Europeans Plan to spend third of research funds on climate

Article Type: Features From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 23, Issue 3.

One-third of EU research and innovation funding should be spent on climate-related projects between 2014 and 2020, the European Commission has proposed. The plan will have to be adopted by MEPs and member states. More than€25 bn would be spent in this area out of a total budget of €80 bn. “With this proposal, the commission supports Europe's determination to stay on the frontline of the fight against climate change,” said EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard. The plan specifies where the research and innovation funding announced in June's draft budget for 2014-2020 will be spent, focussing on three main areas: science, industrial leadership and societal changes. Some €32 bn will be allocated to the third category, which primarily aims to support climate and energy research.

Climate mitigation investment is estimated at about €125 bn a year during the period, according to the low-carbon roadmap. Most of these costs will be borne by private investors but the commission believes the research and innovation budget could help boost investment in some areas and provide long-term predictability. In terms of industrial leadership, €13.8 bn would be allocated to the development of key enabling technologies such as nanotechnology, advanced materials and biotechnologies.

Another proposal is to create six new public-private partnerships by 2018 through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. There are currently three such partnerships, known as KICs, on sustainable energy, climate change and information technology. One of the new KICs will focus on raw materials.