Climate adaptation strategies: cohesion policy 2014-2020 and prospects for Greek regions
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the framework of the EU cohesion policy 2014-2020 with respect to its potential to secure not only the resources necessary for climate action in EU regions but also an integrated climate adaptation approach. It also examines the prospects for Greek regions with respect to climate adaptation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the regional policy approach as it is generally formulated and applied in the context of the EU cohesion policy, this paper seeks to identify the policy objectives, the funding opportunities and the conditionalities for climate adaptation action. It also examines the above-mentioned elements for Greek regions.
Findings
The context of the EU cohesion policy constitutes a necessary but not sufficient condition for developing and implementing successful regional adaptation strategies. The process and content of regional policies are of significant importance in order for this context to be fully exploited.
Research limitations/implications
Since this is the first time that climate adaptation at the regional level is directly addressed by cohesion policy, there is not much evidence on this issue, at least for Greek regions.
Practical implications
The approach followed in this paper may constitute a useful contribution to the formulation of regional adaptation strategies. This is of particular importance as climate adaptation, together with risk prevention, is one of the key thematic objectives of the EU cohesion policy 2014-2020.
Originality/value
This paper makes an original contribution by introducing and explaining a new challenging issue for the regional policies agenda, namely, the climate adaptation strategy, and stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to it, especially for Greek regions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled “Regional climate change strategies: European context and the case of Greek regions” presented at the 12th International Conference of Protection and Restoration of the Environment, Skiathos, Greece, 29/6-4/7 2014. The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper.
Citation
Thoidou, E. (2017), "Climate adaptation strategies: cohesion policy 2014-2020 and prospects for Greek regions", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 350-367. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2015-0017
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited