The Gothenburg process – Safer environment and sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region Sauli Rouhinen, MoE Finland

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment From Gothenburg (2001) to the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (2006)  A Sustainable Europe for a better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development – (Commission´s proposal to the Gothenburg European Council)  Göteborg European Council Precidency conclusions: ”The European Council … – agreed on a strategy for sustainable development and added an environmental dimension to the Lisbon process for employment, economic reform and social cohesion; …”  Towards a global partnership for sustainable development. (The external dimension of SD) – Communication from the commission. COM(2002) 82 final

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment From Gothenburg (2001) to the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (2006)  European Council in Barcelona 2002: External dimension of SD in view of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg  EU´s 6th Environment Action Programme: Thematic strategies: – Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable use of natural resources. COM(2003) 572 final  Commission communication ”On the review of the Sustainable Development Strategy – A platform for action” (Dec 2005)  followed by contributions from the Council, the European Parliament, The European Economic and Social Committee and others.

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment From Gothenburg (2001) to the Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (2006)  European Council adopted an ambitious and comprehensive renewed Sustainable Development Strategy for an enlarged EU, building on the strategy adopted in 2001 in Gothenburg. ( ) – As a basis for the renewed strategy, the European council in June 2005 approved a declaration with key objectives and principles  The overall aim of the renewed EU SDS is to identify and develop actions to enable the EU to achieve continuous improvement of quality of life both for current and for future generations, through the creation of sustainable communities able to manage and use resources efficiently and to tap the ecological and social innovation potential of the economy, ensuring prosperity, environmental protection and social cohesion.

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Key objectives and policy quiding ponciples of the EU SDS  Environmental protection – Safeguard the earth´s capacity to support life in all its diversity.... promote sustainable consumption and production to break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation.  Social equity and cohesion  Economic prosperity  International responsibilities POLICY QUIDING PRICIPLES  Involvement of citizens  Involvement of business and social partners  Policy coherence and governance (horizontal and vertical)  Policy integration (economic, social and environmental)

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Making use of synergies between the EU SDS and the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs  The EU SDS and the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs compelement each other. The EU SDS is primarily concerned with quality of life, intra- and inter- generational equity and coherence between all policy areas.  The EU SDS forms the overall framework within which the Lisbon Strategy, provides the motor for a more dynamic economy.  Investments in human, social and environmental capital as well as technological innovation are the prerequisites for long-term competitiveness and economic prosperity, social cohesion, quality employment and better environmental protection.

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Better policy-making  Sustainable development is to be integrated into policy- making at all levels.  All EU institutions should ensure that major policy decisions are based on the proposals that have undergone high quality Impact Assessment (IA), assessing in a balanced way the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development and taking into account the external dimension of SD and the costs of inaction. Member states should make wider use of public and stakeholder participation and, in particular of IA, when allocating when allocating public funds and developing strategies, programmes and projects.

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Key challenges and corresponding targets, operational objectives and actions.  Climate change and clean energy  Sustainable Transport  Sustainable consumption and production  Conservation and management of natural resources  Public Health  Social inclusion, demography and migration  Global poverty and sustainable development challenges

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Cross cutting policies contributing to the knowledge society  Education and training  Research and development

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Financing and economic instruments Communication, mobilising actors and multiplying success Implementation, monitoring and follow-up  National Sustainable Development Strategies and their linkage to the EU SDS  Networks (European Sustainable Development Network, ESDN; EEAC/SDWG)  Regional and local SD processes and their networks – Baltic 21 (+ BLA21F, UBC), Nordic SD Strategy,  …

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Three dimensions of Sustainable Development Social Economic Ecological

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment Sustainability Assessment; people – planet – prosperity (ppp/Netherlands) Here and nowElsewhere (global responsibility) Later (future generations) People (welbeing, social inclusion) Planet (BD, Natural Capital, Ecos. services) Prosperity (Man-made- capital)

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment EU SDS as a political framework for Stratetic/Lighthouse projects?  EU SDS and Regional strategy processes; Seeking for synergy – CBSS/Baltic 21 – Vasab 2010 – HELCOM – BSSSC – UBC – ….  Grassroot pragmatism – Lighthouse projects

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment An Example: SUSTAINMENT -project SUSTAINMENT – Integrated solutions for sustainability management in Baltic cities Overall aim: To promote cross-sectoral policy integration and increased efficiency within city administrations Objectives: Enhancing the ability of local authorities to develop their working methods, skills and personnel in order to promote sustainable development Development of current offices or agencies responsible for sustainable development towards Sustainability Management Centres (SMC)

Sauli Rouhinen, Ministy of the Environment SUSTAINMENT -PROJECT Expected outcomes: - models for Sustainability Management Centres - a manual for establishing SMCs; Competence Development Package - common sustainability reporting system Partnership: cities from Finland, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia Lead partner: Union of the Baltic Cities Implementation period: January 2006 – December 2007 Policy framework: - thematic Strategy on Urban Environment of the European Union 6th Environment Action Programme of the EU and review of EU Sustainable Development Strategy