Two new Interreg Euro-MED projects (NaTour4CChange and Blue Ecosystem) and one Horizon project (Crete Valley) will cover topics such as the use of Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the tourism sector, innovation for a more sustainable blue economy and the use of renewal energy to create a Renewable Energy Valley ‘Living Lab’ in Crete.
· NaTour4CChange: Helping Regions to take tourism climate action through plans and the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
As a thematic project of the Sustainable Tourism Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, NaTour4CChange will set common methods to allow participating regions to assess their tourism-related climate adaptation and mitigation priorities, and take climate action via plans and strategies, supported by cooperative governance. It will also build on successful experiences at the Mediterranean and global level to test nature-based solutions for increasing the resilience of the pre-selected coastal destinations in the Mediterranean.
· Blue Ecosystem: Towards a more sustainable and resilient blue economy in the Mediterranean area
As a thematic project of the Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, the project will test innovative methodologies focused on supporting territory-making processes through knowledge production in the blue sustainable economy. Specifically, the project will design, test and validate three elements.
· Crete Valley: Setting a Renewable Energy Valey “Living Lab” in Crete
The project aims to make renewable energy accessible to everyone in the local area and meet all the energy needs of the community throughout the year. Four Community Energy Labs (CELs) will be set in different places in Crete to test different ideas.