EUROPE EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE CONVENTION In order to promote the protection, management and planning of European landscapes, the Council of Europe initiated the European Landscape Convention in 1994. The Convention was adopted in 2000 and came into force in 2004. The European Landscape Convention is a Treaty devoted to all aspects of the European landscape, not just the outstanding ones. It raises awareness about the value of living landscapes. Each participating party (38 member states in total) needs to identify the landscapes in its territory and define landscape quality objectives for these identified landscapes. Collaboration among the parties is of great importance; chapter 3 “European Co-operation” demands mutual assistance, exchange of information and transfrontier cooperation among parties. (European Landscape Convention, 2004) The European Landscape Convention complements the Council of Europe’s conventions, such as the Treaty of Lisbon. Territorial cohesion is one of the main goals as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon, December 2009. Consequently, this term is extensively used in the background document for the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020: The Territorial State and Perspectives of the European Union, 2011. “According to the Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion – turning territorial diversity into strength the main function of territorial cohesion is to work for the harmonious development of all types of places, and to make sure that the citizens of these places are able to make the most of the inherent features of their territories. Territorial cohesion is an approach that aims at transforming diversity into an asset.” ROADMAP 2050 – EUROPEAN INTEGRATION THROUGH A COMMUNAL ENERGY NETWORK A concrete elaboration of these policies which aims at territorial cohesion is the project “Roadmap 2050”. One of the urgent issues European countries have to deal with is the use of fossil fuels, which will deplete at a certain moment and also will increase in price. European countries need to meet (inter)national energy regulations, emission restrictions and reductions. One of the objectives set by the European Union in 2009, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. This was the starting point for the European Climate Foundation (ECF) to develop the project “Roadmap 2050” “The mission of Roadmap 2050 project is to provide a practical, independent and objective analysis of pathways to achieve a low-carbon economy in Europe, in line with the energy security, environmental and economic goals of the European Union. The Roadmap 2050 project is an initiative of the European Climate Foundation (ECF) and has been developed by a consortium of experts funded by the ECF.” (www.roadmap2050.eu) Roadmap 2050 is developed in detail in collaboration with many parties; consultancy firms, research centres, NGO’s, including the internationally known architecture firm Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). All relevant aspects are extensively analyzed; from methodology to technical solutions, costs and implications on the economy to feasibility. In the report, importing renewable energy from neighboring regions like North Africa, is considered a possibility. This would even expand the territory of the energy network to another continent and might be a handle for Africa to trade one of its valuable (energy) resources to Europe. OMA was involved in the production of a graphic narrative about the geographical, political and cultural implications of a zero carbon power sector. “The graphic narrative shows how through the complete integration and synchronization of the EU’s energy infrastructure, Europe can take advantage of its geographical diversity: if the Roadmap is followed, by 2050, the simultaneous presence of various renewable energy sources within the EU will create a complementary system of energy provision ensuring energy security for future generations.” (www.oma.eu)
Figure 25. Different European landscapes.
Figure 26. New European energy grid.
Roadmap 2050 addresses one of the issues all European countries have to deal with, and by collaborating, a more efficient and profitable solution can be generated. The project could not only reduce the use of fossil fuel and increase the use of renewable energy sources, it could also generate a collective pride among Europeans. It shows that collaboration among member states leads to a powerful transnational system, which is physically represented by the European territory. An awareness of a collective territory and even dependence on other state member territories (wind energy in the North, solar energy in the South) would contribute to a European identity. The international landscape will be a generator of our common need; energy. The physical representation of the European territory, its landscape, becomes a binding factor for Europeans. The project hasn’t been implemented yet and it will probably take a while to realize considering all the (inter)national policies and regulations it has to pass. We know from experience that people tend to stick with the known and existing, but changes need to be made inevitably, so let’s not be afraid of new ambitious plans from which in the end we will all benefit.
Figure 27. The reordered territories of “Eneropa”.
12 T H E R I PA R I A N L A N D-S H A P I N G M AC H I N E