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Contribution to major studies on greening EU policies and governance in a 2050 perspective
November 13, 2009. What should the EU do now in order to reach ambitious sustainability objectives in the field of energy, transport and land use in 2050? And, which EU governance arrangements could enable this? These are the questions of the study Getting into the Right Lane for 2050: A primer for EU debate and its background study Adapting EU governance for a more Sustainable Future. Louise van Schaik contributed to these studies of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Both were launched on 29 October at a meeting in the Swedish Permanent Representation in Brussels.
The study Getting into the Right Lane for 2050: A primer for debate was conducted by PBL together with the Stockholm Resilience Centre. The study identifies specific strategic actions for the EU in the coming five to ten years. Key factors in the analysis are the magnitude and inherent slow pace of change. The EU is placed in a visionary global perspective for 2050 of producing food for a global population of nine billion, while minimising biodiversity loss; mitigating climate change, while enhancing energy security; and developing a low-carbon transport system for the EU.
For more information please visit the website of PBL: Getting into the Right Lane for 2050.
The background study Adapting EU Governance for a more Sustainable Future is a Clingendael/PBL study. It discusses the EU’s environment and sustainable development agenda in relation to fundamental debates on European integration. It identifies a number of internal and external governance issues influencing the EU’s capacity to bring itself and the rest of the world on a more sustainable path. By using different possible scenarios for the EU, it points out that their viability is contingent on how the European integration process and the international system will develop. The analysis focuses on three areas: climate change and energy, land use and biodiversity, and transport. For these areas, an analysis is made of: i) EU competences, including if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force; ii) the legitimacy of policy action; iii) policy instruments used, and iv) budgetary aspects. With regard to the EU’s external impact, its leadership role and capacity are discussed, including the possible contribution of the High Representative and European External Action Service. The EU neighbourhood policy, aid and trade relations, as well as its performance in international organisations are analysed with regard to furthering issues such as sustainable land use, protection of biodiversity and climate change.