3D Initiative Statement

 

3D Vision

3D will Harness the Power and Expertise of the Government Agencies, Academic Institutions and Philanthropic Groups  to Scale Up Decarbonizing Deployment  and Investment  in Danube Delta Considering Economic, Reliability, Sizing, and Environmental Impacts Approach through 3 axes:

  • The 3D initiative proposes a conceptual model of the transition “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” of the Danube Delta, related to all economic and societal components, to a well-preserved region with biodiversity conserved for long term and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (with significantly reduced carbon footprint by 2030), in an innovative social context, enriching the local economy and capitalizing on local opportunities for job creation and the benefits of the local population.
  • This systematic multidisciplinary initiative proposes a comprehensive innovation management process (supported by innovation agencies and group companies) to bring the region to the goals of the “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” transition of the Danube Delta, which the authorities will implement.
  • Within the innovative Value Chain process there will be projects at all levels, from Research to Innovations, Scaling Up Actions to Business and Industry, aiming as an important landmark Social Innovation with Job Creation.

3D Vision

Any human approach in terms of practice, such as decarbonization, is a form of manifestation of the relationship between the level of knowledge and understanding of the surrounding reality, on the one hand, and the value system assumed at different spatio-temporal scales.

The transformations to which the Wetland System of the Lower Danube Meadow has been subjected, given the spatial scale of manifestation are relevant for the current context, marked by the absence of decision support tools for effective decarbonization, which should capitalize on decision-making power, scientific knowledge, experiences and information of local authorities.

We must recognize, at the same time, that the present provides us with much more scientific and factual evidence on the limited capacity of the socio-ecological system to cope with the instability of ecological balance, namely the balance of living and nonliving things that keeps the ecosystem in homeostasis (energy and raw material crises, climate change and global pollution) and yet the willingness to improve the ecological performance of socio-economic systems, as a reflection of intra- and inter-generational solidarity, fuels the 3D initiative, at levels that fuel optimism .

From a 3D scientific perspective, it is necessary to assume a realistic assessment of the limits of economic systems, which reflects the role of natural capital as a vital factor of production and the exclusivity of private profit as a performance indicator must be abandoned to make possible a multicriteria approach in a context holist, integrator. Economic and ecological criteria must be complemented by socio-political criteria.

3D Vision

When we started thinking about the idea of ​​decarbonization in Danube Delta, respectively the goal – the transition to “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” and to broaden our horizons on climate change adaptation, the opportunity was created to contribute to current efforts to meet this challenge. The challenges of the “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” transition are universal: all regions must contribute, so establishing a valuable relationship between sustainable development and the “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” straighten us to focus precisely on a Biosphere Reserve such as The Danube Delta.

It is important to note that exposure to the “Net-Zero GHG emissions 2050” transition, according to our analysis, by determining the potential to adapt to the decarbonization transition in the Danube Delta and to ensure the sustainable use of natural capital, such as sun and wind, and through the availability of technological, human and physical capital, it will have to be transformed into a value chain innovation process.

3D In A Nutshell

The 3D Initiative — a new partnership between DD stakeholders working to implement their climate ambition pledges and accelerate transitions to net zero, resilient, and inclusive energy systems. Through 3D, led by the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI) as part of the Net Zero World initiative, partners committed to raising their climate change adaptation ambitions will work across MoU to create and implement highly tailored, actionable road maps and investment strategies that put net zero within reach. The DDNI will also partner with a growing list of philanthropies think tanks, businesses, and universities along Danube Valley to help a range of regions implement climate ambition pledges and attract the funds in capital needed for global clean transformation.

3D initiative results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

  • Improved assessment of the added value of wetland, peatland and floodplain restoration approaches under different scenarios and monitor their benefits and trade-offs in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, a wide range of ecosystem services and biodiversity.
  • Support the EU Nature Restoration Plan of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
  • Improve the knowledge base on the status of Danube Delta beyond the current state of the art on extent, location, condition, spatial-temporal trends, type of management and pressures (including climate change), as well as restoration potential to understand their capacity as carbon sinks or GHG sources to support climate mitigation and adaptation plans/solutions.
  • Introduction of the quantified greenhouse gas abatement potential of wetland restoration in models and scenarios, for climate and biodiversity.
  • Analyse the degree to which these approaches related to wetlands are affected by different scenarios of climate change (i.e. effectivity under global warming of 2°C and higher).
  • Support the implementation of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation with respect to the inclusion of wetland restoration activities by developing robust and transparent methodologies, data provision and analysis.
  • Contribute to the evidence on ecosystem services provided by restored wetlands and their long-term management as an investment with significant net societal benefits.
  • Contribute to scientific assessments such as the IPCC, IPBES and International Resource Panel reports.

Scope

  • Projects are expected to assess the current extent and state of Danube Delta wetland, their current and potential GHG profile (with or without protection/restoration measures) and its medium to long-term mitigation capacity through restoration or other measures. The assessment should take into account key greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O), the carbon value of services (such as production) in the baseline (e.g., food production) and restoration scenarios (e.g., paludiculture or non-productive uses – regenerative agriculture, like bio-dynamic agriculture, agritourism and permaculture) and estimate the abatement cost for different policy-relevant time periods. Assessments should therefore look at assessing any trade-offs of restoring wetlands primarily for climate and biodiversity benefits with the delivery of their wide range of other services, and on methods to avoid, and if not possible, to mitigate them.
  • Projects are expected to develop or identify workable tools and approaches for the sound estimation of GHG performance as well as impacts on biodiversity and a wide range of ecosystem services (e.g. due to disturbance of soils, dredging of sediments, methane from rewetting) should be considered, including trade-offs and benefits of passive restoration and following succession of water bodies. The evidence collected may contribute to the related policies, like LULUCF, and the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy commitments.
  • Projects are expected to go beyond the state-of-the-art of the different management techniques and knowledge and provide guides and recommendations about the scaling up of the solutions in mobility and energy.
  • Actions should envisage clustering activities with other relevant thematic areas for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events.
  • Contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related 3D research activities.

Targets – Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality

  • To support EU policies as well as international efforts for a global uptake of climate action in line with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including biodiversity objectives. Advancing climate science and further broadening and deepening the knowledge base is essential to inform the societal transition towards a climate neutral and climate resilient society by 2050, as well as towards a more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030 – Danube Delta as pilot case. It will involve research that furthers our understanding of past, present and expected future changes in climate and its implications on ecosystems and society, closing knowledge gaps, and develops the tools that support policy coherence and the implementation of effective mitigation and adaptation solutions in Danube Delta. Due to the inherent international character of this subject, international collaboration is encouraged for 3D.
  • The activities implemented under this initiative – 3D will enable the transition to a climate-neutral and resilient society and economy through improving the knowledge of the Earth system and the ability to predict and project its changes under different natural and socio-economic drivers, including a better understanding of society’s response and behavioral changes, and allowing a better estimation of the impacts of climate change and the design and evaluation of solutions and pathways for climate change mitigation and adaptation and related social transformation.
  • This 3D Initiative contributes directly to the EU Strategic Plans on decarbonization ”Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems” and the impact area “Climate change mitigation and adaptation”.
  • 3D contribute to the “Transition to a climate-neutral and resilient society and economy enabled through advanced climate science, pathways and responses to climate change (mitigation and adaptation) and behavioral transformations”.

Ecological resizing through urban and rural actions & dialogues for GHG mitigation in the Lower Danube Floodplains & Danube Delta (EDAPHIC-BLOOM DANUBE)

Project leader: “Danube Delta” National Institute for Research and Development

Country for implementation: ROMANIA

Supported by BMWK-EUKI (https://www.euki.de/ )

Description

This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

The opinions in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).