SDCs_prelimaryresearch_ASEF

Rio+20 Stocktaking

SD COUNCILS and other MULTI-STAKEHOLDER

BODIES fostering civil society involvement, and:

Horizontal and vertical coordination mechanisms

EEAC – European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils

Dr. Ingeborg Niestroy www.eeac.eu

Niestroy, 18.4.12 ASEF - Bangkok 2

Outline

SD strategies and Councils in Agenda 21:

Regional level - EU SD strategy

Diffusion of national SDSs and SDCs worldwide

and in Europe: interdependencies

SD Councils: Functions and capacities,

- Europe and wider discussion

SDCs and SDSs in Rio+20 negotations

Other bodies;

horizontal + vertical coordination (gov.)

Some governance insights

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4

5

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SD strategies and councils after Rio

1992 Agenda 21: commitment for SD Strategies and

improved stakeholder involvement: Initiative to

establish SD Councils as a means for this

1997 "Rio+5": call to prepare SDSs for WSSD 2002

2002 J-burg P.o.I. Chapter XI: promotion of SDCs

2002+/- wave of SDSs and SDCs (in Europe)

2009 Decision UN GA to hold a UN Conf. on SD in 2012

2010-12 Preparation process

2012 “zero draft” as basis for negotiations: - 1st draft on 5 Jan. Para 59-61 on SD Strategies and SD Councils

SDCs in Europe (EEAC) gave input

- March: "informal consultations" and “Intersessional” - April: "informal consultations"

- 13-15 June: last PrepCom, 20-22 June: UNCSD "Rio+20"

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Regional: EU SD strategy

2001 EU SDS (Gothenburg)

2006 Revision (AT Presidency): deepened governance

- better linking EU and national level/SDSs

- SDS says that by 2011 it should be decided when

a "comprehensive review" will take place

- SD Councils are mentioned as means

2007 MSs progress reports

2009 Review, 'not revision' (SE Presidency)

2010 EU 2020: for "smart, inclusive and sustainable growth"

7 "Flagships" and Roadmaps, incl. "Resource Efficiency"

with governance (European Semester/Nat.Reform Programs)

new +/- leading paradigm (as is 'green economy')

Since then: debate about the future+added value of the

EU SDS; possibly: review after Rio+20 conference

1


Global proliferation of SD Councils (Busch/Joergens, 2010)

Earth Council Report 2000: SDCs in more than 70 countries globally

2


National SDSs worldwide ...unverified picture (UN DESA, 2010)

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EU Member States: SDSs and SDCs [1] SD strategy from SDS reviews, revisions and other activities Participation / SDC established

UK 1994 SDS

1999 2nd SDS

2004/05 Review

2005/06 SDSs in regions

2007 SD Indicators, Action plan

2000 (succeeding a Roundtable

for SD, 1994)

Terminated in 2011

Finland (1990 report, 1995

report)

1998 SDS

2003 Progress report

2006 revised SDS, SD indicators work

2009 External review

2010 Network for SD Indicators

2012 Planned start of new SDS process

1993 [mixed]

Sweden 1994-99 "green

Sweden“; env. object.

2002 SDS

2004 revised SDS, SD Indicators

2006 revised SDS, SD Indicators

- Environment Council (1968)

Council for Env. Research (2011)

- SD Commission [mixed] (2007)

Ireland 1997 2002 Review

> 2003 Reporting on indicators for all sectors

> 2008 Review process; 2012 draft “FSDI”

1999

Terminated 2011 ( tasks moved

to NESC)

Luxem-

burg

1999 2004 Law

> 2008 Review process

2010 Revised SD law (with SDS)

2005

(2010 SDC strengthened )

Belgium 2000 2003/04 Review

2004-08 Revised (2nd) SDS (‘SD plan’)

2010-14 Draft revised (3rd) SDS to be adopted

1993

(reinforced legal basis in 1997)

Germany 2002 2004 Progress Report (government)

2006 SD Indicator Report (statistics office)

2008 2nd Progress Report (government)

2009 Int. Peer Review (stakeholders)

2012 3rd Progress Report in preparation

2001

2


EU Member States: SDSs and SDCs [2]

SD strategy from SDS reviews, revisions and

other activities

Participation / SDC established

Austria 2002 2009 National SDS agreed

(joint federal and regional)

(2002) *

Denmark 2002 SDS 2009 Revised SDS [Danish Nature Council terminated

in 2002]

Netherlands (NEPs: 1989, 1993, 1997,2001)

2003 SD Action Programs 2007 Peer Review

2008 Monitoring Report

no SDC, other councils engaged:

RMNO (terminated 2010), SER

[=NESC], RLG, VROM-raad

(merged to ‘RLI’ 2011)

France 2003 SDS 2005 Peer Review

2006 Revised SDS

2008 Progress report

2010 New SDS

1993-2003 CFDD

2003-2008 CNDD

from 2010: CNDDGE

Czech Rep. 2004 SDS 2006 Progress report

2007 2nd Progress report

2003 [mixed]

Portugal (NEP 1995)

(SDS drafts 2002, 2004)

2007 SDS

[Annual Progress Reports,

2010 Review planned,

institutional changes]

1998

Hungary (NEPs 1997, 2003)

Nat.Env.Program 2003-08

2007 SDS

[Biennial SD Action Plans] - Environment Council OKT

(stakeholders) since 1995

- SDC established by Parliament

in 2008

Spain 2007 SDS - - Environment Council CAMA

(stakeholder type) since 2004

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Other countries in Europe: SDSs since... (really?) [3]

SD strategy from SDS reviews, revisions and other activities Participation / SDC established

Bulgaria 2007/08 Drafting,

no adoption

- (broad consultation in 2007/08)

Cyprus 2007 SDS - Env. Council, was turned into an SD

Council, which did not come in being

Estonia 2005 SDS - Government Council for SD, low/no

civil society, faded away

New creation, independent, in 2010

Greece 2002 SDS 2007 Revision: new SD agenda, not adopted -

Italy 2002 SDS 2007 Revision started/ stopped -

Latvia 2002 SDS 2010 Revision: adopted by Gov. and Parl. Gov. Council for SD, low/no civil soc.

Lithuania 2003 SDS 2010 Revision started Gov. Council for SD, low/no civil soc.

Malta 2007 SDS - (but recently creating a coord. unit in PM

Office)

SD council operating for some years

Norway 2007 SDS (new)

in nat. budget

2009 Report on SD (in the national budget

for 2009)

Poland 2000 SDS (*many)

> 2008 Revisions, new long-term

development strategy (no impl. mech.?)

(Env. council: mainly academic,

technical)

Romania 2008 SDS - Independent Centre for SD (UNDP

support) with civil society part.

Slovakia 2001 SDS 2005 Action Plan

2010 New Action Plan and indicators planned

(Government Council for SD, no civil

society)

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SD Councils: Bridging the gap(s)

Prime Minister's Office

N a t i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t

E U

S t a k e h o l d e r s / C i v i l S o c i e t y

Env./Dev.NGOs

Consumer NGO

Science

Business

Trade Unions

. . others . .

Regional interest groups

Local interest groups / Local Agenda 21

SD units typically involved

typical lead

Europeanstakeholder

organisations

M I N I S T R Y of Foreign A.

Dev .Aid

EU

SD SD

NationalCouncilfor SD

Env

Strategy

Internat .

. . .

R e g i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t s

lead/coordination of international part (if applicable)

Typically: Ministries of Agriculture, Transport, Housing

Others*

© Niestroy

Energy

Soc.A. Econ.A.

SD

Others*Fin

M u n i c i p a l i t i e s

possible membership

typical membership

dialogue / informal contacts

cooperation

dialogue / formal link

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* EU – national:

SDCs cooperate

- in EEAC,

- with EESC

- with ESDN

- with .. NGOs /

others

* EU – global:

Only for Rio+20,

OECD

* Nat. – global:

Individual SDCs

have projects

* Nat. – sub-

national: varies


SD councils: capacities

Bridging the gaps: • between science and policy making

• between government and civil society

• bringing different types of knowledge together (transdisciplinary)

• with the connecting capacity - 'spider in the web' - also comes that they give impulses and foster horizontal and vertical coordination/integration

“Keeper of the long-term view”: reflecting in advice and activities (communication and projects)

Seeing the wood for the trees: • keep the overview

• make links between initiatives (or: identifying needs that this happens and make it happen)

• organise regular reflecting, stock-taking, bringing actors together again (government/other actors could do this, but ...)

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SD Councils: Stimulate informed debate as

• Advisor: all SDCs do - by considering / integrating different dimensions, emphasising process-oriented thinking

- by involving (more) stakeholders in drafts, fact finding and discussing advice

- by following-up advice by further evaluation and feed-back loops

- freedom of agenda setting has awareness raising effects

• Agent: the core identity, most do - being in contact with the relevant government departments at working level

- using a variety of formats for dialogue with civil society, scientists, politicians, business,

relevant institutions, across different levels, sectors, going regional ...

- triggering actors not yet involved

- initiating redesigning research for SD

- some aim to change market patterns

• Communicator: meanwhile more SDCs also do - new/fresh/other means of communication/media use

- political communication (schools, youth, elderly / contests in design etc.)

- addressing recommendations to others than government

- involving the interested/wider public, e.g. SD “panel”

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SD Councils in Member States (April 2012)

Fully functioning SD Councils …and/or 7 (8) (AT), BE, DE, EE, *FR,

HU, IE, LU, PT, UK

[+ some regional ones]

Stakeholder Environment Councils 4 (6) ES, HU, NL, SI

(PL, SE)

SD Centres/Agencies 2 HE, RO

Economic-Social Committees with SD tasks 3 FR, IE, NL

Mixed bodies 1 (4) (CZ), FI, (MT), (SE)

Government bodies with low/no civil society

involvement / not working

3 LT, LV, SK

No SD/Environment Council 5 BU, CY, DK, (IT), UK

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Total: Councils in around 15 Member states, plus HR


SD Councils: some discussion items • different models of councils

composition: mainly discussed “how much government” in the

council / independence [*in Europe: in some countries; elsewhere:

see next slide]

• alternative means/institutions for the 3 functions: * advice / bridging science and policy-making:

consultant, “chief scientist”, ad hoc committees

* agent:

government (or ...?) organises stakeholder meetings / consultation

* communicator: other role for media?

* for all (?): transformation of the Economic-Social committees?

• advantages of councils: - some group identity + permanence/continuity (vs. ad hoc

formations) contribute to better dialogue and bridging (of

disciplines, sectors, ... interests)

- efficient (low costs)

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SD Councils (2): wider views • Governmental / mixed models

Due to different views on the aimed function, in many countries

outside Europe also/predominantly such models

• Horizontal/vertical integration * While it is in the spirit of Agenda 21/WSSD that SDCs should be a

means for improving civil society involvement, this objective has

remained ambiguous in the JPoI (Chapter XI):

• "Further promote the establishment ... of SDCs and/or coordination structures at

the national level, ... , in order to provide a high-level focus on SD policies. In that

context, multi-stakeholder participation should be promoted."

• More clarity? * coin bodies without stakeholder participation as "multi-sectoral"

or "inter-departmental" (steering) bodies / groups / committees

* coordination as core task of government departments, while non-

state actors may give impulses, support implementation by being

involved and contribute early in the process(es)

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SD Councils in the Rio+20 "zero draft"

• Para 61: "We underline the need for more coherent and integrated planning and

decision-making at the national level. We therefore call on countries to establish

and strengthen, as appropriate, national sustainable development councils to

enable them to coordinate, consolidate and ensure the mainstreaming of cross-

cutting issues in the highest decision-making bodies, with the integration and full

participation of all stakeholders."

• Focus on the policy coordination function, and stakeholder

involvement rather annexed

• EEAC proposed para 61:

"We underline the need for more coherent and integrated planning and decision-

making at all levels, as well as strengthened civil society participation. We

therefore call on countries to establish Sustainable Development Councils or

similar multi-stakeholder bodies that bring in new ideas, set the agenda, change

market patterns, make participation schemes work and stimulate informed

debate. The challenge lies in linking possible long-term futures and threats with

solutions and decisions. We expect the (new) UN Council for Sustainable

Development to establish working links to national and sub-national Sustainable

Development Councils or similar multi-stakeholder bodies."

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Informal SD Networks, EU – national level

• EEAC – European Env. and SD Advisory Councils * Informal bottom-up network of national and sub-national advisory

councils for environmental policy and SD

* Since 1993, with some steps of institutionalisation 1996 / 2001 / 2005

(subscription fee, central secretariat, own legal person)

* Objectives: sharing knowledge and experience, developing joint advice

for EU env. and SD policies (only for Rio+20: global)

* Global – regional link: rather exceptional for Rio+20

• ESDN – European Sustainable Development Network * Informal bottom-up network of SD administrators

in national Ministries, plus other participants

(... similar to SDplanNet AP...)

* Since 2002, with some institutionalisation in 2005 (financial contribution,

central secretariat)

* Objectives: providing updated information on national SD

strategies/policies; sharing knowledge and experience; feeding into the EU

SD strategy process: profiled itself as alternative to the 'SD coordinators

meeting' (which has not been convened by the Commission)

* Global – regional link: not done / weak (even within one Ministry)

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EESC – European Economic and Social Committee

– 'a bridge between Europe and organised civil society'

• Formal EU advisory institution (since 1958) composed of

representatives of civil society organisations /business;

governance background corporatist, with some widening:

three 'groups': employers, employees, various interests

• Members are nominated by EU MSs; proportionate representation

• Established an "SD Observatory" (2006) in response to the EU SD

strategy: a sub-committee preparing opinions on SD Policies

• Informal: EESC coordinates a low key network of national ESCs in

the EU (exist in 20 MSs), but not in particular on SD (so far)

• Global – regional link:

- Sub-committee for external relations adopts opinions on internat.

issues (development, trade, foreign affairs...)

- Relations with ESCs in non-EU countries: strengthen civil society

- Divers committees, incl. Round-tables with ESCs in Brazil, China,

India and Russia

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Horizontal and vertical coordination (gov.)

Horizontal: Inter-departmental bodies ("multi-sectoral"), e.g. •EU Commission: Inter-service steering groups, (Sustainability) Impact

Assessment ("IA": economic, social, environmental) of all policy proposals since

2003, improving coordination and science-policy link (e.g. LIAISE)

•Member states

Germany (similar: Belgium, other mech. in place: NL, FR, FI, AT...)

- State Secretary Committee for horizontal coord. at federal level, chaired by the

DG of the Chancellery (PM Office), with Interdepartmental Working Group

- Parliamentary Advisory Council (for SD Impact Assessments)

Vertical: •National – EU

- Council of Ministers: the existing cross-cutting formation ('General Affairs

Council') has never taken up SD the Environment Council deals with it, and

sometimes the European Council

- bottom-up: ESDN network, SD administrators (often from MinEnv)

•National – EU – Global

- "Working Party for International Environmental Issues" (WPIEI) in the

Environment Council; at nat. level: weak links - even within the MinEnv

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State Secretary

Commission

Director-General of

Fed. Chancellery

(PM Office)

Parliamentary

Advisory Council

for SD

National

SD - Strategy

German "Laender"

(sub-national),

Municipalities, Civil

Society, Business

German Council

for Sustainable

Development

Interdepartmental

working group

Germany - Institutional framework

Chancellor

Angela Merkel

Governance insights from own study: "and – and" .. "mix/balance/moving towards ‘ends’"

Leadership

(is performed)

Ownership

(is fostered)

P

FIN D

Top-down Bottom-up P FIN B

Firmness Flexibility ALL UK D

Framework

document

Action

focus NL FIN D

D UK S

P

FIN D

Top-down Bottom-up P FIN B

Firmness,

Monitoring

Flexibility ALL UK D

Action

focus NL FIN D

D UK S

www.eeac.eu [email protected]

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http://www.eeac.eu/


... found in other theory development

• "Metagovernance" (Meuleman, 2008)

- smart mix of the three basic governance styles:

hierarchy, market, network

- adapted to specific phases + situations

• "TransGov" (IASS / In 't Veld, 2011)

- social reflexivity

- knowledge democracy / transdisciplinarity

- 'second modernity' (Beck, 1992):

- 'and' ... 'and' (not 'or')

- diversity rather than simplicity

combined: 'transgovernance'

• "Balance of the opposites" (Heraklit / Cornélis, 2012)

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Technology

SDCs_prelimaryresearch_ASEF