PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION, RISK PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT

The programme area is extremely rich in environmental resources and biodiversity. Protecting and valorising these assets is certainly one of the key points for sustainable development and can offer many possibilities for cross-border cooperation. The programme area offers a rich biodiversity and climate, including a rich landscape, from the highest mountains in the area, hills, plains, lake, rivers and coastline. Therefore, the actions under this priority will support the protection, preservation and valorisation of environmental resources in the programme area through joint initiatives to address environment protection and promotion in the programme area such as: promoting sustainable use of environmental resources, fostering renewable energy, supporting joint actions related to strategies, action plans, research targeting environmental issues including solid waste management, water management, preparation of strategies and action plans on soil erosion, preparation of strategies and action plans on prevention and mitigation of manmade hazards and natural disasters. In addition, encouragement of environmentally-friendly economic activities, awareness raising actions targeting the population on the importance to protect environmental resources, encouragement of partnership and networking actions between local and regional authorities from both sides of the border to target environmental issues, support small scale environmental infrastructure interventions and procurement of equipment and promotion of environmental awareness and education. Approximately 1/3 of the overall IPA allocations of the Programme, i.e. EUR 2 520 000, will be devoted to actions under this thematic priority.