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)
- 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
- 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
- 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