1. 1 Regional Policy investing in ecosystems & green infrastructure for regional development Mathieu Fichter Policy Analyst Environment European Commission - DG REGIO

2. 2 Content Why ecosystem services & Green Infrastructure matter for regions/cities The 2007-13 framework on Regional Policy investments in ecosystems & GI

3. 3 Why ecosystem services & GI matter for regions/cities

4. 4 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

5. 5 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 ?

6. 6 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

7. 7 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

8. 8 Work together: key role of governance

9. 9 The 2007-13 framework on Regional Policy investments in ecosystems & GI

10. 10 Potential for investments with 2007-13 Regional Policy 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

11. 11 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

12. 12 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/c ooperation/interregional/ecochange/r egiostars_en.cfm

13. 13 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 its time for action!

14. 14 Thank you very much for your attention !!