Achieving Sustainability in the EU

Achieving Sustainability in the EU: Beyond the “three Rs”
Credits 1-3 (variable)

Spring 2020

Instructors

Lead Instructor

Andrzej Kassenberg, PhD – Institute of Sustainable Development and Polish Energy Efficiency Foundation
Email: a.kassenberg@ine-isd.org.pl

Instructor of Record

Agata Kowalewska, PhD, RD – UF, Center for European Studies
Office: Turlington Hall, room 2326A, Gainesville 32611
Phone: 352-273-3473
Email: agatak@ufl.edu

Course Description

The goal of the JM Seminar in 2020 is to familiarize students with a range of sustainability topics as they apply to the European context. The course will start with an introduction of the concept and its evolution in the European Union and successively will cover areas of different core policies, development, urban planning, energy, etc. At the conclusion of the course, during the workshop, students will have an opportunity to discuss specific topics with area experts.

Students may take this course for variable credit. For 1 credit, students are expected to complete the required reading, actively engage in the class, and complete one daily report supplemented with own comments when needed. For 2 credits, students take the same test and write a short 5-page literature review. For 3 credits, students will take the test and write a 15-20 page research paper.

Day 1 – Monday, March 23 – What do we mean by sustainability?

1.1 What do we mean by sustainability?
1.2 What do we mean by sustainability?
1.3 What do we mean by sustainability?
1.4 What do we mean by sustainability?

Required Readings

Learn more about Sustainable Development (3 articles) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/sustainabledevelopment
1. Sustainable Development. M.M. Shah, in Encyclopedia of Ecology, 2008
2. Future Role of Bioenergy Nicolae Scarlat, Jean-Francois Dallemand, in The Role of Bioenergy in the Bioeconomy, 2019
3. Conceptual Frames for Risk, Resilience and Sustainable Development Per Becker, in Sustainability Science, 2014
The Sustainable Development Goals. Overview. (Be familiar with the graphs) https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/overview/
Andrzej Kassenberg. A Postulate for Accelerated Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Principles. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322561243_A_Postulate_for_Accelerated_Implementation_of_Sustainable_Development_Goals_and_Principles
Ranjula Bali Swain. Critical analysis of sustainable development goals. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320291340_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Sustainable_Development_Goals

Supplemental readings

Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5987our-commonfuture.pdf
1. Concentrate on
  1. The Global Challenge
  2. The Policy Directions
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2019.pdf
A Critique of the Sustainable Development Goals’ Potential to Realize the Human Rights of All: Why being better than the MDGs is not good enough. https://cpb-usw2.wpmucdn.com/campuspress.yale.edu/dist/6/1129/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/2015/10/SDG-HR_Rev-Jan-25-uugh97.pdf
Ernst von Weizsaecker, Anders Wijkman, Come On! Capitalism, Short-termism, Population and the Destruction of the Planet. http://filipmalinowski.net/Club_Of_Rome-report-2018_ComeOn.pdf

Day 2 – Tuesday, March 24 – History of Environmental Policy& Sustainable Development

2.1 History of Environmental Policy & Sustainable Development
2.2 History of Environmental Policy & Sustainable Development
2.3 History of Environmental Policy & Sustainable Development
2.4 History of Environmental Policy & Sustainable Development

Required Readings

Towards a global partnership for sustainable development. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Brussels, 13.2.2002 COM(2002) 82 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52002DC0082&from=EN
Sustainable development in the European Union. Overview of progress towards the SDGs in an EU context 2019 edition. EUROSTAT. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/4031688/9925908/KS-02-19-166-ENN.pdf/e985fa37-b510-4cae-b30e-c247989163d9
Mark Langan & Sophia Price (2016) The EU and ‘pro-poor’ contributions to sustainable development in the post-2015 consensus, Third World Thematics: A TWQ Journal, 1:4, 431-436, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23802014.2016.1327797?needAccess=true

Supplemental readings

Sustainable development in the European Union Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. 2019 edition.EUROSTAT https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/9940483/KS-02-19-165-ENN.pdf/1965d8f5-4532-49f9-98ca-5334b0652820
Damien Demailly. Elisabeth Hege. The Sustainable Development Goals: An Opportunity for the EU. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-sustainabledevelopment-goals-an-opportunity-for-the-eu/

Day 3 – Wednesday, March 25 – “Mainstreaming” Environmental Policy in the EU

3.1 Mainstreaming
3.2 Mainstreaming
3.3 Mainstreaming
3.4 Mainstreaming

Required Readings

Living well, within the limits of our planet. Factsheet. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/factsheets/7eap/en.pdf
Charlotte Burns, Peter Eckersley & Paul Tobin (2019): EU environmental policy in times of crisis, Journal of European Public Policy, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13501763.2018.1561741?needAccess=true

Supplemental readings

General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 Living well, within the limits of our planet. European Union, 2014. http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/generalunion-environment-action-programme-to-2020-pbKH0113833/
Dieter Helm. EU climate-change policy—a critique.http://www.dieterhelm.co.uk/assets/secure/documents/SS-EU-CC-Critique-0.pdf

Day 4 – Thursday, March 26 – Improving Sustainability though EU Agricultural Policy

4.1 EU Agricultural Policy
4.2 EU Agricultural Policy
4.3 EU Agricultural Policy
4.4 EU Agricultural Policy

Required Readings

The common agricultural policy at a glance. https://ec.europa.eu/info/foodfarming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/cap-glance_en
The Common Agricultural Policy: Separating fact from fiction. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/food-farmingfisheries/key_policies/documents/cap-separating-facts-from-fiction_en.pdf
The AGRICULTURE ATLAS. https://www.boell.de/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/agricultureatlas2019_web_190507.pdf?dimension1=ds_agriculture_atlas

Supplemental readings

The Future of Food and Farming. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS. Brussels, 29.11.2017 COM(2017) 713 final. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52017DC0713&from=EN
Brodt, S., Six, J., Feenstra, G., Ingels, C. & Campbell, D. (2011) Sustainable Agriculture. Nature Education Knowledge 3(10):1.https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/sustainable-agriculture-23562787/

Day 5 – Friday, March 27 – Sustainability and EU Health Policies

5.1 Sustainability and EU Health Policies
5.2 Sustainability and EU Health Policies
5.3 Sustainability and EU Health Policies
5.4 Sustainability and EU Health Policies

Required Readings

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACTION PLAN FOR EUROPE. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Regional Office for Europe. Only Volume 1 http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/109877/EUR_ICP_CEH_212A.pdf?ua=1
Environment and Health. https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/human/intro
Europe’s health systems on life suport. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-health-care-systems-on-life-support-specialreport-drug-pricing-medicines-public-services/

Supplemental readings

Strategic Plan 2016-2020. DG Health & Food Safety. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/strategic-plan-2016-2020-dgsante_en_0.pdf
Air quality in Europe — 2019 report. EEA Report No 10/2019 (only executive summary). https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2019

Day 6 – Monday, March 30 – Sustainable Energy and Transport Policies

6.1 Sustainable Energy and Transport Policies
6.2 Sustainable Energy and Transport Policies
6.3 Sustainable Energy and Transport Policies
6.4 Sustainable Energy and Transport Policies

Required Readings

Report from the Commission. To the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank. Fourth Report on the State of the Energy Union https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/fourth-report-state-ofenergy-union-april2019_en_0.pdf
THE NEW LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/factsheetclimate-action-legislative-framework_april2019.pdf
A sustainable future for transport. TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED, TECHNOLOGY-LED AND USER-FRIENDLY SYSTEM. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/media/publications/doc/2009_future_of_transport_en.pdf
WHITE PAPER Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system. Brussels, 28.3.2011 COM(2011) 144 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0144&from=EN
The future of transport in European Union Commission’s Strategy 2050 https://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/2018_07_2050_model_paper_final.pdf

Supplemental readings

Fourth report on the State of the Energy Union. REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK. Brussels, 9.4.2019 COM(2019) 175 final. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/betapolitical/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/fourth-report-state-of-energy-union-april2019_en_0.pdf
Challenges ahead for the EU energy policy. Selected issues. Polish Economic Institute’s. http://pie.net.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PIE-Energy.pdf
State of the (energy) union: How the EU’s really doing so far. https://www.politico.eu/article/state-of-the-energy-union-how-the-eus-reallydoing-so-far/

Day 7 – Tuesday, March 31 – Building and Sustainable Urban Development

7.1 Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.2a Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.2b1 Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.2b2 Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.3a Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.3b1 Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.3b2 Building and Sustainable Urban Development
7.4 Building and Sustainable Urban Development

Required Readings

Urban Agenda for the EU Pact of Amsterdam. Agreed at the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Urban Matters on 30 May 2016 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/themes/urbandevelopment/agenda/pact-of-amsterdam.pdf
New Pathways for European Cities and Towns. THE BASQUE DECLARATION. http://www.sustainablecities.eu/fileadmin/repository/Basque_Declaration_New_Email_Address/Basque-Declaration-ENGLISH-print_NO_Marks.pdf
Sachin Bhardwaj. “Smart Buildings: Improving Sustainability and Energy Efficiency.” https://clevair.io/blog/smart-buildings-improving-sustainability-andenergy-efficiency/.

Supplemental readings

The SymbioCity Approach. A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Urban Development. SKL International, 2012.10 http://www.symbiocity.se/PublicDownloads/The%20SymbioCity%20Approach/SCA%20full%20version%20(6%2C1%20Mb).pdf
Smart cities. https://ec.europa.eu/info/eu-regional-and-urbandevelopment/topics/cities-and-urban-development/city-initiatives/smart-cities_en
IS EUROPE READY FOR THE SMART BUILDINGS REVOLUTION?. The Buildings Performance Institute Europe. http://bpie.eu/wpcontent/uploads/2017/02/STATUS-REPORT-Is-Europe-ready_FINAL_LR.pdf

Day 8 – Wednesday, April 1 – Incentivizing Sustainable Business Practices

8.1 Incentivizing Sustainable Business Practices
8.2 Incentivizing Sustainable Business Practices
8.3 Incentivizing Sustainable Business Practices
8.4 Incentivizing Sustainable Business Practices

Required Readings

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. Brussels, 16.1.2018 COM(2018) 28 final. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:2df5d1d2-fac7-11e7-b8f5-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF
Innovative Business Models for Global Competitiveness New models for direct global market access in ICT. file:///C:/Users/CESUSE~1/AppData/Local/Temp/21-ibm-new-models-for-directglobal-market-access-in-ict_en.pdf

Supplemental readings

Towards a sustainable European business model? https://www.robertschuman.eu/en/european-issues/0460-towards-a-european-sustainable-businessmodel
CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/knowledge_-_circular_business-models-for_the_environment.pdf

Day 9 – Thursday, April 2 – Sustainable Development in the EU and the Climate Crisis

Required Readings

Global Warming of 1.5 ºC. Summary for Policymakers. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/SR15_SPM_version_report_LR.pdf
Our Vision for A Clean Planet for All. (Be familiar with the graphs) https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/docs/pages/vision_1_emissions_en.pdf
Our Vision for A Clean Planet for All: Economic Transition. https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/docs/pages/vision_4_economic_en.pdf.
Our Vision for A Clean Planet for All: Industrial Transition. https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/docs/pages/vision_2_industrial_en.pdf
Our Vision for A Clean Planet for All: Social Transition. https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/docs/pages/vision_3_social.pdf
10 TRENDS RESHAPING CLIMATE AND ENERGY. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/epsc/sites/epsc/wp-content/uploads/sites/162/epsc_-_10_trends_transforming_climate_and_energy.pdf

Supplemental readings

A Clean Planet for all A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy. COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS AND THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK. Brussels, 28.11.2018 COM(2018) 773 final. https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0773&from=EN
Developing the EU Long-Term Climate Strategy. https://bruegel.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/04/20180418_FINAL-_TechnicalPaper.pdf

Center for European Studies