Sustainable Development Strategies in Europe Presentation given at the Carlton University

Steurer: Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy cyclesSD Strategies in Europe Carlton University, Ottawa, 14 April 2007Steurer: SD Strategies in Europe Carlton University, Ottawa

Sustainable Development Strategies in Europe

Presentation given at the Carlton University Ottawa/Canada, 13 April 2007

Reinhard Steurer RIMAS - Research Institute for Managing Sustainability

www.sustainability.euwww.sd-network.eu

http://www.sustainability.eu/

http://www.sd-network.eu/


What are SD strategies? Basics on SD strategies in Europe Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles

Orientation


SD strategies are strategic processes rather than strategic documents ...

… asked for and described in ch. 8 of Agenda 21 and further specified in UN & OECD guidelines …

… aiming at normative SD principles … … by following some key process steps. The steps of an SD strategy form a strategy cycle

What are SD strategies?



Orientation


Most EU Members States have adopted a cross-sectoral SD strategy in recent years (Johannesburg 2002)

Most coordinated by Environment Ministry, some by chancellery/cabinet office

Some comprehensive, some cosmetic No single ideal SD strategy in reality, but several

good practices scattered across Europe European Council adopted EU SD strategy in June

2006: provides orientation for national SD strategies and introduces new cycle

Basics on SD Strategies in Europe



Orientation


Policy IntegrationParticipation Reflexivit

y

Long-term focus

The SD strategy cycle – principles and steps



y

Long-term focus

… SD strategies facilitate a broad notion of policy integration 3 SD principles and 4 forms of policy integration in the context of SD strategies



Four aspects of policy integration in the context of SD strategies

Principles of SD

Long-term focusPolicy integration – horizontalPolicy integration- verticalParticipation



Principles of SD

Elements to integrate

Aspects of integration

Long-term focusPolicy integration – horizontalPolicy integration- verticalParticipation



Principles of SD



Long-term focus

Short and long term horizons

Policy integration – horizontalPolicy integration- verticalParticipation



Principles of SD



Long-term focus


Policy integration – horizontal

Economic, social & environmental policies

Policy integration- verticalParticipation



Principles of SD



Long-term focus




Policy integration- vertical

Local, regional, national & EU policy making

Participation



Principles of SD



Long-term focus






Participation

State, business and civil society



Principles of SD



Long-term focus


Time





Participation




Principles of SD



Long-term focus


Time



Sectors



Participation




Principles of SD



Long-term focus


Time



Sectors



Jurisdictions

Participation




Principles of SD



Long-term focus


Time



Sectors



Jurisdictions

Participation


Societal domains



Principles of SD



SD strategy features

Long-term focus


Time



Sectors



Jurisdictions

Participation


Societal domains



y

Long-term focus


Inspired by Volkery et al (2006): Coordination, Challenges, and Innovations in 19 National Sustainable Development Strategies, in World Development, 34/12



Orientation


1. Political commitment & guidance

- Political mandate- Definition of approach- Legal (constitutional basis) 2. Strategy

formulation- Long-term and integrative objectives- Synergies & trade-offs- Procedural guidance

regarding the 4 principles

3. The implementation process

- Budgets, work/action plans- Orchestrate strategy features & policy instruments- Assess & consider SD impacts

4. Reviewing & monitoring

- Performance monitoring- Process review & evaluation

From political will to a common vision

From vision to short- & medium-

term actionFrom action to learning

From learningto strategy renewal


y

Long-term focus



SD strategy features & policy integration

Principles of SD




Long-term focus


Time



Sectors



Jurisdictions

Participation


Societal domains



Principles of SD




Long-term focus


Time Long-term vision complemented by Short- & medium-term action plans



Sectors



Jurisdictions

Participation


Societal domains



Principles of SD




Long-term focus





Sectors Integrative structures (Green Cabinets, some Councils for SD) and mechanisms (sectoral SD strategies, SD budgeting)



Jurisdictions

Participation


Societal domains



Principles of SD




Long-term focus








Jurisdictions

Integrative structures, traditional (treaties, directives) and new policy instruments (guidelines, benchmarking)

Participation


Societal domains



Principles of SD




Long-term focus








Jurisdictions

Integrative structures, traditional (treaties, directives) and new policy instruments (guidelines, benchmarking)

Participation


Societal domains

Partnerships, stakeholder bodies (National Councils of SD)


For further information go to …

Thank you!Reinhard Steurer

[email protected]

RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Vienna, Austria

www.sustainability.eu www.sd-network.eu

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sustainability.eu/

http://www.sd-network.eu/

Sustainable Development Strategies in Europe Presentation given at the Carlton University

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