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LIFEnews features 2007
EU climate change policies and measures and LIFE
The EU has led global action to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases since the early 1990s. More than 30 policies and measures – including the ground-breaking EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) - have been implemented at EU level through the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), set up by the European Commission in 2000. The EU's leadership on climate change has been further strengthened by the integrated climate and energy package that was presented by the Commission in January of this year, and fully endorsed by Heads of State and Government at the March European Council. This landmark package sets out a range of cost-effective measures to reduce emissions, improve energy security and increase competitiveness, as well as the EU's proposals for a new global agreement intended to limit global warming to no more than 2°C above the pre-industrial level. More information on the EU’s fight against climate change can be found on the EU Climate Change website.
LIFE-Environment plays a strong role in combating climate change
Numerous LIFE projects have addressed the crucial issues of cutting emissions through better systems and improved efficiency. Some 11,500 energy installations are covered by the EU ETS – the world’s first international trading scheme for carbon dioxide emissions – these type of installations, including combustion plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel plants, and factories making cement, glass, lime, brick, ceramics, pulp and paper, are among some of the key beneficiaries of LIFE-Environment support.
Some projects dealing with reduction of emissions, air pollution and related issues are:
Many of these projects have been profiled in previous editions of LIFEnews and in LIFE-Focus publications, including the new “LIFE and Energy” brochure and details can also be found in the LIFE projects database. The theme of this month highlights two of the projects, RESPONSE and ETRES to illustrate some of the work done under the LIFE-Environment programme that makes a contribution to the EU's policy on climate change. In addition to the projects listed above, LIFE-Environment launched in June 2005, the first LIFE project to focus solely on providing input to emissions trading policy. This is the LETS Update project (LIFE05 ENV/UK/PREP12). A number of the project’s findings were reflected in a communication setting out the agenda for the revision of the ETS (COM(2006) 676) adopted by the European Commission in mid-November 2006. The European Commission specifically referred to the recommendations of LETS Update as an important source of information, which is intended to further inform the ongoing review.
LIFE-Nature and Natura 2000 tacking climate change
The impact of climate change on Europe’s biodiversity can already be observed – for example in changing distributions of species, flowering times and bird migrations. The EU is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, but it must also address the impacts of unavoidable climate change in the next few decades. Biodiversity will be more resilient to climate change, more able to adapt, if we maintain our ecosystems in a healthy state. Supported by the LIFE-Nature programme, Natura 2000 aims to maintain habitats and species in favourable conservation status – a critical climate change adaptation measure. The protected area network provides space for nature and helps sustain nature’s ‘adaptation options’.
The June 2007 issue of the Natura 2000 newsletter examines the network’s role in combating climate change, focusing on a range of mitigation strategies and adaptation measures. It highlights how climate change is posing problems for species such as Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) the focus of an ongoing Swedish LIFE project (LIFE03 NAT/S/000073).
The issue also examines the key role Natura 2000 sites can play in enhancing prospects for the maintenance at a favourable conservation status of the main carbon sink habitats, namely peatlands, forests and wetlands. Peatland areas, for example, account for around a third of the total global soil carbon pool resource, and thus their conservation represents a significant contribution towards limiting greenhouse gas emissions. For further information, view the Natura 2000 website.
Meanwhile, the theme of this month presents the results of the recently-closed German Hohes Moor project (LIFE00 NAT/D/007043). This successful project benefited from close networking with other LIFE projects including: “Peat bog restoration programme of the Korenburgerveen” (LIFE00 NAT/ NL/007049), “Restoration programme of the Fochteloërveen raised bog” (LIFE99 NAT/NL/006280, "Restoration and demonstration project pSCI De Wieden and De Weerribben" (LIFE99 NAT/ NL/006282), "Measures to ensure the nature conservation management of Teici” (LIFE00 NAT/LV/007127), and “Management of the Lubana Wetland Complex, Latvia” (LIFE03 NAT/ LV/000083).
Other interesting projects include the Müritz National Park in Germany (LIFE98 NAT/D/005081) – where LIFE actions helped to reduce the carbon dioxide released by mineralising peat by an estimated 174 tonnes a year (the equivalent of 139 cars) – and a 2006 project to restore active blanket bogs in mid and north Wales (UK) - LIFE06 NAT/UK/000134, see LIFEnews announcements.
For further information on these projects, see the LIFE projects database.
LIFE+ and climate change
Climate change is also a principal objective for co-funding under the new LIFE+ programme, which runs until 2013. Under the “LIFE+ Environmental Policy and Governance” component, the EU will co-finance projects ensuring the adaptation of Europe’s nature and biodiversity, of water resources and of human health to the adverse impacts of climate change and mitigating such impacts. For more information, view the official LIFE+ Regulation (EC) No 614/2007.
For yet more examples of projects funded by the programme, visit the LIFE project database.