BSC WG Energy & Climate Change

Headed by the Regional Council of Västerbotten. Chair Mr Dr Erik Bergkvist.

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Coordinator, Regional Council of Västerbotten (SE) The Energy & Climate Change working group, EWG, was founded in October 2006 and is chaired by Erik Bergkvist, President of the Regional Executive Committee, Region Västerbotten. In autumn 2008, the work was evaluated and focus for the forthcoming two year period will be on energy and climate in the Baltic Sea Strategy, BSS, and regional perspective input in the COP-process. It was also decided that the form of the working group will be a network and a virtual preparatory group for positions or other exchange of papers and opinions to be taken to the EC by the rapporteur Erik Bergkvist. Physical meetings will be performed when needed for those involved in specific activities.

EWG has, since the start, held and participated in many meetings and workshops, contributed to several positions and opinions and established cooperation in the field of energy and climate change in the Joint Energy and Climate Platform of Baltic Sea organisations, JECP. The last workshop arranged by the working group was held in Visby in May this year. The theme for the meeting was energy and climate change in the Baltic Sea Strategy and the role of regions in the efforts to fight climate change. The workshop was a success with many participants and interesting discussions.

Forthcoming activities for the working group are:

· Joint statement of JECP on the role of regions in the COP-process. EWG base their input on the CPMR Technical Paper on Climate Change “The action of the regions” (see below). A first draft will be finished in September and input from EC at this stage is welcomed.

· Workshop on wind power and the possibilities for regional development and innovation – experiences from ongoing projects in the BSR. The workshop is planned to take place when the projects have reached some results, possibly the first half of 2010.

· The BSC EWG is interested in a joint position on energy and climate with the NSC. The political engagement in NSC has changed since their first initiative and new contacts have to be taken. Input from the EC on this matter is welcomed.

· Region Västerbotten will (probably) host a CPMR workshop on production and distribution of biofuels in the second half of 2010.

CPMR Technical Paper – Climate Change “The Action of the Regions” In July the CPMR General Secretariat presented a Technical Paper on climate change and the action of the regions. The purpose of the paper is two-fold; firstly, it addresses action at international level preparing the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in December this year. Secondly, it addresses the White Paper on climate change adaptation presented by the European Commission in April.

The BSC EWG welcomes the CPMR paper and how it clearly emphasizes the role of regions in the global fight against climate change. The BSC EWG also agrees with the implications of the White Paper that the CPMR Technical Paper highlights, and in particular the importance that the forthcoming European adaptation strategy must take into consideration the EU financial instruments that will be used to implement it. Aspects of mitigation and adaptation to climate change must be integrated in the future EU budget and financing system. Several heavily funded policy areas such as agriculture policy have possibilities to tackle climate change on many levels of both mitigation and adaptation.