19 Oct 2018

TellUs: the EU Environmental Policy Lab — Training day at the Commission's Joint Research Centre

EU Policy Lab Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Rue du Champ de Mars 21
1000 Brussels
Belgium

On 19 October 2018, the students of the Tellus: EU Environmental Policy Lab joined for a full training day at the Commission's Join Research Centre. The day started with a general discussion of challenges to environmental policies by Mr Laurent BONTOUX (DG JRC) and Ms Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director-General of DG ENV, followed by a simulation game. In the afternoon, several experts of DG ENV discussed a selection of topics and tools of EU environmental policies.

The full agenda of the meeting is available below.

 

MORNING SESSION : ‘SCENARIO EXPLORATION’ OF EU ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

9.30 – 10.30 – WELCOME AND FRAMING OF THE DAY

Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director General DG Environment

Laurent BONTOUX, JRC Policy Lab

  • Objectives of the day
  • Short presentation of participants
  • Presentation of the JRC Policy Lab

10.30 – 13.15 : SERIOUS GAME AND SHORT MODERATED DISCUSSION (see background)

13.15 – 14.00 : LUNCH (sandwiches offered by the Commission)

14.00 – 14.30– JOINT REFLECTIONS ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE SERIOUS GAME

  • What does it tell us for the design of environmental policy?
  • Would scenarios result in a radically different policy design?
  • H. BRUNINCKX described different ‘transition pathways’ – in how far are these recognizable in certain scenarios?

AFTERNOON SESSION : A DEEP DIVE INTO EU ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TOOLS

14.30 – 15.30 : EU POLICY TOOLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES (see background)

  1. Nature protection: From the first Birds Directive in 1979 to the post-2020 Biodiversity strategy, Nicola NOTARO, DG Environment, Head of Unit Nature Protection [20 min]
    • Policies/Legislations: Birds and Habitats Directives
    • Main policy tools:
      • Protected species, protected areas
      • Funding (Life Programme)
      • International conventions (CITES)
    • Future outlook

 

  1. Environment and health: The case of emissions and air quality, Ian HODGSON, DG Environment, Industrial Emissions and Safety [10 min] – Roxana LESOVICI or Thomas HENRICHS, DG Environment, Clean Air [10 min]
    • Main policies/legislation: Industrial Emission Directive, Air Quality Directives
    • Main policy instruments:
      • Limits (air pollution, emissions)
      • Standards
      • Infringements
    • Future outlook
  1. Green Economy: An integrated approach to environment and economy: the Circular Economy package and Sustainable Finance, William NEALE, DG Environment, Adviser Circular Economy and Green Growth [10 min]  - Tom VERHEYE, DG Environment, Principal Adviser Green Finance and Investments  [10 min]
    • Main policies/legislation: Circular Economy Action Plan, Plastic Strategy, Sustainable Finance Action Plan
    • Main policy instruments:
      • Standards, guidance
      • Market instruments
      • Harmonisation of definitions, measurements
    • Future outlook

15.30-16.30 : WORLD CAFE DISCUSSION

  • Focused discussions on EU policy tools and future developments – 3 groups – Speakers will participate and rotate every 20 min

 

16.30-17.00 : FINAL WRAP-UP

Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director General DG Environment

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