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PEACEPLUS is a funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is the successor programme to both PEACE IV and INTERREG VA.
This Investment Area supports the engagement of strategic stakeholders targeting legal and administrative obstacles to co-operation in relevant sectors, in this case, clean air.
There are many similarities in home heating, transport and agricultural practices north and south that cause air pollution, which are addressed by the respective policy frameworks. However, these approaches within each jurisdiction may mean that transboundary and synergistic effects are not effectively addressed. There has also been a significant increase in the availability of analysis systems and tools, including satellite-based remote sensing systems such as Copernicus which provide data that can assist in enhanced tracking of air pollutants and their impacts. A Clean Air project funded through PEACEPLUS provides opportunities to consider these aspects in more detail and develop a better understanding that might provide a basis to inform policy approaches to improve outcomes in both jurisdictions.
To better manage clean air/air quality challenges in a North-South context, more information and a better understanding is required on emissions, ambient levels and the formation of secondary air pollutants, and depositions on ecosystems. Any proposal to be funded under the Clean Air call should be based on the three broad areas specified below and should address inter alia some, or all, of the bullet points in each area. The project areas are set out with an indicative proportion of the total funding suggested for each. These are indicative figures only and provide guidance on how resources should be deployed. Some issues are cross-cutting, and so should be addressed in an integrated manner. For example, the work assessing the source and composition of particulate matter will address points in the three project areas.
Area 1. Air pollution from solid fuel burning (55%):
- Conduct monitoring campaigns during the heating/non heating seasons.
- Use speciation techniques to determine the relative contribution of different solid fuels to the overall air pollution levels, including toxic components such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- Develop capacity to conduct laboratory analysis of residential solid fuels to assist enforcement authorities in both jurisdictions.
- Conduct community surveys to determine the type and usage of residential solid fuels as well as burning practices in the region, that might raise awareness and facilitate behavioural changes.
- Carry out complementary indoor air pollution monitoring campaigns.
Area 2. Transport-related air pollution (25%):
- Conduct additional monitoring (NOx and PM) in residential areas to better assess population exposure in a cross-border context and recommend, as appropriate, locations to optimise monitoring in an all-island context.
- Perform targeted monitoring of hotspots and vulnerable locations (schools, hospitals, etc.) including speciation to better understand the pollution sources.
- Build on the work carried out during the EU LIFE EMERALD project to better align clean air modelling capability North and South, linking, where appropriate, with wider modelling programmes such as CAMS.
- Assess the effect of potential mitigation measures on population exposure.
- Ensure the inclusion of Citizen Science elements (similar to EPA Clean Air Together or Globe), including to raise awareness and engage the community.
Area 3. Ammonia pollution in agriculture and effects on biodiversity/sensitive ecosystems (20%):
- Assess monitoring capabilities for ambient ammonia throughout the island with a view to providing higher spatial and temporal resolution where appropriate.
- Use speciation techniques to assess the contribution of ammonia to the production of secondary PM in addition to that from solid fuel combustion and other sources and use the data to develop improved all-island air pollution models.
- Establish a cross-border communication forum on ecosystems monitoring which would identify opportunities to develop existing networks in a coordinated manner.
- Strengthen links to UN Air Convention monitoring programmes9 and identify options to establish new sites in both jurisdictions that could become part of the pan-European network. These or other existing sites could be incorporated into wider ‘ecotourism’ programmes to help raise public awareness of the impacts of air pollution on the environment.
The following bodies are eligible to apply:
a. National, regional and local authorities;
b. Regional and local development agencies, chambers of commerce;
c. Universities, colleges, higher education, research institutions;
d. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
e. Sectoral agencies and business support organisations;
f. Voluntary sector organisations;
g. Other relevant public-like organisations contributing to the development of the programme area;
h. Private sector – specifically micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies.
Please note the above is not an exhaustive list, other bodies may be considered eligible.
The programme area for the PEACEPLUS Programme is:
• Northern Ireland;
• The border counties of Ireland (Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).
This is the core programme area. The programme, however, has flexible geography beyond its administrative borders called a functional area. This allows for organisations and institutions not based in the core programme area to get involved in projects by linking with partners within the core area. The benefits of such collaborations must be significant for the core programme area.
It is anticipated that one project will be funded under this call, and that the project supported will be ready to commence by mid-2025. It is anticipated that the project will be up to the value €6.5million.
The project should plan an implementation period of 3.5 years.
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