dr. friedrich hinterberger sustainable europe research institute (seri ) sixth european conference...
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Dr. Friedrich HinterbergerSustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI)
Sixth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy30 November 2009, Warsaw
www.seri.at/FHwww.seri.at/FH
Sustainable development a concept developed enough to guide
Cohesion Policy programmes?
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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” !
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Regional policy and SDRegions 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!
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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)
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“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.
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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
How should we measure progress (1)
www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr
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How should we measure progress (2)
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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
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How should we measure progress (2)
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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
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„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 ?
Economic (GDP) growth
Quality of life
(... environment ...)
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„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 !
Economic (GDP) growth
Quality of life
(... environment ...)
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„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 !
Economic (GDP) growth
Quality of life
(... environment ...)
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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.“
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Measurement of Quality of Life
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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 of QoL, happiness, wellbeing
Examples:
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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
15?
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Why measurement is difficult
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GDP and well-being (1)G D P an d L ife Satis faction 1973 - 2002
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
140%
160%
180%
200%
1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001
L ife S atis fac tio n
G D P
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GDP and well-being (2)
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(mental) Health
Deceleration
Slow food
Simple living
Decent work
Mixed work – more leisure
Eco-efficiency
Synergies between QoL and SD
Erwerbsarbeit
Gemeinschaftsarbeit
Eigenarbeit
Versorgungsarbeit
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„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 !
Economic (GDP) growth
Quality of life
(... environment ...)
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„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 …
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„Frontpage indicators“: the big 3 !
Economic (GDP) growth
Quality of life
Total resource consumption
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• 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
Our resource base is in danger
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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.
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Reduce the overall resource use caused by products
Overall objective
Carbon is not enough!
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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
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ecosphere
socio-economic
system
material
water
air
landwaste water
emissions
waste
The socio-economic system embedded in the environmental system
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Global Resource Extraction: 1980-2005
Source: www.materialflows.net
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Global Resource Extraction: 1980-2030
Source: www.materialflows.net and Lutz et al. 2009
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Report on global resource use (2009)
SERI in cooperation with:
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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 Quality of LifeResource use
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More well-being…
… less resource use!
Many practical examples available
increase eco-efficiency !
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A set of environmental indicators
main categories of quantitative resource use plus the output-category CO2-emissions
Indicators applied
GHG emissions
Water
Land use
Non-renewable resources
Renewable resources
Carbon Footprint
Water Rucksack
Biotic Material Rucksack
Abiotic Material Rucksack
Actual Land UseGHG emissions
Water
Land use
Non-renewable resources
Renewable resources
Carbon Footprint
Water Footprint
Biotic Material Input
Abiotic Material Input
Actual Land Use
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Resource use category Product level National level
Materials biotic
Material Rucksack of products
biotic Material flow-based indicators of countries(including materials embodied in imports and exports)
biotic
abiotic abiotic abiotic
Water Water Rucksack / Water Footprint of products
Water Rucksack / Water Footprint of countries(including water embodied in imports and exports)
Land area Actual land use of products Actual land use of countries(including land embodied in imports and exports)
GHG emissions Carbon Footprint of products National GHG emissions(including GHG emissions embodied in imports and exports)
A set of environmental indicators
also for projects! also for regions!
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AN AUSTRIAN WORKING GROUP ON PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY
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www.materialflows.net
Data base of global resource extraction - time series1980-2005- 12 material categories- 188 countries- combined with GDP and population data
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Ecol. rucksacks: a sense of justice!
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Ecol. rucksacks: concrete guidance!
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Visualization exampleRESULTS FOR LIGHT BULBS
8 YEARS/8.000 OPERATING HOURS
LOW-ENERGY LIGHT BULB
LIGHT BULB
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Dynamic Scale (A-G)product category benchmarking
Overall performance
Additional Information
e.g. Fair Trade
Communication
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BUT
What about …
- work/employment- redistribution/cohesion- taxes/government deficit- …
?????
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EN
VIR
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LIC
F
INA
NC
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Replace income tax (partly) by material input tax, CO2 tax
subsidy-shift, regulations
Reduction of annual working times and increased flexibility
Social security through “negative income tax” (basic income)
Quelle: www.a-und-oe.de
Integrated policies
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WO
RK
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IME
UN
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PL
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www.a-und-oe.de
10,5 %
3,1 %
37,5 h
30 h
GO
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ME
NT
-DE
FIC
IT
+/- 0
A Scenario
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Growth in Transition
www.growthintransition.eu
• 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
Dr. Friedrich HinterbergerSustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI)
Sixth European Conference on Evaluation of Cohesion Policy30 November 2009, Warsaw
www.seri.at/FHwww.seri.at/FH
dziekuje ! Many thanks for your attention
Presentation will be available for download fromhttp://www.seri.at