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EEAC NEWSLETTER Winter 2019

Councils discuss the EU reflection paper 'Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030’

Being an active contributor and observer to the EU’s high-level multi-stakeholder platform, the EEAC Network has been closely involved in the preparatory process of the EU Reflection Paper 'Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030’. The Paper will be analysed and discussed in several forums at EU level. As a prelude to these discussions, the EEAC Working Group on Sustainable Development organised a video-conference to discuss the paper. Seven advisory councils shared their views and provided input to the Co-Chairs of the EEAC Working Group on Sustainable Development. The Co-Chairs used the input to prepare their contribution to the public hearing of the European Economic and Social Committee on the EU Reflection Paper. Read More

A selection of the latest publications by EEAC member councils

Consultation in the context of the fitness check of the Water Framework Directive

As part of a fitness check, the European Commission is currently evaluating the Water Framework Directive. In its open letter to Environment Commissioner Vella, the German Council on the Environment (SRU) stresses the value of the directive for water protection, but emphasizes the need to strengthen the implementation of the directive. Water protection issues and financing of conservation measures should also be taken into account in the negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. Read More

Feeding on future

By 2050, the world population will have increased by 32% compared to 2015, exceeding 9.8 billion inhabitants. This growth, the increase in purchasing power of large sections of the population that are in currently developing countries and the change in diet that this may bring about has led the FAO to estimate that there will be a gradual increase in global food demand as high as 60% by 2050. This, alongside the pressure that it may place on increasingly scarce natural resources, the impacts of climate change and the global change in food and agriculture production, has sounded the alarm over a possible world food crisis of vast dimensions. In this context, the Council for Sustainable Development in Catalonia (CADS) has analysed the main challenges facing Catalonia to guarantee, in the mid and the long term, that its population has physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Read More

Sustainability of innovative economic models: the case of mobility

The Federal Council for Sustainable Development Belgium (FRDO-CFDD) commissioned a study on sustainability of innovative economic models with a focus on mobility. The research questions that FRDO-CFDD set for this study were: A) Which innovative economic model should the government support to achieve a sustainable society as efficiently as possible? B) How should the government support this innovative economic model? Besides an assessment of the current situation, the study includes several suggestions on how to deal with innovative economic models. Read More

Sustainable_&_digital Sustainable development as framework for digital transformation

The latest report by the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) includes recommendations of the council to the German Government on the issue of sustainable and digital sustainable development as the framework for digital transformation. In its report, the RNE introduces five main recommendations and examines these key recommendations in greater detail in the course of the report. Read More

The latest EEAC Network Seminar

Sustainable investment: better safe than sorry

Over 75 experts from across the EU met in Brussels to discuss the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Finance: the proposal for a regulation on disclosures relating to sustainable investments and sustainability risks and the revision of the guidelines on non-financial information. The seminar was organised by the Federal Council for Sustainable Development Belgium (FRDO-CFDD), together with the EEAC Network in the context of their work on financing the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. The programme included an in-depth discussion about the related key issues for actors involved in financing the transition in Belgium and in other European countries: institutional investors, asset managers, savers, NGOs and financial regulators. Read More

Inter-Council Exchange

Councils discuss the context and questions of WFD public consultation

EEAC member councils active in the Working Group on Fresh Water Affairs discussed the context and questions resulting from the Water Framework Directive’s public consultation. The session was used to update all councils on the progress of the Water Framework Directive, to discuss the (European) current situation and to exchange experiences and views from sub-national and national level with regard to water policy and advice. The working group also discussed the agenda for 2019. Read More

News

Save the date: 27th EEAC Annual Conference

The 27^th EEAC Annual Conference will take place in Lisbon on 18, 19 & 20 September 2019. We will discuss partnerships for sustainable development with special attention paid to water, energy and oceans. More information will follow soon.

EEAC Annual Plan 2019: A Framework for Action

After approval by the EEAC Network member councils, the network's board made the Annual Plan 2019 available online. More information on the network's framework for action can be found here.

The German Advisory Council on Global Change and COP24

The German Advisory Council on Global Change co-orginised a seminar at the COP24 in Katowice, Poland. The session centre-staged the effective implementation of NDCs and focused on leveraging increased ambition to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. The session highlighted questions such as A) What are the concrete policy solutions for a just and people-centred climate policy? and B) How can different perspectives help to deliver ambitious climate policy on time? Read More

Hungarian National Council for Sustainable Development held its jubilant meeting

The Hungarian National Council for Sustainable Development held its jubilant meeting in the Parliament’s Delegation Room focusing on the topic of sustainability as the foundation of a liveable society and competitiveness. A series of esteemed speakers addressed the audiance touching upon a variety of issues related to sustainable development and the role of advisory councils. In his address, Hungary's President underlined the need for the development of a new economic model, which equally considers the economic, social and health benefits of natural capital, clean water, cleaner air and biodiversity, while also taking the adverse effects of the exploitation of natural capital into account. Read More

EEAC Network will co-organize a workshop at the U.N. Global Festival of Action

The EEAC Network will co-organize a workshop at the U.N. Global Festival of Action. Taking place in Bonn every year, the Festival provides a dynamic and interactive space to showcase the latest innovations, tools and approaches to SDG advocacy and SDG action. It brings together leaders from governments, local authorities, international organizations, civil society, activists, young advocates, the creative industry and the private sector – to scale up the impact of their work and strategize joint actions, whilst motivating new organizations and individuals to join the movement and take action for the SDGs. The EEAC Network aims to co-organize a session on the issue of Partnerships. This is in line with the thematic focus of the 27th EEAC Annual Conference.

Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure will advise on how the reform of the CAP can support this transition to circular agriculture in the Netherlands

The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality published the policy vision ‘Agriculture, nature and food: valuable and connected’. This states that the future of food supplies can best be secured by making the transition to circular, or closed-loop, agriculture and that the Netherlands should lead the way in circular agriculture. At the request of the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure will advise on how the reform of the CAP can support this transition to circular agriculture in the Netherlands.

The advice is expected to focus on the possibilities offered by implementation of the CAP for supporting the transition to a circular agriculture that is future-proof, resilient and robust and that meets the requirements of environmental, climate, biodiversity, soil, water, animal welfare, landscape and public health policies. The advisory report is expected to be published in June 2019. Read More

Luxembourg’s Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable submits its reflections on sustainable development

Following the national elections of 14 October 2018 and before the elaboration of the governmental declaration, the Luxembourg Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable communicated a reflection paper to the new Government and to all political parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies. In the reflection paper the councils highlighted themes, accompanied by proposals, which are considered essential to answer the question: 'How can we build today the future we want to live tomorrow?' Read more

The European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) is a network of advisory bodies established by national or regional governments. EEAC members offer independent advice to their respective national or regional governments and parliaments related to the environment and sustainable development. Fourteen advisory bodies from ten European countries and regions are member of the EEAC Network. With representatives from academia, civil society, the private sector and public bodies the EEAC network brings together experts with years of experience producing independent advice.

EEAC Network - Bezuidenhoutseweg 30 - P.O 27 - 2501 CA - The Hague - www.eeac.eu - secretariat@eeac.eu - twitter

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The European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils · Bezuidenhoudseweg 30 · The Hague, South Holland 2501 CA · Netherlands