Over 30 Local Government and Academic figures from throughout Europe gathered at the University of Limerick (UL) today to launch a new initiative aimed at encouraging greater eco-design in regional planning policies.The Mid-West Regional Authority, in cooperation with the South-West Regional Authority and UL, are participating in the FRESH Project - Forwarding Regional Environmental Sustainable Hierarchies - in partnership with several other EU countries, namely Finland, Italy, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.
During the project duration, which commenced on November 5th 2009 and runs until the end of 2012, each partner region will test and implement a series of tools for dealing both with economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
Commenting on the Mid-West region’s focused theme over the next three years, Mr. Liam Conneally, Director of the Mid-West Regional Authority (MWRA) said: “Our primary focus will be on Sustainable Urban Living, and to influence planning and energy policies through eco-design and eco-innovation.”
He added: “Through our participation in the FRESH project, we will be cooperating with our project partners in the region in seeking to disseminate good practice of regional development policies and instruments promoting environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness. The eco-village project in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, and the E-Towns initiative in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, are prime examples of such an approach and we would hope to see similar projects developed in the Mid West Region over the coming years.”
Mr. Conneally continued: “The overall objective of the FRESH Project is to strengthen Sustainable Value Creation based development at regional level and to contribute to the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) with special focus on eco-design and eco-innovation. The purpose of ETAP is to develop environmental technologies and contribute simultaneously to sustainability and competitiveness.”
Meanwhile, an interregional seminar took place at UL today to mark the Irish launch of the FRESH Project. The seminar was opened by the Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority, Cllr. Leo Walsh and attended by delegates from all the participating countries as well as dignitaries and interested parties from Ireland and abroad. Speakers included Mr. Antti Toivanen, Kainuun Etu, Finland/FRESH Lead Partner; Prof. Merritt Bucholz, School of Architecture, U.L.; and Mr. Liam Conneally, Director, MWRA.
Further information on the FRESH Project is available from the MWRA website www.mwra.ie.
