Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (link http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/home.html) is one of the four thematic programmes of the Fifth RTD Framework Programme. The EU emphasises increasing the co-operation between industrial companies and utilities, as well as promoting contacts between Eastern and Western companies.

The programme is composed of two sub-programmes, "Environment and Sustainable Development" and "Energy".

Environment and Sustainable Development subprogram´s RTD will concentrate through four key actions on tackling the following issues:

Key Action 1: Sustainable management and quality of water
Key Action 2: Global change, climate and biodiversity
Key Action 3: Sustainable marine ecosystems
Key Action 4: The city of tomorrow and cultural heritage

The strategic goal of the Energy part of the programme is to develop sustainable energy systems and services for Europe and contribute to a more sustainable development world-wide, leading to increased security and diversity of supply, the provision of high-quality, low-cost energy services, improved industrial competitiveness and reduced environmental impact.

RTD will concentrate through two key actions on tackling the following issues:

Key Action 5: Cleaner energy systems, including renewables
Key Action 6: Economic and efficient energy for a competitive Europe 

SAVE II Programme

SAVE II is a European Union programme (link http://www.europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/save.htm) aimed at promoting the rational use of energy within the Community. It is designed to make a significant contribution to the Union objectives for increased energy efficiency and to meeting its Kyoto commitments. The purpose of the programme is to create an environment in which investments in energy efficiency will be accelerated and whereby energy efficiency will be recognised as a market opportunity. SAVE II pilot projects and studies cover rational use of energy in buildings, equipment, transport, industry, demand side management and integrated resource planning, and the promotion of combined heat and power.

ALTENER Programme

The European Commission's White Paper for a Community Strategy sets out a strategy to double the share of renewable energies in gross domestic energy consumption in the European Union by 2010 (from the present 6% to 12%) including a timetable of actions to achieve this objective in the form of an Action Plan.

The main features of the Action Plan include internal market measures in the regulatory and fiscal spheres; reinforcement of those Community policies which have a bearing on increased penetration by renewable energies; proposals for strengthening co-operation between Member States; and support measures to facilitate investment and enhance dissemination and information in the renewables field.

The ALTENER programme (link http://www.europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/save.htm) is the main instrument to support and monitor the EU Strategy on renewable energies and, consequently its Campaign for Take-Off. Support to the Campaign under ALTENER provides funding for the promotional actions.

CARNOT Programme