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EEAC conference summary now online
The sustainability transformation in the European Union as a whole and in many of its member states still faces too many lock-ins. To advance in our journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within and beyond Europe, we have to work on key leverages for transformation. The 26th EEAC Annual Conference was dedicated to identifying some of these key leverages, and to fostering European debate on the implementation of the SDGs in Europe.
The conference was attended by 160 experts from various policy fields, the scientific communit, private sector and NGOs who are active in the sustainability context in Europe. As hosts, EEAC’s national and sub-national advisory councils on the environment and sustainable development provided a collaborative setting which enhanced further opportunities for networking and exchange. Click here for a summary of the conference and find more background information and photos here.
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A selection of the latest publications by EEAC member councils
 Just and In-Time Climate Policy: Four Initiatives for a Fair Transformation
Limiting global warming to well below 2°C requires the rapid decarbonisation of the global economy. The requirements of transformation and the damage caused by climate change have an unequal temporal, geographical and social distribution – as do the respective possibilities for dealing with them. The German Advisory Council on Global Change therefore proposes a just and in-time transformation that takes into account all people affected, empowers them, holds those responsible for climate change accountable, and creates both global and national prospects for the future.
The WBGU proposes that the German Federal Government should promote four exemplary initiatives of a just & in-time climate policy targeting (1) the people affected by the structural change towards climate compatibility (e.g. in coal-mining regions), (2) the legal rights of people harmed by climate change, (3) the dignified migration of people who lose their native countries due to climate change, and (4) the creation of financing instruments for just and in-time transformation processes. Read More
f.l.t.r.: Ulrike Grote, Karen Pittel, Uwe Schneidewind, Sabine Schlacke, Dirk Messner, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, Secretary of State Georg Schütte (BMBF), Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Ellen Matthies, Maja Göpel Source: WBGU
 The 2030 Agenda: transform Catalonia, improve the world’
Aware of the importance of the 2030 Agenda and, based on its role as an advisory council, the Advisory Council for the sustainable development of Catalonia aims to identify the strategic challenges facing Catalonia in implementing the SDGs. The report covers the first 16 Goals, many of which are closely Interlinked. Each Goal is broken down into a number of targets, some of which are clearly applicable to Catalonia, others not at all, or less so.
For each Goal, the report contains a brief review of the global and European situation, helping the reader to understand it in context. This is followed by a short target-by-target diagnosis, noting the main challenges each one raises. Finally, based on this content, there is a section setting out the challenges that the CADS considers key in regard to the SDG in question. Read More
 German Almanac of Sustainability 2018
The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) just published the German Almanac of Sustainability. This is the second time the German Almanac of Sustainability has been published by the RNE. The Almanac shows via concrete projects and initiatives at municipal level, in the policy area and in the business sector where exactly the transformation towards a more ecologically and socially compatible society is in full swing.
Designed to address the public at large, the Almanac fosters and cultivates societal dialogue both at home and abroad. After its first publication in 2017 this second edition takes up new topic areas and projects and presents how much we – society – have already learned in the area of sustainability and what has today already been set in motion. However, it also examines what we can still learn – from countries all over the world. Read More
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EEAC Working Groups
Working Group on Energy and Climate Change
The EEAC organized a seminar, in October, on the social-economic consequences of the phase out of old energy regimes. This seminar was the second in line dedicated to a specific challenge of the phase out process. If activity in old energy-regimes decreases regional and structural changes will be accelerated, including job losses in the affected industries. These issues require good governance to ensure an orderly phase out process. The seminar aimed to address the issues.
A selected group of experts and governmental advisers was addressed by Dr. Pao-Yu Oei (German Institute for Economic Research); Mr. Frank Teeuwisse (Former location director DSM) and Dr Maja Göpel (German Advisory Council for Global Change) on issues such as current hurdles to phase out coal, lessons learned from the past and the concept of a just and in time phase out processies. Read More
Working Group on a Circular Economy
The EEAC Working Group on a Circular Economy gathered in Berlin on the 10th of October 2018. The meeting focused on the transition to a circular economy in relation to other (major) transitions, such as the energy and climate transition and the transition in food production and consumption. The aim of this session was to explore the complexities that arise when different transitions start to interact and to discuss the appropriate policy responses that are to be developed. The session started with presentations of some concrete cases, an identification of main challenges and unknown territory. Read More
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News
 Belgium Federal Council for Sustainable Development
In the context of its work on the financing of transition, the Belgium Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FRDO-CFDD) organized, on 5 October, a seminar on the definition of "green". What activities can - or cannot - be financed by a so-called "green" financial product ? How will the future European taxonomy be implemented and how will it impact the financing of transition in Belgium and what is the role of low-carbon and positive carbon impact benchmarks? Presentations by the European Commission, by members of the Technical Expert Group on sustainable finance and by specialized consultants included answers to these questions. Read More
 The German Advisory Council on the Environment
The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) together with the Scientific Advisory Council on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (WBBGR) issued a statement, entitled "for an effective insect repellent". The report was presented to the Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, at the 9th National Forum on Biological Diversity. The statement includes recommendations for the design of the action program for insect protection, as planned by the German Federal Government. An English summary is expected to be uploaded soon. Read More (in German)
 Irish National Economic and Social Council
Ireland is in a critical phase of national policy development on climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy and society. There are considerable public governance challenges in such a transition. The Irish National Council Economic and Social Council will address governance and institutional arrangements for policy analysis, engagement, decision making and implementation. Currently, work is underway in three areas: Methods of appraisal in the process of policymaking and implementation for low-carbon transition; Multi-stakeholder agreements on energy and low-carbon transition; and Agriculture, climate change and water. Read More
 The Luxembourg Higher Council for Sustainable Development
The Luxembourg Higher Council for Sustainable Development is preparing an inventory of measures that contribute to the sustainable development of Luxembourg. This inventory will identify, classify and evaluate good practices with regard to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the realization of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals deployed in the public and private sector in Luxembourg. The concept of this inventory is based on an online platform containing decentralized and semi-structured knowledge, developed at the University of Luxembourg.
The collaborative platform allows users to create and share content in a simple and intuitive way. The content is available in three languages (French, English and German) and can be searched by keyword. The platform is to be powered by various user communities, and is part of Luxembourg’s national plan for sustainable development.
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To conclude
EEAC Network and the Think2030 Platform
In partnership with GLOBE EU, IEEP has created a new sustainability platform called Think 2030. The EEAC Network is a proud partner in this relevant initiative. Informing a science-based agenda for European environmental policy beyond 2020, Think 2030 convenes a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss and propose solutions to Europe’s most pressing sustainability issues. The Think 2030 platform was launched on 17 October 2018 and sent a strong signal that a community of like-minded experts is committed to working towards a more sustainable future for Europe.
The official Think 2030 partners contributed to fourteen policy papers, thirteen blogs entries (with more coming) and a 50-page synthesis paper. Over 100 attendees discussed these papers and broader sustainability issues on Day 1, in thirteen break-out sessions and two plenary sessions. On Day 2, 70 participants, Members of the European Parliament as well as representatives from the European Commission and think tanks, NGOs, local authorities and the private sector discussed the Think 2030 synthesis paper, priorities for action, and their respective roles in implementing the SDG agenda within and beyond Europe.
The Think 2030 session will form the basis for 30 specific and highly relevant policy recommendations, aimed at policy-makers including the next European Parliament and Commission. You can find the policy papers here and the draft version of the synthesis paper here.
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