The conference was organised in connection with the Swedish EU presidency by the county administrative boards and county councils of Jämtland and Västernorrland in Sweden.
An overall message from the conference is that climate policy and cohesion policy are interrelated. Increased use of renewable energy and clean technology will help the shift from the recent development model to a future low carbon economy and decouple economic growth from energy consumption. Investment in these sectors will at the same time be vital for the future competitiveness of Europe. In order to successfully implement this strategy, the inclusion of the regional level in the implementation process is imperative because regions and municipalities are well placed to translate the EU- and national policy into practice and also to foster innovative practices and influence consumer behaviour as well.