The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of regional and local governments to develop and implement more effective regional policies that support the decarbonization of the healthcare sector which contributes 5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Over 50% of its footprint is attributable to energy use, primarily consumption of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, with other operational emissions. Other contributing activities include: agriculture (9% e.g. catering at health facilities, growing cotton for surgical gowns), pharmaceuticals & chemicals (5%), transport (7%) and waste treatment (3%).

Decarbonizing the health sector requires an integrated approach and high-impact measures, with priority given to the use of breakthrough technologies and tools, i.e., innovative solutions for smart decentralized energy system for heating and cooling, natural refrigerants, clean ventilation system, chemical-free surface cleaning, etc. The challenge for authorities is to develop policies that will help reduce emissions in the healthcare sector across all components, scaling up innovative solutions in: electricity, buildings and infrastructure, transportation, food, pharmaceuticals and overall system efficiency.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

The project is being implemented in two phases:

• Core phase (lasting maximum 3 years) dedicated to policy improvement using contextual analysis and knowledge sharing, Includes international meetings, workshops, study visits, expert meetings to foster experience exchange, capacity building, good practice and innovative solutions transfer and exploration of the latest breakthrough technologies and innovative tools that could accelerate energy transformation in the sector.At the end of the core phase, each region will present a documented proposed improvement to the selected policy document supporting the decarbonisation of the health sector or develop an action plan for improving the selected policy. Partners, with the support of stakeholders if possible, will initiate the implementation of improvements and solutions defined and analysed earlier in the DPAHNE project, adapted to their own local context.
• Follow-up phase (lasting 1 year) involves monitoring the initial effects of the proposed improvements of the selected policy instruments and sharing lessons learned and conclusions on the implementation of new solutions in an inter-regional workshop. Regional stakeholders remain key players in this phase due to their role in the implementation and monitoring of strategic documents.

EXPECTED PROJECT RESULTS:

By fostering the use of an integrated approach, the project boosts the design and implementation of high-impact actions (energy efficiency, renewables, supply chains, waste management, etc.) that contribute to GHG emissions reduction and encouraging the scaling up of innovative tools in the field. In this context and in order to achieve the overall project aim, partners cooperate at interregional level to reach the following specific objectives:

• encouraging interregional learning on regional policy needs related to energy efficiency and GHG mitigation in the healthcare sector, taking into account barriers to the application of multiple interventions to implement high-impact integrated interventions;
• encouraging interregional learning on the latest breakthrough technologies and innovative tools that could accelerate the energy transition in the sector;
• understanding what could be done at the regional level to address needs of the healthcare sector – this includes assessing the success factors and impact of integrated policy measures to support energy efficiency in the healthcare sector, as well as identifying weaknesses and good practices;
• designing, and if possible initiating implementation, of policy improvements to support integrated approaches that pave the way for the decarbonization of the health sector (core phase);
• implementing and monitoring policy improvements using regional resources (follow-up phase).

During the lifetime of the project, partners will engage Local Stakeholder Groups to ensure that relevant entities in each region are actively involved in policy learning and in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of policy improvements.

PROJECT PARTNERS: 

• Tuscany Energy Consortium, IT – Koordynator
• TEM at Lund University, SE
• North-East Regional Development Agency, RO
• Region of Thesally, GR
• Elk City Municipality, PL
• Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités”, PL
• National Environment And Health Cell, BE
• Health Service Executive, IE
• Executive Committee of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, UA
• Faculty Of Engineering University Of Kragujevac, XS

DURATION: 1 April 2024 – 30 June 2028

PROJECT WEBSITE: https://www.interregeurope.eu/daphne

FINANCING: Interreg Europe

The project is co-funded by the EU Interreg Europe program.  The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the DAPHNE project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.