Sustainable Development Policiesin the European states

Gábor Bartus Ph.D.Secretary General, National Council for Sustainable Development (Hungary)

Co-chair, Working Group for Sustainable Development, EEAC

Incheon, 10 April 2014

National Council for Sustainable Development, Hungary

European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils

Focus on…

1. Some thoughts on the difficulties of sustainability transition

2a. SD decision-making characteristicsin the European countries

2b. Cross-cutting effects of developments

2c. The role of multi-stakeholder processes

2d. Monitoring and reporting

3. Examples – country characteristics from Europe

Constraints in SD policies

(Source: ESDN - European SD Network)

Weak political commitment: more words than action

Periodical financial and budget crises

Lack of champions - There is no single example where the whole SD transition was a big success

Difficult to translate into political practice and hard to understand for non-experts

Focus on win-win situations is false: there are trade-offs and losers

The main barriers of operationalization

(Price – Durham – Chan, 2010,

UK Government Economic Service Review)

The problem of SD transition

The timeframe of transition is longer than one or two political cycle

The current government has to cover the cost of transition, but the benefits will appear in the next political cycle or later

time

stability

less stable

more stable

transition peak

sustainable society

current situation

time

stability

less stable, less resilient

more stable, more resilient

How to solve…

1. External control mechanisms:New institutions (new types of checks and balancies)

- constitutional rules- independent bodies (not under control of the government)

2. Internal control mechanisms:

Enhance knowledge and commitment of citizens (voters)- education

- NGO’s- multi-stakeholder dialogue

SD decision-making characteristics in the European countries

One tool for the integration and cross-cutting: SD Strategy

Diversity of National SD Strategies

• varies by name – „strategy”, „framework strategy”, federal plan”, „government vision”, „sustainability agenda”, etc. • varies by length of strategies - from 7 to 252 pages• varies by type – not a BAU method in SLO, NED and GBR• varies by number of revisions – from 0 to 3 (e.g. Germany has a most sophisticated process to periodical review)• varies by institutional anchoring – ministry for environment (general), office or chancellory of prime minister (Estonia, Germany), shared responsibility (Austria, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia)

SD decision-making characteristics in the European countries

Purpose of National SD Strategies

• to assess the current situation,• to mobilize and focus a society’s efforts to achieve SD,• to provide a forum for societal articulation of a vision of a sustainable future,• to create a framework for processesses of negotiation, mediation and capacity building (participation),• to build upon and harmonize the various sectoral policies

SD decision-making characteristics in the European countries

Key characteristics of national SD strategies

• integration of SD dimensions: economy, environment, human and social aspects• multi-stakeholder participation, effective partnership, transparency and accountability• capacity development and an enabling environment, building on existing knowledge and processes• focus on priorities, outcomes and coherent means of implementation• linkage with budget and investment processes• continuous monitoring and evaluation

Mechanisms of vertical integration

(1) Three main mechanisms:• Consultation• Cooperation and coordination mechanisms• Awarness raising and information exchange

(2) Institutionalisation some of these mechanisms through councils, commissions, or other bodies

(3) Vertical integration formalisation within legal acts

Mechanisms of horizontal integration

(1) Inter-ministerial bodies at the political level (Germany, Hungary)

(2) Inter-ministerial bodies at the administrative level (Finland, France, Luxembourg)

(3) Hybrid regimes - stakeholders participation processes (e.g. Czech Republic)• SD Councils (in many MS)• formal and informal European level consultations: EEAC, ESDN

Evaluation and review

Qualitative evaluations and reviews:

1. Internal reviews / progress reports(many EU countries)

2. External reviews (e.g. Finland – 2009)

3. Peer reviews (e.g. Germany – 2009, 2013)

Indicators and monitoring

From 15 (France) to 155 indicators (Hungary)

National statistical offices as a responsible institutions

Few, key indicators: for communication purpose, enhancing political commitment and leadership

Detailed indicator set: for policy planning, decision-making

German SD institutions

SD Strategy: Since 2002 (Johannesburg)

Monitoring 2 y, review 4 y

High level political commitment

Impact Assessment (connected to the legislative process)

State Secretaries Council

Parlamentary Commitee

National SD Council

11 States have SDS

Italian SDS

NSDS since 2002 – mainly environmental goals

2007: national review

Inter-Ministerial Comittee

2012: National Green Economy Agenda (ongoing work) – 8 targets

Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Green Economy

Sustainability Criteria, Environmental Footprinting

SDS of Slovenia

Transition to a low-carbon society

3 priorities – 5 headline target – 7 flagship iniciatives

SDS since 2005; Plan B for Slovenia 2007-2012

Cross sectorial approach

In 2012 because of the financial crisesthe Government cancelled inter-governmental institutions

(e.g. SD Council)

SD policies in Hungary

New constitutional rules since 2012 (SD, right for healthy environment, rights of future generations)

Constitutional court

Ombudsman for future generation

National SD Council (multi-stakeholder dialogue)

SD strategy with 2 year monitoring and 4 year revision

Vertical SD strategy – the role of local governments, industry, NGO’s and individuals

Horizontal SD strategy – human, social, economical and environmental assets management

SD in education, media and social media

Summary

• Political leadership is crucial• Wide societal commitment is also important (Not only the

Government is the actor, enterprises, civil organisations and households are players too)

• Policy integraton, participation and reflexivity are immanent features of an NSDS process• Institutional anchoring

• Inter-ministerial cooperation and the steering capacity• Monitoring and evaluation• Stakeholder participation• Effective implementation