19 66629 November 2012
In 2011 19,666 tons of greenhouse gas emission reduction was achieved through EU development projects realized in the past period of time. This major achievement is the result of investments realized from 105 EU grants. All these results could only be achieved with the 2.3 billion Hungarian Forint grant from the New Széchenyi Plan – said Dr Enikő Földi, Deputy Secretary of State for development programs at the National Development Ministry, on Wednesday, in Budapest. At the closing event of the Giant Numbers campaign of the National Development Agency an installation symbolizing the Giant Number related to environment protection was inaugurated.
The investments have not explicitly been realized with the direct goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission, but, providing that the goals and partial goals of the grant schemes are all realized, emission reduction may be achieved by way of energy efficiency and energy saving. These factors are indispensable for development, the environment must be protected to maintain sustainability. It is extremely important that we protect the environment and the cleanliness of our settlements, treat the above and under surface waters well, protect the nature’s values, and make energy usage more efficient from renewable energy resources. These factors provide the basis for the environmentally conscious way of thinking.
The Government made significant progress in the area of environment protection in a lot of places countrywide, thus promoting sustainable development. The already completed 105 projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emission was implemented with EU and state funds in the amount of HUF 2.3 billion. It is important to note that presently close to 1,300 developments are under way, the contracted support amount of which is HUF 78 billion.
At the event Dr. Enikő Földi emphasized: "the Government awarded an EU and state grant in the amount of more than HUF 1,500 billion to a significant number of projects, actually more than 9000 projects in the region of Central Hungary. In the capital from the 5500 supported projects nearly 4400 have already been completed. One such project is the renovation and the energetic modernization of the elementary school in Fillér street which will ensure the energy and cost saving operation of the institution for at least 15 years.
The installation unveiled in Budapest, Erzsébet square aims to call the attention to the results achieved in the area of environment protection by the New Széchenyi Plan. The active statue called "Human Molds" symbolizes the effect of our activities on the environment – noted Mr. Nándor Csepreghy, the communication manager of the National Development Agency.
The goal of the campaign run by the National Development Agency is to present the common success of Hungary and the European Union. The space installations and space furniture set up all over the country represent the important developments realized in the framework of the New Széchenyi Plan. In Veszprém education, in Szeged healthcare, in Miskolc training, in Pécs tourism, in Debrecen transport, in Győr business development, and in Budapest environment protection was the main topic, the success of which was brought close to the citizens.