Sixth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy

Sixth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy 30 November 2009, Warsaw Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide Cohesion Policy programmes? Dr. Friedrich Hinterberger Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) www. seri. at/FH

What is Sustainable 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” ! SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 2

Regional policy and SD Regions may influence developments more directly and rapidly than (inter)national levels Example of SD on a regional level : Steinbach an der Steyr • 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! SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 3

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) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 4

“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. SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 5

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 the Commission (October 2009) that gains a lot of political interest and discussion www. stiglitz-sen-fitoussi. fr SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 6

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 CO 2) and the measurement of quality of life and wellbeing! http: //www. beyond-gdp. eu SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 7 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 CO 2) and the measurement of quality of life and wellbeing! http: //www. beyond-gdp. eu SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 8 8

„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ? Economic (GDP) growth Quality of life (. . . environment. . . ) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 9

„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! Economic (GDP) growth Quality of life (. . . environment. . . ) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 10

„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! Economic (GDP) growth Quality of life (. . . environment. . . ) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 11

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. “ SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 12

Measurement of Quality of Life SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 13

Measurement of Qo. L, happiness, wellbeing Examples: Happy Planet Index (HPI): life expectency * well-being / carbon footprint International surveys of Qo. L, lifesatisfaction 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) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 14

Why measurement is difficult Qo. L is a multidimensional construct, viz. many factors determine human well-being Qo. L is not directly measurable, but only subareas Objective indicators relatively easy to measure, subjective dimension more difficult Different people interpret scales differently BUT: operational appoaches do exist and can be applied SERI ? BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 15 15 15

GDP and well-being (1) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 16

GDP and well-being (2) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 17

Synergies between Qo. L and SD (mental) Health Deceleration Slow food Simple living Decent work Mixed work – more leisure Eco-efficiency SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 18

„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! Economic (GDP) growth Quality of life (. . . environment. . . ) SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 19

„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 … SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 20

„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ! Economic (GDP) growth Quality of life Total resource consumption SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 21

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 SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 22

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. SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 23

Overall objective Reduce the overall resource use caused by products Carbon is not enough! SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 24

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 SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 25

The socio-economic system embedded in the environmental system Inputs material water air ecosphere Outputs socioeconomic system land SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! waste emissions waste water 26

Global Resource Extraction: 1980 -2005 Source: www. materialflows. net SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 27

billion tones Global Resource Extraction: 1980 -2030 100 80 Industrial- & Construction Minerals 60 Metals 40 Fossil Energy 20 Biomass 0 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Source: www. materialflows. net and Lutz et al. 2009 SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 28

Report on global resource use (2009) SERI in cooperation with: SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 29

Economic growth and resource use • Economic growth is closely linked to the use of scarce natural resources Higher input of resources causes more waste and emissions. Risks for economy and humanity (climate change, loss of biodiversity, desertification, increase of food prices, poverty etc. ). Consumption SERI Resource use BECAUSE IT MATTERS! Quality of Life 30

increase eco-efficiency ! More well-being… … less resource use! Many practical examples available SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 31 31

A set of environmental indicators Indicators applied main categories of quantitative resource use plus the output-category CO 2 -emissions GHG emissions Water GHG emissions Land use Water Non-renewable resources Land use Renewable resources Non-renewable resources Carbon Footprint Water Rucksack Carbon Footprint Actual Land Use Water Footprint Abiotic Material Actual Rucksack Land Use Biotic Material Rucksack Abiotic Material Input Biotic Material Input Renewable resources SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 32

A set of environmental indicators also for projects! Resource use category Materials biotic abiotic Product level Material Rucksack of products also for regions! National level biotic abiotic Material flow-based indicators of countries (including materials embodied in imports and exports) biotic abiotic Water Rucksack / Water Footprint of products Water Rucksack / Water Footprint of countries Land area Actual land use of products Actual land use of countries GHG emissions Carbon Footprint of products National GHG emissions Water SERI (including water embodied in imports and exports) (including land embodied in imports and exports) (including GHG emissions embodied in imports and exports) BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 33

AN AUSTRIAN WORKING GROUP ON PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 34

www. materialflows. net Data base of global resource extraction - time series 1980 -2005 - 12 material categories - 188 countries - combined with GDP and population data SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 35

Ecol. rucksacks: a sense of justice! SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 36

Ecol. rucksacks: concrete guidance! SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 37

Visualization example RESULTS FOR LIGHT BULBS 8 YEARS/8. 000 OPERATING HOURS LIGHT BULB LOW-ENERGY LIGHT BULB SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 38

Communication Carbon Footprint C Water Footprint B Actual Land Use B Abiotic Material Input Biotic Material Input C A Additional Information SERI e. g. Fair Trade Overall performance B Dynamic Scale (A-G) product category benchmarking BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 39

BUT What about … - work/employment - redistribution/cohesion - taxes/government deficit -… ? ? ? SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 40

ENVIRONMEN TAL CHANGE and PUBLIC FINANCE UNEMPLOY MENT and SOCIAL SECURITY Integrated policies Reduction of annual working times and increased flexibility Social security through “negative income tax” (basic income) Replace income tax (partly) by material input tax, CO 2 tax subsidy-shift, regulations Quelle: www. a-und-oe. de SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 41

10, 5 % 3, 1 % WORKING TIME GOVERNME NT-DEFICIT UNEMPLOY MENT A Scenario SERI +/- 0 37, 5 h 30 h BECAUSE IT MATTERS! www. a-und-oe. de 42

Growth in Transition • • • Project from 2008 -2010 An Initiative of the Austrian Ministry of the Environment Book „What kind of growth is sustainable? “ • 28 and 29 January 2010: International Conference in Vienna http: //www. growthintransition. eu SERI BECAUSE IT MATTERS! 43

Sixth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy 30 November 2009, Warsaw dziekuje ! Many thanks for your attention Presentation will be available for download from http: //www. seri. at Dr. Friedrich Hinterberger Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) www. seri. at/FH