|
Green Plans in Action: European Union: Scientific Foundation
Science Behind the Policies
Scientific expertise and shared data are becoming increasingly critical elements in public policy. The seven independent institutes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) provide that for the Commission and EU Member States supporting EU policy makers in the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of policies. JRC serves the common interests of Member States while being independent of special interests, whether private or national, and provides technical expertise directly and through broader networks linking universities, national institutes, and industry. (More...)
Environment in Balance with Economic Development
The European Environment Agency (EEA) supports sustainable development as a key provider of timely, targeted, relevant and solid scientific information forming a basis for environmental policy makers and the public. The EEA brings together an expanding international body of research to indicate that good environmental management and regulation does not impede overall competitiveness and economic development. On the contrary, it can be beneficial by creating pressure that drives innovation and alerts businesses about resource inefficiencies and new opportunities. (More...)
Scientific e-Network
The European Commission has developed the SINAPSE e-Network (Scientific InformAtion for Policy Support in Europe) in its Science and Society Action Plan. This web-based communication platform provides free membership, and offers essential tools to promote and encourage effective exchange of information between all stockholders. It includes an electronic library to collect scientific opinions and advice, can be used for sending early-warning signals and raising awareness of science-related issues, is a communication tool for discussions, debates, and surveys, and performs thematic and focused searches. Owners of information are network members, providing transparency and access to further source details.
Research Funding
The Lisbon Strategy 2000 called for the EU to create an internal market for science and technology - the "European Research Area" (ERA) - for coordination of research activities and the convergence of research and innovation policies at national and EU levels. The Sixth EU Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP6) is the primary research funding financial instrument for the EU's ERA. Its budget of €17.5 billion over four years (2002-2006) represents 5.4% of public non-military research spending in Europe, with the rest funded by private and public sources in individual countries. Research institutes, universities, public and private companies and individual research scientists are qualified to apply, and projects must be transnational, with partners from different member and associated countries. According to the 2007 Scoreboard, EU-based companies have increased their R&D by 7.4%. The chemical sector shows impressive R&D growth rates in the EU group. By sectors, pharmaceuticals & biotechnology became the top R&D investing sector, overtaking the technology hardware & equipment sector. However, EU companies continued to grow their R&D investment at a lower rate than their non-EU counter-parts.
Carrying Capacity
The Sixth Environmental Action Programme includes broad-based themes for conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment and natural resources. A main objective of EU policy-making is respect for environmental carrying capacity to avoid consequential, and sometimes irreversible effects. In December 2005, the Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources was proposed, and a Maritime Strategy was adopted in October 2005. The goals of these Strategies are to ensure that consumption of resources and their associated impacts do not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment and break the linkages between economic growth and resource use. (More...)
Ecological Footprint
Sustainable management and development meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. An ecological footprint measures how much land is required to supply a particular country, region, city, business or individual with food, housing, energy/fuel, transport, and consumer goods and services. The larger the footprint, the more resources are needed to support that lifestyle. (More...)
Plant Science
The EU introduced a technology platform in 2007 called Plants for the Future, which includes a research agenda from now until 2025. The agenda introduces five areas of priority for research: healthy, safe and sufficient food and feed; plant-based chemical and energy products; sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape; vibrant and competitive basic plant research; and consumer choice and governance. Dr. Markwart Kunz explains that the purpose is to "...better integrate plant science into the whole chain of sciences and industries to develop technologies for the better use of plants." The main goal of Plants for the Future is to try to reduce the input of crops and increase the output, so that the need for fertilizers and water is reduced and the crops' stress resistance increases. Another goal includes increasing the use of plants' potential for food, feed and construction, and eventually as a source of energy and chemicals. (More...)
|
