Transcript Wolf, The state of the Union - The environment

State of the Union:
The Environment
Frieder Otto Wolf
Freie Universität Berlin
www.friederottowolf.de
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Presentation
An extended understanding of the real economy:
A radical view
 Understandig the environmental dimension as a
key determinant of the real economy
 Understanding the EU as a macro-regional and a
global actor
 I am teaching philosophy; and I have been a
MEP and a coordinator of a Thematic Network
on the EU Strategy of Sustainable Development
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www.friederottowolf.de
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Main issues
The state of the environment: European
realities of a global constellation of crises
 The problem perception in the EU and EU
capabilities for action
 Environmental legislation and policies
 Monitoring instruments and processes
 The EU before Copenhagen
 Other urgent challenges
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www.friederottowolf.de
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1: The state of the environment:
European realities of a global
constellation of crises
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A global constellation of ecological crises: climate,
biodiversity, energy and material resources, hunger and
water scarcity, human health problems
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005): Two thirds of
the planet‘s ecosystems are in decline
MDG 7: environmental sustainability
Unlimited exponential growth?
Global North vs. Global South: the issue of development
models and of biocolonialism
European realities: CAP, Energy Policy, Nature Protection,
Public Health, Transport, Urbanism
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2: The main challenges
Climate change and clean energy
 Public health
 Natural resource use and management
 Biodiversity
 Sustainable transport
 Global poverty and development
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2: Problem perception and capabilities for
action in the EU
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EU treaty: „Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the
definition and implementation of the Community policies and activities […] in
particular with a view to promoting sustainable development“ (Art. 6)
Eurobarometer, March 2008: a quarter of EU citizens listed ‚depletion of natural
resources‘ as a main environmental concern
Policy coherence and primacy of aims: competitiveness vs. sustainability
Environmental objectives defined: halting the loss of biodiversity in Europe by 2010
The Global Europe Agenda
The EU Commission: Climate and Energy Package, Action Plan on Sustainable
Production and Consumption
The Council and the EP - 2005 review of the EU SDS:
aims of „safeguarding the Earth‘s capacity to support life in all its diversity“ and
„solidarity within and between regions“
Focus on Market Instruments [„getting the prices right“]
Focus on Eco-Efficiency [‚win-win-situations‘]
Focus on securing access to resources
Rebound effect/commodification/biocolonialism
Could the EU act otherwise?
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3: Environmental legislation and policies
EU action plans: Cardiff 1998 commitment (integration of environmental
policy); Environment Action Plan 2002-2012; Action on Environment and
Health 2004-2010; Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance
and Trade; Raw Materials Initiative; Sustainable Industrial Policy Action
Plan; European Transparency Initiative
 Legislation: Birds and Habitats Directives, Water Framework and Marine
Strategy Directives, Renewable Energy Directive, Energy Performance of
Buildings Directive, Energy Using Products Directives, REACH, National
Emission Ceilings Directive, Air Quality Directive, Environmental Noise
Directive, European Eco-Label Regulation, Waste Framework Directive,
Directive on ‚Nuclear Safety‘, Directive on Environmental Crime, Maritime
Strategy Framework Directive, Directive on Environmental Liability,
Pesticides Directive
 Policies and Programmes: TEN-T, Natura 2000, Thematic Strategy on Waste
Preparation and Recycling, EU Strategy on Non-Energy Raw Materials,
Thematic Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Strategy,
Strategy on the Integration of Environment into Development Cooperation
 Implementation and Enforcement: tax reform, use of public procurement,
harmful subsidies, EU‘s financing policies (CAP, structural funds)
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4: Monitoring instruments and processes
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Existing instruments:
Sustainable Development Indicators (to be consulted in all policy
areas)
Environmental Impact Assessment (to be strengthened and to be
extended, e.g. to all projects funded by the EU or the EIB
INSPIRE: providing geodata
Access to Documents Regulation
Regular processes: EU Commission environment policy review:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/policyreview.htm
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Ad hoc processes: CAP health check
Needed:
Human Biomonitoring Surveillance System
Draft Directive on Minimum Requirements for Environmental
Inspections
Draft Directive on Access to Justice
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5: The EU before Copenhagen
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IPCC: global emissions will need to peak before 2015 and decline
thereafter
Critical role of the EU
Need for an at least 30% cut in the EU‘s domestic emissions
Binding renewables and energy efficiency legislation
Effective and consistent climate change adaptation policies
Decisive strengthening the EU‘s Emission Trading System (full
auctioning, in-built devaluation)
Support developing countries following a low carbon path
Invest in greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in developing
countries on top of domestic emission reduction obligations
Explore synergies with other policies, namely on biodiversity,
poverty reduction, public helath and energy security
Cooperative leadership with other international partners: towards a
multipolar and flexible global climate policy regime
www.friederottowolf.de
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6: Other urgent challenges
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Agriculture: CAP
Fishing: CFP
Health and environment: Indoor air quality, biocides,
nanotechnology, electromagnetic fields, noise
Soil protection and rehabilitation
Greening of structural funds
Development cooperation
Reforestation / illegal logging
GMO control
Political framework for biodiversity protection
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Conclusions for an alternative
economical strategy
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Broadening the scope: Reproduction, ecological
coexistence, democracy – developing sustainable
economic policies
Beyond GDP
The issue of economic growth: selectivity,
decoupling, compatibility
Market processes, institutional decision making
and framework planning
The issue of the EU: Multi-level-governance as a
trap or as an opportunity?
www.friederottowolf.de
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Urgent first steps
Re-open a window of opportunity at
Copenhagen by European initiatives
 Re-balance financial stabilization, economic
depression prevention, and developing
environmental sustainability
 Reclaim the initiative in the EU multi-level
system on all levels and fields by specific
demands and proposals
 Develop the expertise required for each field and
level
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www.friederottowolf.de
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