Rural Development policy has a key role to play in supporting the transition to the green economy – one that sees economic growth in harmony with social and environmental sustainability. Find out more by reading EU Rural Review 23.
Definition of the 'Green Economy'
"An economy that results in improved human well-being and reduced inequalities over the long term, while not exposing future generations to significant environmental risks and ecological scarcities."
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) can support low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially equitable investments in rural areas as well as sustainable management of natural resources in a wide range of economic sectors.
Achieving the full scale of the potential transition to the green economy will mean adoption of current good practice on a much greater scale than is currently the case within the EU-28 and new ways of thinking and working across territories. Cooperation, innovation, rural entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer must be encouraged and supported.
Planning how to combine RDP Measures in packages to support integrated schemes to deliver particular outcomes will be important, as will the use of Financial Instruments, particularly looking at how these might support small-scale investments at local level.
