collate, develop and assess their M/A policy portfolios. These results were discussed during 12 National Conferences, which were organized by PROMITHEAS-4, together with the relevant competent governmental authorities. Market stakeholders were invited to participate and their comment welcomed.

In addition, the project’s findings were brought to the attention of the ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), during three ministerial meetings and to a number of official meetings of the Working Groups of BSEC. Furthermore, the relevant department of the UN in New York has been kept regularly informed about the progress of PROMITHEAS – 4. The outcomes of the project were also presented at the 41st meeting of the committee of the PABSEC (Parliamentary Assembly of BSEC Countries) for environmental affairs (4-5 September 2013, Ganja, Azerbaijan).

The final stage of the project- will involve the establishment of a 'Green Alliance' between academia and entrepreneurship that will be explored within the context of EU policies. This will be further promoted through the final International Conference of PROMITHEAS-4 held under the auspices of the BSEC and the UNAI.

The conference, which will involve representatives from BSEC – PERMIS (Permanent International Secretariat), PABSEC and the Embassies of the beneficiary countries, will be devoted to the final presentation and discussion of the project’s outcomes and perspectives. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to investigate green opportunities, both nationally and regionally, at a 'tailor-made' session.

Πηγή: http://cordis.europa.eu