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Economic Support for Strategic and Decision-making Processes at the National and Regional Level, Leading to Sustainable Energy use of Agricultural Biomass, while Respecting Food Self-sufficiency and Soil Conservation

Economic assessment of measares for sustainable use of biomass.

The pressure on agricultural land exploitation is ever increasing at present, whether for growing of fodder, energy biomass or food production, resulting in conflicts among these differing interests and uses. The problem is further aggravated by the climate change in progress, which manifests itself by more frequent and longer droughts among other things. Support to renewable sources of energy, including biomass, has a substantial influence as well. The project therefore strives to identify suitable methods for optimization of biomass use with respect to economic efficiency, food self-sufficiency (need to grow food and fodder) and consideration of requirements for soil protection, notably limits on soil exploitation and prevention of soil degradation.
The project follows up and expands on the IS RESTEP tool for optimization of biomass use. The principal objective of the follow-up project is to add an ECONOMICS module to the tool, enabling regional sustainable energy planning. It will thus enable economic analysis of not only agricultural biomass production with a focus on both crops and techniques. In addition, it will enable analysis of subsequent energy use. The project will involve an expansion of the information tool with new sources of information for decision making.
Economic analysis involves not only direct costs of and revenues from growing and use of agricultural biomass for energy purposes. The IEEP team will focus in the project on assessment of externalities associated with biomass production. A choice experiment will be made in this connection. The ecosystem service concept will also be applied. The project will involve an interlinking of our team’s activities in the area of air, energy and ecosystem services.
The implementation of the four-year project as part of the sub-programme “Support to innovative agriculture and forestry by means of advanced procedures and techniques” involves 6 national partners; the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague is the consortium leader.

Funding Agency: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, QK – Programe of Applied Research of Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic for the perion 2017–2025 EARTH
Duration: 2/2017–12/2020
Contact Person: Jan Macháč, e-mail: machac@e-academia.eu
Researchers: Ing. Jan Macháč; Ing. Lenka Dubová; Ing. Lenka Zemková
In Cooperation with: Czech University of Life Science Prague
Czech Technology Platform for the Use of Biocomponents in Transport and Chemical Industry
ECO trend s. r. o.
Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information
Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation

 

Supporting Development of Adaptation Measures and Strategies in Cities

Supporting the climate change adaptation of cities Prague, Brno, Plzen and Ustí nad Labem by promotion of nature-based solutions.

Three quarters of Europe’s inhabitants live in cities that are often vulnerable and poorly prepared for the effects of climate change (heat waves, water scarcity, drought, floods). The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report states that adaptation measures in cities are crucial successful adaptation to climate change. The aim of the project is to support decision-making processes and the development of climate adaptation measures and strategies in pilot cities (Prague, Pilsen, Ústí nad Labem, Brno). Research is based on the methodical approaches of economic valuation, analysis of existing climate adaptation policies (barriers and opportunities), and assessment of the possible implementation of nature-based measures.

Funding Agency: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Duration: 1/2016–12/2017
Contact Person: Jan Macháč, e-mail: machac@e-academia.eu
Researchers: Jan Macháč, Lenka Dubová, Jiří Louda
In Cooperation with: CzechGlobe – Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Outputs: MACHÁČ, J., DUBOVÁ, L., LOUDA, J. 2017. Ekonomická analýza přírodě blízkých adaptačních opatření ve městě. Výsledky případových studií z Prahy, Brna a Plzně. Ústí nad Labem: Institut pro ekonomickou a ekologickou politiku (IEEP) Fakulta sociálně ekonomická, Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí nad Labem.
MACHÁČ, J., LOUDA, J., DUBOVÁ, L., VEJCHODSKÁ, E., SLAVÍKOVÁ, L. 2017. How to Successfully Achieve Urban Adaptation Using Green and Blue Infrastructure? (poster presentovaný na XVI World Water Congress, 29.5.-3.6.2017 Cancun, Mexiko)
LOUDA, J., MACHÁČ, J., DUBOVÁ, L.2017. Green and Blue Infrastructure: An Opportunity for Resilient and Sustainable Cities? (poster presentovaný na Dresden Nexus Conference 2017, 17.-19.5.2017 Dresden, Německo)
VEJCHODSKÁ, E., LOUDA, J. 2017. Partnerství obcí s veřejností při správě městské zeleně. Urbanismus a územní rozvoj, 3/2017. ISSN 1212-0855.
VEJCHODSKÁ, E., LOUDA, J., DUBOVÁ, L. 2017. Urban Green Space – Beneficial but Costly. New Approaches to Financing. In: Matějková L. (ed.). Proceedings of the 21st International Conference Current Trends in Public Sector Research 2017. Brno: Masaryk University, 2017. Pp. 402-409, ISSN 2336-1239, ISBN 978-80-210-8448-3.
Downloads Economic analysis of nature close to adaptation measures in the city 2017 (pdf)

 

UrbanAdapt: Development of Urban Adaptation Strategies Using Ecosystem-based Approaches to Adaptation

Supporting the climate change adaptation strategies development of Prague, Brno and Pilsen with respect to the potential of green and blue infrastructure enlargement.

The aim of the project is to launch and develop the preparation process of adaptation strategy of cities, and to design and evaluate suitable adaptation measures in selected urban areas (Prague, Brno, Pilsen) in the Czech Republic, with the support of ecosystem based approaches. Partial goals of the project are: to perform the risk and vulnerability assessment connected to the climate change on local urban level in cooperation with stakeholders, to identify relevant adaptation measures, to quantify costs and benefits of preferred adaptation measures, to prepare and formulate adaptation strategies of cities following on “Strategy on adaptation to climate change in the conditions of the Czech Republic“, and to launch the process of an implementation of adaptation strategy and related measures. An important part is also the incorporation of the elements of “green and blue infrastructure“ and ecosystem services into the adaptation cycle and into single measures and adaptation alternatives.

Funding Agency: Program CZ02 – Biodiverzita, monitoring a změna klimatu (financováno z EHP fondů 2009–2014)
Duration: 2015–2016
Contact Person: Jiří Louda, e-mail: louda@ieep.cz
Researchers: Jan Macháč, Lenka Dubová, Jiří Louda, Lenka Slavíková, Kristýna Rybová, Eliška Vejchodská, Jiří Moravec
In Cooperation with: CzechGlobe – Ústav výzkumu globální změny AV ČR, v.v.i.
Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation (Nadace Partnerstí)
Faculty of Transportation Sciences, Czech Technical University
Prague Institute of Planning and Development
CI2, o.p.s.
Urban Planning and Development Institut Pilsen
Institute for the Sustainability Studies, University of Iceland
Outputs: MACHÁČ, J., DUBOVÁ, L., LOUDA, J. 2017. Ekonomická analýza přírodě blízkých adaptačních opatření ve městě. Výsledky případových studií z Prahy, Brna a Plzně. Ústí nad Labem: Institut pro ekonomickou a ekologickou politiku (IEEP) Fakulta sociálně ekonomická, Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí nad Labem.
VEJCHODSKÁ, E., LOUDA, J. 2017. Partnerství obcí s veřejností při správě městské zeleně. Urbanismus a územní rozvoj, 3/2017. ISSN 1212-0855.
VEJCHODSKÁ, E., LOUDA, J., DUBOVÁ, L. 2017. Urban Green Space – Beneficial but Costly. New Approaches to Financing. In: Matějková L. (ed.). Proceedings of the 21st International Conference Current Trends in Public Sector Research 2017. Brno: Masaryk University, 2017. Pp. 402-409, ISSN 2336-1239, ISBN 978-80-210-8448-3.
MACHÁČ, J., DUBOVÁ, L., LOUDA, J. 2017. Ekonomické zhodnocení společenské přínosnosti zeleně na příkladu Parku pod Plachtami. Zahrada-park-krajina, 1/2017. ISSN 1211-1678
Downloads: Economic analysis of nature close to adaptation measures in the city 2017 (pdf) 
Web-site: Project UrbanAdapt Website
Use of Results: Background to city (strategy) planning, publications for public administration and the general public

 

Regional Value Chains in the Context of Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity

Pilot use of the concept of ecosystem services to support business enterprise at regional level and to optimize their impact on the environment.

The project builds on the “Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Regional Value Chains” project and deepens the analysis of current use and future potential of using the ecosystem services concept, this time focusing on the business sector (especially in the food industry, agriculture, forestry, tourism and beekeeping). Within the project, research of companies in the border area (aiming at the Usti nad Labem region and the Liberec region) is performed with the goal to identify both the selected economic sectors, and particular businesses, where it will be able to apply the concept of ecosystem services and biodiversity within the standard activities of these businesses. A broader goal of this project is (in model companies) to integrate a system of indicators following the quality of biodiversity and the flow of ecosystem services, and to use these indicators both for nature and biodiversity protection, respectively; and to increase the additional value of the output of single companies. The research within the project will also be focused on the analysis of the potential of a cross border cooperation of subjects to increase the additional value of companies´ outputs. On this project, experts from Poland, Saxony and Bohemia will participate.

Funding Agency: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
Duration: 2015–2017
Contact Person: Jiří Louda, e-mail: louda@ieep.cz
Researchers: Jiří Louda, Lenka Dubová
In Cooperation with: NETSCI Prof. Dr. Matthias Kramer GmbH
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Leibnitz University Hannover
Saxony State Foundation for Nature and the Environment
Internationales Begegnungszentrum St. Marienthal
Wrocław University of Economics (Faculty of Economy, Management and Tourism in Jelenia Góra)

 

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Regional Value Chains

Analysis of existing experience with the use of the concept of ecosystem services in the academic and political spheres in the Czech Republic.

This project focused on the description of the current state of knowledge on the ecosystem services and biodiversity in the Czech Republic and its use in practical environmental politics. Emphasis was put on the analysis of the currently existing knowledge on the management of ecosystem services in the Czech Republic, both at the academic level (published articles and monographies, realized projects) and at the political level (what political strategic documents concerning the biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Czech Republic exist, what support programs, etc.). A broader goal of the project was to identify the benefits and opportunities, which can be brought by the concept of ecosystem services to the regional chain (creation of added value). Within the project, a trilateral Czech-Polish-Saxon cooperation was established.

Funding Agency: Verein für Internationales und Interdisziplinäres Management e. V.
Duration: 2015
Contact Person: Jiří Louda, e-mail: louda@ieep.cz
Researchers: Jiří Louda
In Cooperation with: NETSCI Prof. Dr. Matthias Kramer GmbH
Wrocław University of Economics (Faculty of Economy, Management and Tourism in Jelenia Góra)

 

ESOM: Valuable Nature in the Eastern Ore Mountains

Valuation of recreational benefits provided by the Eastern Ore Mountains landscape that lead to the welfare increase of local residents and visitors.

Czech-German project was concerned with the mapping of ecosystem services (i.e. utilities which result from the biological diversity and virgin ecosystems) in the Eastern Ore Mountains. Its aim was to quantify and introduce their value to inhabitants of the region and to discuss local instruments for further development or conservation. Within the project investigation, we managed to especially evaluate the esthetical values resulting from the existence of nature related mountain creeks, maintained clearance cairns and regularly mowed mountain meadows.

Funding Agency: Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme Free State of Saxony – Czech Republic 2007–2013
Duration: 2012–2014
Contact Person: Jiří Louda, e-mail: louda@ieep.cz
Researchers: Jan Slavík, Lenka Slavíková, Ondřej Vojáček, Kristýna Rybová, Jiří Louda, Jiří Moravec, Adéla Romášková
In Cooperation with: Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IÖR), Dresden
Outputs: VOJÁČEK, O., KRATOCHVÍL, M. 2013. Assessing the economic value of ecosystem services in the Eastern Ore Mountains: using choice experiment. In ŠAUER, P. — ŠAUEROVÁ, J. (ed.). Environmental Economics, Policy and International Environmental Relations. Praha: Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2013, s. 165-172.
VOJÁČEK, O., LOUDA, J. 2017. Economic Value of Ecosystem Services in The Eastern Ore Mountains, E+M Ekonomie a management, 3/2017. ISSN 1212-3609.
BASTIAN, O., SYRBE, R.-U., SLAVIK, J., MORAVEC, J., LOUDA, J., KOCHAN, B., KOCHAN, N.,  STUTZRIEMER, S., BERENS, A. 2017. Ecosystem Services of Characteristic Biotope Types in the Ore Mountains (Germany/Czech Republic). International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management. Vol. 13, No. 1. ISSN 2151-3740. pp. 51-71. DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2016.1248865
Downloads: http://esom-project.org/cs/?cat=5
Web-site: Project ESOM Website
Use of Results: Background to the municipalities in Eastern Ore Mountains  promote sustainable tourism; creation of a virtual learning paths; a bilateral course for Czech and German university students; educational and information publications, research journal papers

 

The Cash Flow Potential Analysis of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness According to Applicants’ Size: The Optimization Suggestion According to Cost Effectiveness and Thematic Goals

Impact analysis of the limited allocation of funds for large enterprises under the Operational Program Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness (OPPIK).

According to the decision of the European Commission (C 2015, 3039) the support of large enterprises can reach (after considering all exceptions and other circumstances) only less than 30 % of this operational programme’s financial allocation. This restriction threatens the ability to use spendable funds of the programme to reach its goals. One of these goals is to reach substantial energy savings thanks to specific goals 3.2 and 3.5. The ex-post analysis of the projects funded in the last programming period (2007–2013) was conducted including the calculation of the probable effects of OPPIK with the given rules of the current programme on both small and large enterprises in this programming period (2014–2020). The analysis of absorption capacity was also conducted for some priority axes and legal correctness analysis of the current OPPIK’s rules.

Funding Agency: Národní centrum energetických úspor, z. s. (National Center for Energy Savings)
Duration: 2015-2016
Contact Person: Ondřej Vojáček (email: ondrej.vojacek@gmail.com)
Researchers: Ondřej Vojáček, Jiří Louda, Jan Macháč, Lenka Zemková, Ladislav Sobotka, Petr Krautwurm
In Cooperation with: IREAS Energy, s. r. o.; CTU in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Management and Economics
Use of Results: The main conclusions can be summarized as follows: reduction of the support for large enterprises is not reasonable, because: a) it impedes effective reaching of the given and authorized OPPIK’s goals, b) it impedes the support of SME’s that are included in the definition of large enterprises and c) it is against the legal framework (par. 3, Regulation no. 1301/2013). The institute of the “Programme Change”, regulated in art. 30, Regulation 1303/2013, can be used as a possible corrective measure of this legal contradiction with the EU regulation. With better adjustment of the programme from the viewpoint of both small and large enterprise support it would be possible to reach significantly higher effects (especially in energy saving), than it is predicted by OPPIK’s programme document, namely in final energy consumption savings as large as 28, 4 PJ per year (instead of the current prediction of 17, 5 PJ) and in primary energy savings as large as 10, 9 PJ per year instead of the current 6, 5 PJ per year (40% more). The output was used by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to negotiate with the EU on setting up OPPIK conditions. This negotiation based on results of the analysis was successful, thus the conditions was revised. 

 

Analysis of the Cost Incurred by Private Entities for Reporting Data to the Integrated Pollution Register

Calculation of compliance regulatory costs of companies related to the reporting of data into the Integrated Pollution Register.

The IEEP team, in cooperation with VYCERRO, carried out a representative survey of randomly selected sample operators (especially medium and large enterprises) on the additional costs of reporting data to the Integrated Pollution Register (so-called compliance regulatory costs). The main identified categories according to the contribution to the total compliance costs were labor costs, outsourcing (outsourcing costs) and costs of measurement and software. The study aimed to answer questions what is the amount and structure of these costs (in overall terms and broken down by different categories of obligated entities) and what are the main factors determining the cost level.

Funding Agency: Czech Ministry of the Environment
Duration: 2011–2012
Contact Person: Lenka Slavíková; e-mail: slavikova@ieep.cz
Researchers: Lenka Slavíková, Eliška Vejchodská, Jan Slavík, Vítězslav Malý; Tomáš Oršulák
In Cooperation with: VYCERRO
Outputs: Vejchodská E., Slavíková L., Malý V. (2016): Evaluating the Regulatory Burden: Pollutant Release and Transfer Reporting Costs. Prague Economic Papers 26/6: 671-685.
Downloads: Evaluating the Regulatory Burden: Pollutant Release and Transfer Reporting Costs (pdf)
Use of Results: The analysis showed that (i) the compliance cost of reporting data to the Integrated Pollution Register (IRZ) is almost CZK 48 million, 22% of which is related to the fulfillment of obligations under the E-PRTR Regulation and 78% in the fulfillment of the obligations stipulated by the Czech legislation. (ii) The average cost incurred by 1 entity (establishment) is almost CZK 10 thousand. However, taking into account the median, this value falls to CZK 6.4 thousand. When removing 10% of the minimum and maximum values, the average is CZK 6.2 thousand. The occurrence of extremely high values ​​affecting average results must be taken into account when interpreting the results obtained. (iii) The compliance costs include wage costs (45%), outsourcing (18%) and measurement and software costs (37%). (iv) Respondents representing mandatory entities are mostly satisfied with the clarity and simplicity of the IRZ system, but they feel it is not a good tool for informing the general public.

 

Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) – Draft of End-of-Life Products Act, Amendment to the Funeral Law and Impact Assessment of Multi-Annual Public Projects

Implementation of regulatory impact assessment of selected laws and regulation instruments in the Czech Republic.

IEEP regularly deals with regulatory impact assessment (RIA process) of Czech draft laws and other regulatory instruments:

  • In 2015 – 2016 IEEP carried out the RIA of the draft law on end-of-life products for the Czech Ministry of the Environment.
  • In 2015 IEEP elaborated the RIA of the Act No. 256/2001 Coll., the funeral law for the Ministry of Regional Development.
  • In 2007, IEEP carried out an impact assessment of the regulation for public projects and programs, including a proposal for a single RIA procedure / methodology for the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.
Funding Agency: Czech Ministry of the Environment, Czech Ministry of Regional Development, Czech Ministry of the Interior 
Contact Person: Jiřina Jílková (jirina.jilkova@ujep.cz)
Researchers: Aleš Pecka, Radek Soběhart, Leoš Vítek, František Ochrana 
In Cooperation with: The outputs are materials for decision making by the state administration.

 

COMETR: Competitiveness Effects of Environmental Tax Reforms

Implementation of environmental taxes in EU countries – analysis of the specifics of the new Member States.

The project was focused on a detailed analysis of the energy-intensive industries in the countries of the European Union and examined the short-term and long-term effects of so-called “green tax reforms” on these sectors. The complexity of the analysis consisted in the use of various methodological approaches, including extensive econometric models and case studies.

Funding Agency: 6th Framework Programme
Duration: 2004–2007
Contact Person: Jiřina Jílková (jirina.jilkova@ujep.cz)
Researchers: Jan Brůha, Jiřina Jílková, Vítězslav Píša
In Cooperation with: Cambridge Econometrics (United Kingdom), Policy Studies Institute – PSI (United Kingdom), Economic and Social Research Institute – ESRI (Ireland), Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies – WIIW (Austria)
Outputs: More on the project website.
Downloads: Cometr Summary Report (pdf)
Web-site: Project COMETR website