Green economy can strengthen competitiveness at local level
Successful transition to a green, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy is essential to the competitiveness of the European Union and to people's well-being. In its opinion drawn up by Satu Tietari (ALDE/FI), chair of Säkylä Municipal Council, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlines the pivotal role played by the public sector, including local and regional authorities, in this process. The opinion was adopted on Thursday at the CoR's plenary session in Brussels.
The European Commission has drawn up two communications on this subject: one containing an action plan that is intended to help SMEs harness the business opportunities provided by the green economy; and the Green Employment Initiative, whose purpose is to support job creation in new sectors.
"Local authorities now have to decide what the green economy means in their locality and how it can be utilised. The recent Commission communications provide a good basis for regions to develop their own strengths by deploying local applications", Tietari points out.
The principle of the green economy is that business activity and productivity expand while fewer resources are consumed. Use of recycled matter as raw materials would not just serve environmental goals but would also help industry to reduce raw material consumption as well as storage, processing and waste management costs. This could improve the quality and innovativeness of products, and their reputation with consumers. Cities and regions should also provide targeted information to SMEs in different sectors about training and funding opportunities, and about the ways in which improving resource efficiency could bring them real economic benefits.
"Europe's strength lies in its ability to marry the know-how of local and regional authorities with the interests of business," Tietari points out. "This means, for example, supporting the operations of local businesses through training or the environmental know-how of local authorities."
The green economy will create new and innovative jobs, which means that jobs may be replaced by new ones and job profiles may have to be redefined. The CoR believes that education, employment and environmental policies should be more closely integrated with each other. An environment-friendly and business-friendly mindset should already be encouraged at school. There is a need to review and update training and education curricula as well as qualifications systems in order to facilitate the transition to a green economy. The Committee also recommends that all academic and vocational courses include a module devoted to the green economy.
The CoR endorses the European Commission's objective of setting up a European Resource Efficiency Platform in 2015, but calls on the Commission to clarify who the partners will be and how they will be chosen. Green standards should also be introduced more broadly at European Union level, and consumers should be informed about these standards so that they can be persuaded to buy certified environment-friendly products.
"We are in the middle of a remarkable change, a "green economic revolution". It is absolutely clear that in future raw material consumption must be reduced. If they want to be competitive, businesses must develop products using less energy or materials. The green economy is opening up significant opportunities for European businesses", Tietari concludes.
Contact:
Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 22822063