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Possibly
one of the most important issues for the entire planet is reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union has set the pace
- while the Kyoto Protocol of December 1997 commits the entire
industrialised world to cut emissions to 5.2% under 1990 levels
by 2012, the EU and a few other European countries(1)
are committed to 8%, more than the USA, Japan or any other signatory.
Energy,
therefore, has particular importance in the EESD programme. It
is an issue with a number of facets, ranging from reducing energy
consumption to ensuring a secure, diverse and low-cost supply.
The programme devotes one key action to improving efficiency of
energy use, while three others focus on energy generation, ranging
from the traditional (e.g. oil, gas, nuclear fission) through
the renewables (e.g. windmills, small hydro) to the options for
the long term (nuclear fusion).
Key Actions for Key Environments
Greenhouse gases, however, are not the only global environmental
problem. The destruction of habitats and key natural resources
poses comparable threats to the future wellbeing of the planet
and its inhabitants. The programme deals with all of these issues.
One key action, for example, will investigate global challenges.
Studying the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss here
in Europe, this key action will play a significant part in Europe's
contribution to international research programmes.
Other key actions focus on particularly important environments
and resources. With almost half the Union's population living
within 50km of the sea, one key action focuses on studying and
protecting the marine ecosystem. By the same token, another will
tackle the urban environment - home to 80% of the population -
as well as the protection of Europe's cultural heritage. Finally,
one more key action will focus on that most precious of resources
- fresh water, the quality, supply and sound management of which
is basic to life itself.
The key actions are complemented by activities underpinning environmental
management in general. Technologies ranging from earth observation
by satellite to predicting and managing natural and manmade disasters
will be developed, the socio-economic implications of scientific
and technical solutions will be investigated, and access to Europe's
R&D infrastructure improved. A common theme is the need to involve
people in the equation. Wherever possible, the principal stakeholders
- private-public sector partnerships, end-users from business,
policy-makers and more - will be involved in both the projects
themselves and in the overall orientation of the programme. Projects
will be multidisciplinary and multisectoral, and range from basic
research to demonstration projects. They will also emphasise the
participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to
encourage the transfer of scientific results into industrial products
and practices.
(1) Switzerland, Norway,
Iceland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Roumania, Bulgaria,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco and Lichtenstein.
Budget
Breakdown
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