Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in the Danube Delta
The EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube project, sponsored by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), epitomizes our commitment to climate action within the European Union. The project’s overarching aim is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through enhanced cooperation across member states, enabling well-founded and sustainable decisions for land use and energy efficiency in the Romanian Danube Valley.
Project implementation period: 11/2020 – 07/2023
Background and Broader Impact
This project addressed two critical areas that play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions: organic soil matter (EDAPHIC component of the project) and building infrastructure (BLOOM component). Drained organic soils are a major source of emissions in the EU and globally. Comprehensive retrofitting of buildings, responsible for about 40% of EU energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions, can significantly cut energy demand by more than 50%.
BLOOM component
With regard to the energy efficiency of buildings, the BLOOM component of the project ensured capacity building and knowledge exchange through various means: First, it created a regional energy efficiency map. This provided public authorities and professionals with valuable information on the existing building stock as well as the basis for energy audits of public buildings. Second, at least 20 professionals from the built environment sector received training and were examined for Certified Passive House Tradesperson (PHTP), according to the “Passivhaus Standard” developed in Germany. Third, the project created an online platform to enable access to knowledge and support the development of future retrofit projects. Finally, to raise public awareness and include local communities, the project organized two “urban living labs” to discuss and promote sustainable energy practices and behaviors.
EDAPHIC component
The EDAPHIC component of the project organized local climate protection measures to preserve soil organic matter and offered advice, workshops, and training. These initiatives provided environmental authorities and local communities with the necessary skills and knowledge to increase the capacity of organic soils and to respond to climate change effects. Secondly, the project developed a Master Plan (MP) and a good practices guide for reducing GHG emissions, proposing solutions for sustainable land management. Thirdly, to disseminate the MP and good practices guide, the project set up the “Cluster for Sustainable Development of the Lower Danube Plain and Danube Delta.” Members included project partners, local authorities, universities, and research institutes from Romania and Germany, private land owners and administrators, and NGOs. The cluster created a space for efficient dialogue, exchange of good practices, awareness raising, and knowledge transfer between members. Moreover, a dissemination plan that included conferences, workshops, trainings, roundtables, and a documentary film laid out the necessary communication infrastructure to involve a wide range of stakeholders.
Project Partners
Romania
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development (DDNI)
- General Secretariat of the Government | Department for Sustainable Development (DDD)
- Tulcea Municipality
- National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agrochemistry and Environment (ICPA)
- National Research and Development in Construction, Urban Planning and Sustainable Development (Urban-Incerc)
Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Karlsruhe Unviersity of Applied Science
- Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH | Steinbeis Danube Center
What we have done
Examples of our contributions to the success of the project.
Workshop and site-visits in Suttgart
19.-20.04.2023 | Experience Exchange on Energy Efficiency of Buildings for 19 experts from Romania.
nZEB Standards in Romania
22.11.2022 | Attending the Parliamentary Hearing on Energy Efficiency of Buildings.
A vision for a sustainable future.
Shaping and publicising the EDAPHIC-BLOOM Covenant.
International Symposium “Deltas & Wetlands”
01.06.-05.06.2022 | Addressing a compelling question: “Who initiates research? The scientist or the entrepreneur?”
Presenting EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube in the Romanian Parliament
28.10.2021 | Committe of Industry and Services invited Steinbeis Team to share expertise on energy efficiency and building materials.
A vision for a sustainable future.
20.05.-21.05.2021 | Raizner gives advice on setting up a Sustainable Development Cluster and shares insights on Sustainable Energy Transistion.