The urban population is growing globally, and so does the demand for housing and accommodation, reflected in the growing intensity of construction-related activities. Consequently, the consumption rate of construction materials and products grows along with increased construction and demolition waste (C&DW) generation. This calls for action as natural resource extraction and processing for construction processes play a considerable role in global biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions, and C&DW already comprises one of the largest waste streams in the EU and Iceland.
Mitigating the toll on the environment taken by the construction sector demands transforming the sector into a more circular one, thereby preserving the value of construction materials and keeping them on the market as long as possible. And doing so requires solid and systematised knowledge of circular construction. Laying the foundation of such knowledge is the main goal of the CIRCON (The circular economy in construction: eco-design of circular buildings) project.
The project aims to increase the knowledge of circularity in Icelandic and Polish construction sectors by, among others, creating guidelines on circular construction principles. This website includes the main issues related to circular construction, but we treat it as a starting point and a base we want to develop constantly. This is why, if you have any comments or experiences that could enrich the guidelines and provide relevant information for the readers, please contact us at: kjag@graennibyggd.is. We can be part of change together.
The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.
There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA and Norway Grants amount to €2.8 billion.
The priorities for this period are:
Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.
The EEA and Norway Grants scheme consists of two financial mechanisms. The EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP. Norway Grants are financed solely by Norway.
More information can be found on: https://eeagrants.org/
The co-funding from the Polish state was granted to the project within the program: Environment, Energy and Climate Change, program area: Climate.
Photo by Einar H. Reynis on Unsplash
