PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
A major global challenge is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG). In 2018, the European Commission published a Communication Clean Planet for All which provided a strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral EU economy by 2050. Its targets included a 32.5% increase in energy efficiency, a 32.5% share for renewable energy sources, and a 55% reduction in GHG emissions. Achieving these goals, especially reducing GHG emissions, will be a challenge for Poland due to the fact that more than 80% of the primary energy production is from fossil fuels, primarily coal. In the Maopolska Region around 80% of the energy generated comes from coal, the remaining 20% from high-methane gas and biomass. Household heating is based on widespread use of inefficient coal boilers, while poor energy performance of buildings adds to high CO2 emissions from the residential sector. Similarly, the other sectors transport, agriculture, industry - are also based on fossil fuels. The total amount of CO2 emissions from sources located in the Malopolska Region is estimated at 15 million Mg/year. To enable the reduction of GHG emissions from the Maopolska Region, in February 2020 the Management Board of the Maopolska Region adopted the Regional Action Plan for Climate and Energy (RAPCE), to support the low-carbon transition of the region and mobilise public and private funds. The overarching objective of the RAPCE is to contribute to achieving the EU goals for 2030, i.e. at least a 40% cut in GHG emissions (from 1990 levels), at least a 32% share for renewable energy, at least a 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency, and to strive for climate neutrality by 2050 (i.e. economy with net-zero GHG emissions). The Plan focuses on six areas of intervention (according to the 2050 long-term strategy): energy, construction, transport, agriculture, industry and waste, land-use change, and forestry.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFE-IP EKOMALOPOLSKA project is to support the full implementation of the Maopolska Regional Action Plan for Climate and Energy (RAPCE). The project also aims to eliminate barriers that hinder the achievement of the Plans priorities.
The specific objectives of the project include:
The project contributes to the implementation of EU climate policy, including A Clean Planet for all (COM(2018) 773); the Commission Decision (EU 2020/2126) setting out the annual emission allocations of the Member States for the period from 2021 to 2030 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/842, to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.
The total additional complementary funds mobilised is planned to be around 1 billion, including 300 million from Just Transition Fund, 300 million under the Regional Operational Programme 2021-2027, and 300 million from other sources: the Clean Air Programme, Mj Prd/My Electricity Programme, local and regional programmes supported by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, and private funds.
RESULTS
Expected results: