EDAPHIC BLOOM DANUBE – Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in the Danube Delta

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in Romania’s Danube Delta by two means: conserving organic soils and enhancing energy efficiency in buildings.

Buildings Carbon Removals and Sinks Energy Efficiency Soils

Beitragsbild

Project info

Countries:

Romania

Project duration:

11/20 - 07/23

Target groups:

Local governments, Non-governmental organisations, Educational institutions, National governments, Regional governments, Private sector, General public

Funding:

863,832.68 €

Contact info

Contact:

Iulian Nichersu

Partner:
  • Dep. of Wetland Ecology, Institute for Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology - KIT
  • General Secretariat of the Goverment - Department of Sustainable Development
  • Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests
  • National Institute for Research and Development in Construction, Urban Planning and Sustainable Spatial Development “URBAN-INCERC”
  • National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Environment Bucharest (ICPA)
  • Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH
  • Tulcea Municipality
  • University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe - Geo Information - Management

Background

The project focuses on two areas that are essential to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation: organic soils and the built environment. Both in the European Union and worldwide, drained organic soils contribute substantially to anthropogenic GHG emissions. In the long term, a complete halt to the drainage of peatlands is required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. On the other hand, buildings are responsible for approximately 40 per cent of energy consumption and 36 per cent of CO2 emissions in the EU. Deep retrofit of buildings can save more than 50 per cent of the energy demand.

Traditional house in the Romanian Danube delta. Photo: (c) DDNI

Project

EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube develops several tools that support informed, sustainable decision-making in the areas of land use and energy efficiency.

Regarding organic soils, the project enables local climate action through the following activities: first, it offers guidance, workshops, and trainings. These provide environmental authorities and local communities with the necessary skills and knowledge to increase the capacity of organic soils and to respond to climate change effects. Second, the project develops a Master Plan (MP) and good practices guide for reducing the GHG emissions, proposing solutions for sustainable land management. Third, to disseminate the MP and good practices guide, the project sets up the “Cluster for Sustainable Development of the Lower Danube Plain and Danube Delta”. Members include project partners, local authorities, universities and research institutes from Romania and Germany, private land owners and administrators, and NGOs. The cluster creates space for efficient dialogue, exchange of good practices, awareness raising, and knowledge transfer between members. Furthermore, a dissemination plan including conferences, workshops, trainings, roundtables, and a documentary film lays out the necessary communication infrastructure to involve a wide range of stakeholders.

Regarding energy efficiency in buildings, the project ensures capacity building and knowledge exchange through various means: first, it creates a regional energy efficiency map. This provides public authorities and professionals with valuable information on the existing building stock as well as the basis for public buildings’ energy audits. Second, at least 20 professionals from the built environment sector receive training and examination for Certified Passive House Tradesperson (PHTP), according to the “Passivhaus Standard” developed in Germany. Third, the project creates an online platform to enable access to knowledge and support the development of future retrofit projects. Finally, in order to raise public awareness and include local communities, the project organises two “urban living labs” to discuss and promote sustainable energy practices and behaviours.

Last update: March 2024

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