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Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide Cohesion Policy programmes?

Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide Cohesion Policy programmes?. What is Sustainable Development?. Brundtland definition

richardgibson
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Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide Cohesion Policy programmes?

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  1. Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide Cohesion Policy programmes?

  2. WhatisSustainable Development? • Brundtland definition • “sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” • Alternative by the Forum of the Future • “a dynamic process that enables all people to realize their potential and to improve their quality of life in ways which protect and enhance the planet’s life-support systems.” • It is NOT (necessarily) … • … “sustainable growth” !

  3. Regional policyand SD • Regions may influence developments more directly and rapidly than (inter)national levels • Example of SD on a regional level : Steinbach an derSteyr • 1986: Low point in the township history • Today: • Thriving place of immigration; • Growing numbers of workplaces; • Innovative businesses • Achieved also through environmental innovation. • Regional policy could boost sustainable development in the EU!

  4. Why is measuring important? • “You can’t manage what you can’t measure” • Clear communication in an understandable way is key to reach target audiences. • Targets can only be defined based on clear measurement systems and robust indicators. • Policy makers demand solid information to design appropriate policy responses. • (Self-) evaluation and (cyclical) re-design of policies -> scoping, visioning and learing! (www.matisse-project.net)

  5. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure” • Robust data and indicators are requirements for target setting and monitoring of sustainability strategies. • Quantitative targets for reducing resource use on company and product level. • Better information for ALL decision makers is required.

  6. How should we measure progress (1) • Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (“Stiglitz-Commission”) • Aims: • to identify the limits of GDP as an indicator of economic performance and social progress • to consider additional information for the production of a more relevant picture • to discuss how to present this information in the most appropriate way • to check the feasibility of measurement tools • Outcome: Final report of theCommission (October 2009) that gains a lot of political interest and discussion www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr

  7. How should we measure progress (2) • Communication from the Commission 20 August 2009: GDP and beyond - Measuring progress in a changing world • GDP should be complemented by a comprehensive environmental index (beyond CO2) and the measurement of quality of life and wellbeing! http://www.beyond-gdp.eu 7

  8. How should we measure progress (2) • Communication from the Commission 20 August 2009: GDP and beyond - Measuring progress in a changing world • GDP should be complemented by a comprehensive environmental index (beyond CO2) and the measurement of quality of life and wellbeing! http://www.beyond-gdp.eu 8

  9. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ? • Economic (GDP) growth • Quality of life • (... environment ...)

  10. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! • Economic (GDP) growth  • Quality of life • (... environment ...)

  11. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! • Economic (GDP) growth  • Quality of life • (... environment ...)

  12. EU Sustainable Development Strategy Sustainable development „… aims at a continous improvement of the quality of life and well-being on Earth for present and future generations.“ EU Commission: “Europeans value quality of life.“

  13. Measurement of Quality of Life

  14. Happy Planet Index (HPI): life expectency * well-being / carbon footprint International surveys of QoL, life-satisfaction UK‘s well-being indicators (national SDS) Bhutan‘s Gross National Happiness Calvert-Hendersons Quality of Life Indicators World Database of Happiness (Erasmus Universität Rotterdam) Measurement ofQoL, happiness, wellbeing Examples:

  15. QoL is a multidimensional construct, viz. many factors determine human well-being QoL is not directly measurable, but only subareas Objective indicators relatively easy to measure, subjective dimension more difficult Different people interpret scalesdifferently BUT: operational appoaches do exist and can be applied Whymeasurementisdifficult ? 15

  16. GDP and well-being (1)‏

  17. GDP and well-being (2)‏

  18. SynergiesbetweenQoLand SD • (mental) Health • Deceleration • Slow food • Simple living • Decent work • Mixed work – more leisure • Eco-efficiency

  19. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! • Economic (GDP) growth  • Quality of life  • (... environment ...)

  20. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! • Economic (GDP) growth  • Quality of life  • Total resource consumption Used by EU, OECD, UNIDO , member states but also NGOs, businesses …

  21. „Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! • Economic (GDP) growth  • Quality of life  • Total resource consumption

  22. Our resource base is in danger • Resource demand is increasing • Soaring commodity prices • Climate change as the tip of the iceberg • “Peak everything” • Renewable resources overexploited • Non-renewable resources: peak (soon) reached and increasing competition • Water scarcity, etc. • Western life-style cannot be generalised on global level

  23. Global environmental issues …caused by extensive resource use related to production and use of products! Mitigate environmental problems by reducing resource use in absolute terms.

  24. Overall objective Reduce the overall resource use caused by products Carbonis not enough!

  25. Problems are related to overall scale • Early environmental policy: focused on regional pollutants • Significant improvements through traditional environmental policy instruments • Sustainability policy focuses on overall scale of production and consumption system • BUT: No real progress  new environmental policy instruments required

  26. The socio-economic system embedded in the environmental system ecosphere Inputs Outputs material waste socio-economic system water emissions air waste water land

  27. Global Resource Extraction: 1980-2005 Source: www.materialflows.net

  28. Global Resource Extraction: 1980-2030 Source: www.materialflows.net and Lutz et al. 2009

  29. Report on global resource use (2009) SERI in cooperation with:

  30. Economic growth and resource use • Economicgrowthiscloselylinkedtotheuseofscarcenaturalresources • Higher inputofresourcescausesmorewasteandemissions. • Risksforeconomyandhumanity (climatechange, lossofbiodiversity, desertification, increaseoffoodprices, poverty etc.). Consumption Resourceuse Quality of Life

  31. increase eco-efficiency ! More well-being… … less resource use! Many practical examples available

  32. Carbon Footprint Carbon Footprint Water Footprint Water Rucksack Actual Land Use Actual Land Use Abiotic Material Input Abiotic Material Rucksack Biotic Material Rucksack Biotic Material Input A set of environmental indicators Indicatorsapplied main categories of quantitative resource use plus the output-category CO2-emissions GHG emissions Water GHG emissions Land use Water Non-renewable resources Land use Renewable resources Non-renewable resources Renewable resources

  33. A set of environmental indicators also for projects! also for regions!

  34. An Austrian Working group ON Product Sustainability

  35. www.materialflows.net • Data base of global resource extraction - time series1980-2005- 12 material categories- 188 countries- combined with GDP and population data

  36. Ecol. rucksacks: a sense of justice!

  37. Ecol. rucksacks: concrete guidance!

  38. Visualization example RESULTS FOR LIGHT BULBS 8 YEARS/8.000 OPERATING HOURS LIGHT BULB LOW-ENERGY LIGHT BULB

  39. Overall performance B Communication Dynamic Scale (A-G) product category benchmarking Additional Information e.g. Fair Trade

  40. BUT • What about …- work/employment- redistribution/cohesion- taxes/government deficit- … ?????

  41. Integrated policies Reduction of annual working times and increased flexibility UNEMPLOYMENT and SOCIAL SECURITY Social security through “negative income tax” (basic income)‏ Replace income tax (partly) by material input tax, CO2 tax subsidy-shift, regulations ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE and PUBLIC FINANCE Quelle: www.a-und-oe.de

  42. A Scenario 10,5 % UNEMPLOYMENT 3,1 % GOVERNMENT-DEFICIT +/- 0 37,5 h WORKING TIME 30 h www.a-und-oe.de

  43. Growth in Transition • Project from 2008-2010 • An Initiative ofthe Austrian Ministryofthe Environment • Book „Whatkindofgrowthissustainable?“ • 28 and 29 January 2010: International Conference in Vienna • http://www.growthintransition.eu www.growthintransition.eu

  44. dziekuje !Many thanks for your attentionPresentation will be available for download fromhttp://www.seri.at

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