Consolidating global knowledge on the green economy in support of sustainable development objectives in Europe and internationally

Topic description

Scope:

Specific challenge: Global challenges in the areas of climate change, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials require global solutions. Research and innovation can make an important contribution to the EU's involvement in multilateral processes and implementation of international commitments in these areas. Following Rio+20 there is a need to support the emerging sustainability framework post-2015, and reconcile it with the green economy agenda, also with the involvement of civil society. At the same time, the challenge is to harness the opportunities provided by existing, new and emerging markets to increase the EU's global competitiveness.

Innovative ways are required to mobilise all relevant global actors, exchange best practices, resolve trade-offs, manage conflicting interests, addressing in-context specificities, including cultural aspects, increase participation of citizens in decision-making and improve both public awareness and business uptake of research results beyond the borders of the EU.

Scope:Creation of networks to facilitate dialogue among the relevant scientific communities in the EU and beyond throughout the duration of Horizon 2020. Proposals should cover activities such as clustering, coordinating and creating links and synergies between international and European research and innovation programmes and other initiatives in the area of climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials, and communication and dissemination activities for an improved science-policy interface in response to decision-making requirements. Network activities between stakeholders should contribute to consolidating European experience and research findings that are relevant to the green economy, including on systemic eco-innovation. This requires cross-disciplinary interaction and an integrated, systemic approach, especially between socio-economic and environmental sciences to support European initiatives for a green economy, in which global aspects are taken into due consideration.

In line with the EU’s strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation[1] proposals should contribute to establish effective links to relevant international networks and initiatives, particularly those supporting the Rio+20 follow up and the green economy agenda at international level. Examples of areas of activity include: sustainable consumption and production, greening global value chains, green growth and jobs, green behaviour, climate resilience, economic and environmental policies etc. Proposals should be geared towards supporting the development and implementation of sustainable development goals.

Proposals should include a sufficient number of international partners from the target region(s) to ensure adequate scale and scope of cooperation.

Expected impact:Enhanced impact of EU research and innovation activities through evident synergies with relevant international research and innovation programmes and other initiatives. Greater EU influence in multilateral processes and better support to implementation of international commitments. Significant contribution to evidence-based policy and appropriate, cost-effective management, planning and adaptation decisions by the public sector, businesses, industry and society addressing global challenges in the EU and beyond through the provision and effective communication of trustworthy science-based information. Increased coordination between different actors and stakeholders to minimise the risk of overlaps and duplication of efforts. Strengthened synergies on green economy and sustainability issues and increased awareness of both technologically and socially eco-innovative solutions. Demonstrated improved science-based evidence in support of sustainability decision making at national, regional and global level and for the implementation of sustainable development goals. Demonstrated increased multi-stakeholder participation as well as general public and private sector engagement in support of the transition to a green economy.

Type of action: Coordination and support actions

[1] COM(2012)497

Socio-economic science and humanities
International cooperation