Prof. Dr. Hans Bruyninckx (Catholic University Leuven)

Brussels, May 2013

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1. Transboundary cooperation and the low carbon economy (LCE)

Local and regional dynamics essential in LCE strategies Level at which LCE policies are concretised, implemented

and financed

Cluster-approaches to industrial (eco-)innovation

Often linked to local dynamics (e.g. carbon neutral urban or regional development strategies)

Local dynamics often have transboundary characteristics Economic clusters are often transboundary (e.g. harbor

regions; metropolitan networks; …)

Often supported by policy instruments and strategies (e.g. EU funding for transboundary development)

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2. Local cases: never in ‘isolation’

Framework: (sub)national and European policies on Industrial policy Eco-innovation GHG emissions reductions Related R&D policies

New dynamics on local LCE Covenant of Mayors EU attention OECD attention

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3. Euregion Scheldemond

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Bio-base technology as basis for reconversion and green growth

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Industrial Profile

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Organisational Structure Bio Base Europe

- Port of Ghent - Education opportunities: “close the critical gap between scientific feasibility and industrial application of new biobased products and processes” - Train employees for biobased green jobs

- City of Terneuzen - Education, networking, technological innovation and exhibiting

“Smart Links”: cooperation among biobased companies

4. Multi-level Policy Initiatives

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Belgium

Flemish Region

Province of Eastern-Flanders

City of Ghent

The Netherlands

Province of Zeeland

City of Terneuzen

Surprisingly many efforts already at the regional and local level but…

considering the indicators of local transition to a low-carbon economy: - No cross-border cooperation yet - No systematic measurement yet

-Yet need for indicators: - How are we doing? Policy performance - Legitimacy ?

5. Reflections on the use of local LC-indicators

A number of enduring problems of data-gathering - ‘region’ does not coincide with any data gathering ‘institution’

- Transboundary characteristics complicate this

- Data availability; consistency; comparability; …

- Longitudinal nature of LCE/S transition

Result: hardly any of the indicators are used at this moment

Yet, … many indicator processes are running at the local level - labor-, capacity-, time-intensive

- Little coherence, compatibility at the level of Belgium/Flanders

- Little structured ‘learning’

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6. Emerging Policy Messages

Challenges for data gathering remain strong

Yet, … many indicator processes are running at the local level

Two steps approach: the core (eg: GHG emissions of the region; Carbon intensity of the economy of the region; carbon intensity of employment) and the complementary adjusted local set

Specific process approach for crossborder areas

Opportunities for for exchange, learning, methodological and policy development!

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7. Role for RIOs (Benelux)

LCE and Green Growth

Relevance for specific region?

Part of core political/policy attention?

How to integrate in working program?

Indicator development and use

Specific competences in cross-border cooperation: how to use this for indicator processes?

Setting the stage for other cross-border areas of high significance for LC-future

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