Promoting renewable energy in accordance with the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001[1], including the sustainability criteria set out therein.

Renewable energy projects based on the high potential of Geothermal/ photovoltaic/ other renewable energy resources (RES) in the Programme Area (PA) - joint solutions:
- Encourage cross-border project generation related to the spread of sustainable RES usage
- Mapping renewable energies at micro-level, assessing barriers and drafting joint strategies for coordinated actions in the energy market.
- Best-practice sharing, exchange of experience, and joint capacity development for better understanding of the advantages and for the uptake of RES utilization tailored to the needs of different stakeholder groups (political-legislative, technical, public, youth and women, etc.)
- Joint initiatives connected with the New European Bauhaus (i.e. community and stakeholders’ participation, co-development of solutions for the best energy mix in the cross-border area, etc)

Increased cooperation in the field of renewable energies, contributing to building green and renewable energy communities in the PA, including by promoting joint solutions to upscale and further promote RES.

Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience taking into account eco-system-based approaches

- Updating rivers’ flood risk management plans
- Support the improvement of joint forecasting and nowcasting
- Promoting partnerships between academic research and youth NGOs activating in the field of environment
- Supporting the monitoring and survey of different environmental and human-related risks
- Harmonising climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies and action plans to improve international collaboration and coordinate activities in the Danube Region
- Exploring the direct effects of climate change and implementing mitigation and adaptation measures in environmental risk management plans (joint strategies)
- Providing support for joint risk assessment at cross-border level and related capacity building and exchange of experience
- Development institutional capacities (ex. joint actions) and procedures for better preparedness for disaster management and strengthening the resiliency of national/ regional/county authorities, through a harmonised and standardised approach (joint solutions)
- Increase the preparedness and resilience of communities against storms, floods, fires and droughts (information and awareness-raising events)
- Improve cooperation with regard to the use of climate change data and projections from Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and its Climate Data Store (CDS), including capacity building and exchange of experience in these fields
- Investments related to joint storm /flood/fire/drought risk management, (joint solutions)
- Innovative joint solutions related to improved preparedness and alert systems

Increased capacity and efficiency of the emergency services and risk prevention (both climate and non-climate-related) thanks to cooperation.

Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

- Develop a joint / cross-border Masterplan of border Natura2000 areas or sensible areas to focus on the identification of biodiversity hotspots, the common setting of conservation objectives, identifying priority sites for restoration, and measures for mainstreaming the biodiversity
- Foster joint basin-wide management planning on specific issues (e.g. ice on rivers)
- Develop and/or implement joint conservation action plans and/or management plans for endangered umbrella species of Natura2000 protected areas
- Joint capacity-building and awareness-raising events among local communities and institutions on biodiversity conservation and protected areas
- Capacity building, training and awareness raising among local communities and institutions related to environment strategic assessment, definition, and implications of integrating the ecosystem approach in local strategic planning documents, the sustainable use of blue and green infrastructure
- Develop and apply the most appropriate methods/procedures/tools for the joint prevention and control of IAS and the management of their priority pathways in the border areas (joint solutions)
- Joint measures for restoration of the invaded ecosystems in the cross-border area (joint solutions)
- Joint protocols for the preservation and restoration of biodiversity and/or establishment/improvement of green infrastructure
- Construction of permanent green and recreational facilities, including cycling infrastructure
- Promote sustainable joint floodplain management through blue and green infrastructure (e.g. small nature-based water retention measures)
- Promote the improvement of water quality on both sides of the border through small-scale blue infrastructure
- Promoting initiatives connected with the New European Bauhaus (e.g. community participation in the identification of public areas suitable for the establishment of green infrastructure, and their design)

Improved coordination and protection of the natural heritage across the border.