Download Notice of meeting – Draft Agenda

DRAFT PROGRAMME
ENVE commission conference on "Local and regional strategies on climate
change and their contribution to an improved air quality"
Bologna, Emilia Romagna Region, Italy, 17 October 2014
Climate change is one of the most serious threats for European regions as well as the whole Earth.
Equally air pollution remains critical in many areas of Europe with well known effects on human
health and ecosystems.
Climate change and air pollution are closely coupled.
Win-win strategies can be realised through actions such as promoting low-carbon vehicles and energy
saving. At the same time, actions that tackle climate change but damage air quality must be avoided.
There should be greater consistency in environmental policy to prevent any contradictory effects and
maximise co-benefits. An integrated approach is necessary to coordinate sector policies (transport,
energy, industry, agriculture…) and implement synergic strategies for climate change and air quality.
The seminar will explore the two issues in light of the most recent strategies adopted by EU and will
reflect on how local and regional policies may contribute to improve air quality and face climate
change.
The experience of AIR network will be presented. Air Quality Initiative of Regions (AIR) was
founded in 2011 and represents 12 regions from seven European Union (EU) Member States. These
are: Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia, Emilia-Romagna, Greater London, Hessen, Lombardia, North
Rhine-Westphalia, Piemonte, Randstad, Steiermark, Veneto and Vlaanderen. Together these regions
represent 22% of EU GDP and 18% of the EU’s population (87.6 million inhabitants). These regions,
which include some of the most densely populated and industrialised areas of the EU, have been at the
forefront of air quality management over recent years.
9.00 a.m.
Registration
9.30 a.m.
Opening of the seminar
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10.00 a.m.
Marialuisa COPPOLA (IT/EPP), Councillor for the Veneto Region and Chair of
the Committee of the Regions' ENVE commission
Simonetta SALIERA (IT/PES), Vice President of the Emilia Romagna Region
and member of the Committee of the Regions
SESSION 1: Latest developments in climate change policy of the EU
This session will present the current context at EU level and how it could impact the
work of the local and regional authorities within their territories.
Moderator: Daiva MATONIENE (LT/ECR), rapporteur of the CoR Opinion on
sustainable cities
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Sandro GOZI, State Secretary for European Affairs, in the context of the Italian
Presidency of the EU
Annabelle JAEGER (FR/PES), rapporteur of the CoR Opinion on the 2030
Framework on climate and energy
Sergio CASTELLARI, Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC)
Discussion
10.50 a.m.
Coffee break
11.10 a.m.
SESSION 2: Climate and air quality - territorial challenges and solutions
This session will be an occasion to reflect how climate related measures at local and
regional levels can help improve air quality. The participants will share their views on
how the different levels of the EU governance can work together to shape the future of
cost-efficient measures which will mitigate climate and improve air quality
simultaneously.
Moderator: Sirpa HERTELL (FI/EPP), rapporteur of the CoR Opinion on the Green
Paper for a 2030 EU Package on climate and energy
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Giuseppe BORTONE, Emilia-Romagna Region General Director for
Environment and Soil protection, Case study from Emilia-Romagna: the Regional
Integrated Plan for Quality of the Air
Bert GIJSBERTS, Member of the Executive Board of the Province of Flevoalnd,
responsable for "Sustainable Living" for Regio Randstad (co-operation of the
provinces North-Holland, South-Holland, Utrecht and Flevoland), representing
the AIR interregional network
Discussion
12.00 p.m.
SESSION 3: Best practices – synergies and innovation
In this session, speakers will present best practice cases demonstrating how local and
regional authorities integrate several variables to deliver results. This will also be the
occasion to showcase initiatives on mitigation and adaptation (Climate-KIC and
Mayors Adapt for example).
Moderator: Linda GILHAM (UK/EA), member of the Committee of the Regions'
ENVE commission
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Edvins BARTKEVICS (LT/ALDE), case study from Latvia
Victoria PALAU TÁRREGA (ES/EPP), Director-General for EU relations of the
community of Valencia, Spain, member of Climate-KIC
Neil SWANNICK (UK/PES), rapporteur of the CoR Opinion on the EU Strategy
on adaptation to climate change
Discussion
12.50 p.m.
Conclusions
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1.30 p.m.
Marialuisa Coppola (IT/EPP), Councillor for the Veneto Region and Chair of the
Committee of the Regions' ENVE commission
Gian Luca Galletti, Italian national minister in charge of climate change (tbc)
End of the seminar