Latest publications: recent work by the Advisory Council on Sustainable Development of Catalonia

Ten Recommendations for a coastal integrated management in Catalonia

On 9th September 2021, The Advisory Council on Sustainable Development of Catalonia (CADS) presented the report “The Coastline on the Edge. Recommendations for an integrated management of the Catalan coast”. The report proposes tools that shape a framework of integrated policies for the transformation towards sustainability, making it compatible with the blue economy.

The report proposes 10 recommendations that include several possible actions. They focus on a wide range of topics including the creation of a Coastal Conservatory with a similar scope as the French “Conservatoire du littoral”; the regulation of tourism in overexploited areas; promoting fiscal greening with the review of the ultimate destination of the tourism tax for conservation purposes or studying the creation of a tax for secondary residences; the restoration of hydromorphological dynamics on rivers to ensure sediment inputs in coastal areas; and the re-dimensioning and reformulation of certain critical infrastructures for climate adaptation.

The publication’s lead authors include Dr Puri Canals-Ventín and Dr Carles Ibáñez-Martí, members of CADS. The report is the final result of a strategic thinking process that included a series of public debates considering the quadruple helix. Throughout the process, CADS gathered expert and scientific site-specific knowledge on coastal management in Catalonia and surrounding environments. At the moment the report is only available in Catalan.

Ten top priorities for sustainable development in Catalonia

An opinion on the top ten priorities for sustainable development in Catalonia was approved by CADS in July 2021. This is the first of a series of rankings that CADS will issue annually, identifying the main challenges to achieve sustainable development as a call to action to the Government and to the whole of society. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic and amid global change, the top priorities that CADS focuses on in 2021 are: 1) climate change and 2) biodiversity loss, 3) slow decarbonisation of the economy, 4) poverty and 5) access to housing, 6) school dropout rate, 7) childhood vulnerability, 8) gender equality, ( industrial weakness to deliver goods and technology for sustainability transition and 10) the gap between urban and rural areas. The ranking will be delivered to the Government and will be available on the CADS website in Catalan and English.

Last articles of the special issue on the 2030 Agenda of IDEES, the online magazine on contemporary issues published by the Government of Catalonia

Since September 2020, CADS has coordinated the special issue of the IDEES online magazine published by the Centre for Contemporary Studies, an in-house think tank of the Government of Catalonia. Along one year, this monograph has offered approaches and reflexions in order to set how to speed up the path towards sustainable development through the view of leading world experts.

This special issue of the IDEES journal was launched end of September 2021 with the release of new articles regarding to:

–   The future of Oceans and Seas, by Mr Rémi Parmentier, a founding member of Greenpeace International and Director of The Varda Group.

–   Biodiversity and Ecosystem services, by members of the Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications (CREAF).

–   The need to accelerate the Transition towards the Circular Economy, by Dr Jordi Oliver Solà, Executive Director of Inèdit.

–   Water challenges, by Dr Ignasi Rodríguez Roda, senior researcher at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA).

–   An Epilogue by the edition coordinators

The monograph, entitled ‘The 2030 Agenda: transforming the world in response to a planetary emergency’ is published in CatalanSpanish and English.

 

Towards net-zero: Sound policies need science. Session recordings now available

Following the release of the Fit for 55 package and the EU Climate Law’s promise to create a Climate Change Advisory Board, IEEP and the EEAC Network gathered scientists and policymakers to discuss how scientific evidence can best be used in the context of European climate policymaking.

After EEAC Chairman Arnau Queralt’s introduction, the discussion, moderated by IEEP Executive director Céline Charveriat, focused on what has been proposed in the Fit for 55 package in terms of the role of scientific advice in recent European climate policy initiatives. Later on, the speakers discussed how science, and the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change in particular, can further support Europe’s climate objectives, i.e. a 55% reduction of gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2030, and climate neutrality by 2050.

Insights from the panels

“The European Climate Law brings science into the heart of European climate policy by establishing a new Climate Change Advisory Board. Yet, many challenges remain to ensure that the best available knowledge reaches policymakers, notably overcoming policymakers’ own confirmation bias.”

— MEP Jytte Guteland, S&D, Rapporteur for the European Climate Law

“EU policies have long-term effects on Europe’s economy, environment and society and should therefore be based on the best, most accurate scientific understanding.”

— Christina Moberg, President of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC)

“The European Climate Law sets a sound framework and tools to deliver the climate neutrality objective, including bridging the gap between politics and science. The Fit for 55 package is the first stress test for its efficiency. Timely implementation is necessary to capitalise on the benefits and deliver high standard policy decisions.”

— Elisa Giannelli, Policy Advisor, E3G

“The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change will strengthen the role of scientific expertise and advice in outlining actions and opportunities to reach the EU’s climate goals.”

— François Dejean, Head of Climate change mitigation, energy and transport, European Environment Agency (EEA)

“The European Scientific Advisroy Board could take inspiration from the way the Danish Council on Climate Change is governed and operates, as a watchdog, an advisor, and a contributor to the public debate.”

— Peter Møllgaard, Chair of the Danish Council on Climate Change

“We need to develop modelling tools that are better adapted to addressing just transition questions; but we need to use these modela as tools to explore options and trigger policy discussions, involving all stakeholders.”

— Pierre-Marie Aubert, Coordinator, European Agriculture Initiative, Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (IDDRI)

Recording of the event

Listen to the full conversation in the recording: Webinar | Towards net-zero: Sound policies need science – YouTube

Click here for more information.