Initial situation:
Increasing urbanisation and the effects of climate change require environmentally sound infrastructure investments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase resilience. By 2050, urban populations will grow by two billion globally, with cities currently contributing three-quarters of global CO2 emissions. These urban areas face challenges like air pollution, environmental degradation and limited resilience. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the urgency, developing low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure remains complex. Cities in emerging and developing countries struggle to prepare viable projects, secure funding and implement such projects. FELICITY II works in the Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Georgia) and Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan) and builds on the success of the FELICITY I Global Programme, which was carried out in cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB). In its second phase, the programme aims to reduce barriers by supporting low-carbon infrastructure projects in the wastewater and water sector and by making buildings more energy efficient.
Project goal:
Urban infrastructure in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is improved leading to lower carbon emissions.
Approach:
The FELICITY II programme focuses on two sectors: energy efficiency in buildings and water and wastewater.
The selected project countries face similar financing challenges as well as technical issues in the implementation of climate change mitigation projects.
The project is jointly implemented with the European Investment Bank and:
• Provides cities and financial intermediaries with guidance on the technical, financial and economic feasibility of planned urban investments. It supports in procurement procedures and advises on the social and environmental soundness of projects in terms of fulfilling the requirements for receiving financing.
• Promotes the ability of municipalities to develop viable projects and access global funding opportunities.
• Facilitates knowledge exchange among countries and regions on infrastructure project preparation and regulatory frameworks.
Last update: March 2024