Stakeholder consultation key to developing environmental technologies, says communication
A communication aimed at furthering the development and uptake of environmental technologies was adopted by the European Commission on 25 March. The communication, entitled 'Developing an action plan for environmental technology', focuses on facilitating dialogue with the research community as well as businesses that produce technologies and the people that use them. It is hoped that concrete proposals can be developed from such dialogue. Figures in recent years reveal that environmental technologies represent a growing market both at EU and global levels, with the private sector playing an increasingly important role. However, technical, economic and administrative barriers are slowing the uptake of such technologies. Commenting on the communication, EU Commissioner for the Environment Margot Wallström said that there is a growing awareness of such barriers and what remains to be done is to find out how to overcome them. To do so, 'I want the experts in the development, production and use of environmental technologies to share with us their experience,' she said. In preparation for consultation with stakeholders, the communication focuses on environmental areas where barriers are prevalent. These include climate change, soil protection, sustainable development and consumption, and water. It then invites key actors to consider a number of questions relating to: - the necessary conditions for providing increased environmental quality; - the potential scope for action at EU level; - the role of stakeholders in eliminating barriers and improving cooperation in this field; - the potential in specific areas of public policy at EU and national level to promote environmental technologies. The communication also calls upon stakeholders to examine how to encourage businesses to invest in environment technologies and how to ensure adequate education and training facilities in this field. In terms of research into environmental technologies, Philippe Busquin, Commissioner for Research, notes that, 'without Europe's pioneering research, the existence of the environmental innovations we enjoy today could be in question. To ensure that we further benefit from the economic, social and environmental gains inherent in these technologies, it is vital that we invest in this area of research, 'he said. The Commission has already shown its commitment by contributing over 4.5 billion euro in the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes (FP5 & 6) to areas of research that play a key role in developing environmental technologies. Once the consultation is complete, an action plan will be drawn up by the end of 2003.