In cooperation with the Institute for Meteorology of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, this study explored effects of climate change on the Outermost Regions (i.e. the Canaries, Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, the Acores, Madeira and French Guyana), the measures and initiatives within EU Regional Policy in these regions and their effects on climate change (both mitigation and adaption).
Therefore, the objective of this study has been to enlarge the focus of potential threats of climate change in the Outermost Regions and the role of Regional Policy in this context. The result has been disillusioning as EU co-financed Regional Policy support prominently flows into mass tourism and industrialized agricultural production thus actively contributing to climate change (in the sense of increasing CO2 emissions significantly). Countermeasures (Climate Change adaptation and mitigation) are still poorly supported by Regional Policy (e.g. renewable energy, environmental friendly modes of transport, sustainable tourism, nature protection). The study was submitted to the European Parliament and discussed by the Members of the Committee for Regional Policy in September 2011.
