3rd Research Plan

3rd Research Plan

1. The general framework | 2. The 3rd Research Plan for Catalonia (2001-2004)

2.4.2.4. Environment and Natural Resources

Actions in this Selected Area are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment.

Objectives

To promote a better knowledge of natural, environmental and energy resources and of the tools for better management of these resources.
To promote and develop multidisciplinary teams capable of rapid analysis and technological responses to specific environmental issues.
To develop more environmentally friendly ways of managing and using natural, environmental and energy resources on behalf of industry with special emphasis on the transfer of appropriate technologies to industry.

Lines of action

Clean technologies. Improving the environmental performance of industry including establishing maximum emission levels, technical standards and regulations. Promotion of research into new technologies (industrial ecology, green chemistry, nanotechnology).Energy saving.

Value from waste products. Development of economically feasible processes for the production of value added products from wastes. Reuse of the waste and by-products from infrastructure development projects (road, rail, etc.).

Environmental observation and modelling. Development of systems for gathering, communicating, interpreting and utilising environmental data in the control and management of the environment. Geographical information systems, data gathering and management of meteorological databases for forecasting risks of fires and floods; inventories of atmospheric emissions and monitoring of polluting processes in industrial and urban areas. Studies related to climate change.

Study and protection of bio-diversity. Bio-diversity. Monitoring of protected natural spaces both terrestrial and aquatic. Development of information systems on bio-diversity. Mapping of habitats. Studies of species recovery, inventories of fauna and vegetation in different natural spaces. Restoration of ecological systems. Forest management. Sustainable rural development. Environmental impact of infrastructures. Development of methodologies to monitor flow in the rivers in Catalonia to identify areas liable to flooding and plan appropriate construction of river banks. Quality of water and integrated management of water cycle. Cleansing of waste water. Functioning and dynamics of the coastline and coastal infrastructures. Modelling of the dispersion of pollutants.

Social perception of environmental activities. Development of methodologies to assess public opinion regarding environmental policies and programmes. Feed these data back into the policy making process. Development of methodologies to promote citizen involvement in environmental management.