1. General introduction to the AWARE process
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
WELCOME SESSION
General introduction to the AWARE process
and citizens’ mandate
Carlo Sessa - ISIS

2. Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
WHY WE ARE HERE ?
We are here to participate in a pilot experiment supported by the European
Commission 7° Research Framework Programme for:
- Doing “sustainability” research together
- Doing this for a specific issue: sustainable management of coastal waters
in Europe
- Showing how this can help to enhance the connectivity between research,
policy making and the citizens for a better management of coastal waters.
The main interest for the European Commission is to improve the impact
of research on policy, the everyday quality of life of citizens and sustainability
across Europe

3. MAIN CONTEXT: EU Sustainable Development committment
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
MAIN CONTEXT: EU Sustainable Development committment
Sustainable Development: To meet the needs of the present
generation without compromising those of future generations
Persistance of unsustainable trends
Main challenge: change
consumption and production patterns
non-integrated approaches to policy-making

4. Sustainable Development: from research to implementation
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
Sustainable Development: from research to implementation
“Sustainable development cannot be imposed from
the above. It will not take root unless people across
the country are actively engaged”
DEFRA (UK)

5. Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Pressures:
Which are the main environmental
problems and their causes?
WHAT RESEARCH
TELL US?
Coastal waters ecosystems:
What are about? How they work?
What they provide to us?
Impact:
Which consequences for our and
future generations?

6. Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Pressures:
Which are the main environmental
problems and their causes?
WHAT IS POLICY
DOING?
Coastal waters ecosystems:
What are about? How they work?
What they provide to us?
Impact:
Which consequences for our and
future generations?

7. Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
Sustainable Management of Coastal Waters
Pressures:
Which are the main environmental
problems and their causes?
WHAT RESEARCH
AND POLICY
(MAY) DELIVER
TO US?
Coastal waters ecosystems:
What are about? How they work?
What they provide to us?
Impact:
Which consequences for our and
future generations?

8. The AWARE process: First step
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE process: First step
AWARE is now engaging you in a “sustainability doing” experiment focusing on coastal water ecosystems in three specific areas of Europe (Southern North Sea, Gulf of Riga, Sacca di Goro).
In this first workshop you will be provided with and discuss:
- scientific information on water ecosystem problems, critical trends and cause-and-
effect relationships in each area (FIRST DAY).
- policy information on who takes the important decisions at EU, national and local
level and how decision making is related to the scientific knowledge of the coastal
water systems (SECOND DAY).

9. The AWARE process: Second step
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE process: Second step
In September or October 2010 you will meet stakeholders and policy makers
of your own case study area, in a local workshop, followed by a public conference.
In this local participatory process you will have the opportunity to discuss the options:
- to make (or keep) your own area sustainable
- to improve the dialogue between scientists, policy makers and citizens
Your “mandate” here is to act as citizens group making an assessment of the local
situation and providing recommendations to the local community (policy makers,
stakeholders, citizens) on how to improve/mantain the coastal environment, based on your own understanding and appreciation of thescientific evidence provided by AWARE.

10. The AWARE process – Third step
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE process – Third step
In April and June 2011 you will meet again all together two times in Brussels:
- in a second plenary workshop on April to discuss and compare
your experiences in the local case study areas and deliberate your assessment
of the options to improve the linkage between research, policy making and the
public.
- at a final AWARE European conference at the end of May or early June 2011,
to present your deliberations to European level water policy makers and stakeholders.

11. The AWARE process First citizens panel worshop at European level
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE process
First citizens panel worshop at European level
April 2010
Local citizens and stakeholders participatory process (Gulf of Riga case study)
Local citizens and stakeholders participatory process (North Sea case study)
Local citizens and stakeholders participatory process (Po delta case study)
Second citizens panel workshop at European level
April 2011
EU Conference on linking research to policy in the water sector
June 2011

12. The AWARE objectives To foster sustainable water ecosystems management
Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE objectives
To foster sustainable water ecosystems management
To enhance connectivity between research, policy making and the public
- To link research to policy development regarding sustainable water ecosystems management
→ AWARE position is that there is a potential for better connectivity between actors and that there is a need to improve it at short term.
In the end, the concrete result expected is: the AWARE citizens panel assessment = the advice and position of the group to be presented at the EU conference of linking research and policy in the water sector.

13. Paris 22/04/2010, Welcome Session
The AWARE “mandate”
To provide your own assessment and recommendations to key European decision makers on why and how to link research, policy making and public participation for a better management of coastal environments in Europe.