The aim of the activity of “Climate action” is to develop and assess innovative, cost-effective and sustainable adaptation and mitigation measures.
Better understanding of the causes and evolution of climate change and more accurate climate projections are needed. Papers should especially address the environmental and socio-economic risks, opportunities and impacts of climate change mitigation options.
There is incomplete knowledge on the ability of society and the economy to adapt to climate change. Papers could address the impacts and growing risks for ecosystems and human health stemming from climate change, cost-effective adaptation responses to climate change and conflicts and synergies of adaptation and other policy choices.
The aim of this session topic is to provide knowledge for the management of natural resources that strives towards achieving a sustainable balance between limited resources and the needs of society and the economy.
Society's actions risk triggering changes in the environment that are irreversible and which alter the character of ecosystems. It is vital to anticipate these risks by assessing, monitoring and forecasting the impact of human activities on the environment, and environmental changes on human well-being through the delivery of ecosystem services. This could include research into global environmental monitoring and observation systems. Presentations should focus on how ecosystems function and react to anthropogenic impacts, how they can be restored, and how this will affect economies and human well-being. The session will also investigate solutions for addressing resource challenges.
The European Union is highly dependent on imports of metallic minerals and is totally import dependent for some critical raw materials, increasingly driven by emerging economies. It is necessary to develop solutions for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and recovery of raw materials and for their substitution by economically attractive alternatives with a lower environmental impact.
Decoupling growth from the use of natural resources requires structural changes in how such resources are used, re-used and managed, while safeguarding our environment. Eco-innovations have the potential to to reduce pressure on the environment, increase resource efficiency, and if cleverly used may put Europe on the path to a resource and energy efficient economy. Eco-innovation could create opportunities for growth and jobs, and may increase European competitiveness within the global market.
Presentations will underpin a more circular economy, while reducing environmental impacts and taking account of rebound effects on the environment. The aim will be to improve resource efficiency along the value chain.
Structural and institutional changes are needed to enable the transition towards a green economy. papers should address the main barriers to societal and market change. It is also necessary to develop robust indicators to support and assess the transition towards a green economy and the effectiveness of relevant policy options. choices.
