European environmental research and innovation policy

<h2 id="main-features">Main features</h2>
<p>The European environmental research and innovation policy has a multidisciplinary character and involve efforts across many different sectors to provide safe, economically feasible, environmentally sound and socially acceptable solutions along the entire <a href="/facts/Value_chain/nIfCnfcA">value chain</a> of human activities. To reduce resource use and <a href="/facts/Environmental_impacts/6w5L44ek">environmental impacts</a> whilst increasing competitiveness requires a decisive societal and technological transition to an economy based on a sustainable relationship between nature and human well-being. The availability of sufficient <a href="/facts/Raw_materials/cthCpclF">raw materials</a> is addressed as well as the creation of opportunities for growth and new jobs. Innovative options are developed in policies ranging across science, technology, economy, regulations, society and citizens’ behavior, and governance. Research and innovation activities improve the understanding and forecasting of climate and environmental change in a systemic and cross-sectoral perspective, reduce uncertainties, identify and assess vulnerabilities, risks, costs, mitigation measures and opportunities, as well as expand the range and improve the effectiveness of societal and policy responses and solutions.
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<h2 id="international-context">International context</h2>
<p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Sustainable_development/zGqWBsaK">Sustainable development</a> and <a href="/facts/Sustainable_Development_Goals/b7lVYvFN">Sustainable Development Goals</a></p>
<p>The European environmental research and innovation policy was placed in the context of the process at the <a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">United Nations</a> to develop a set of <a href="/facts/Sustainable_Development_Goals/b7lVYvFN">Sustainable Development Goals</a> (SDGs) that were agreed at the <a href="/facts/United_Nations_Conference_on_Sustainable_Development/6KIsuk9V">Rio+20 Conference</a> on <a href="/facts/Sustainable_development/zGqWBsaK">Sustainable development</a> in 2012 and are now integrated into the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015. These goals have succeeded the <a href="/facts/Millennium_Development_Goals/Kyj35oL1">Millennium Development Goals</a> and are universally applicable to all Nations, hence also to the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a> and its Member States.
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<h2 id="implementation-through-framework-programmes">Implementation through Framework Programmes</h2>
<p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Horizon_2020/Udy5lUQ7">Horizon 2020</a></p>
<p>The implementation of the European environmental research and innovation policy relies on a systemic approach to innovation for a system-wide transformation. For large extent, it is carried out through the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.
</p><p>The current Framework Programme is called <a href="/facts/Horizon_2020/Udy5lUQ7">Horizon 2020</a> and environmental research and innovation is envisaged across the entire programme with an interdisciplinary approach. Current price estimates suggest that more than 6,5 € billion per year could be made available for activities related to sustainable development during the duration of Horizon 2020, addressing both research and innovation differently from previous FPs.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> Horizon 2020 is open to cooperation with researchers and innovators world-wide in order to foster co-design and co-creation of solutions that may have a global impact.
</p><p>New calls for research and innovation proposals have been opened on 14 October 2015. Information is contained in the Horizon 2020 participant portal.
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<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index_en.cfm">"European environmental research and innovation"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.html">"Horizon 2020 Participant portal"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/state-of-the-union/2013/research-and-innovation-as-sources-of-renewed-growth-com-2014-339-final.pdf#view=fit&pagemode=none">"European Commission - Innovation Union"</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

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<li id="fn:1"><p>It is expected that at least 60% of the overall Horizon 2020 budget should be related to sustainable development, and that climate-related expenditure should exceed 35% of the budget "Horizon 2020 – the EU's new research and innovation programme", European Commission, Brussels, 3 December 2013. Retrieved on 18 August 2015. <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1085_en.htm" target="_blank">http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1085_en.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
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European environmental research and innovation policy open-in-new

European environmental research and innovation policy