Units

Centre of Studies for Sustainable Development

Person in charge of the Unit : Oui

Within the IGEAT, the Centre of studies of Sustainable Development focuses on the study of sustainable development through the analysis of its concepts, principles, and applications. In particular, the Cedd is working to develop knowledge of the social, political, and technical context of sustainable development and improve the understanding of the implementation of its principles.

Projetcs

Scientific communication in the field of sustainable development

Le programme de recherche fédéral des SPP - Politique Scientifique concernant le développement durable (Plan d'appui au Développement durable) nécessitait un travail de conception de la communication pour être mis en rapport avec les différents publics potentiellement concernés par les recherches. Ce projet s'attachait à plusieurs thèmes traités dans le Plan d'appui (notamment les indicateurs de développement durable) pour, moyennant un travail approfondi avec les équipes de recherches, et les utilisateurs potentiels (pouvoirs publics, acteurs sociaux, public), proposer des formes adéquates de communication. Cette recherche a été coordonnée par la Fondation Universitaire Luxembourgeoise - FUL (SEED) et menée en coopération avec l'Université d'Anvers - UIA (Dept Politieke en Sociale Wetenschappen). Le rapport issu de cette recherche, ainsi que l'ensemble des rapports du programme de recherche des SPP - Politique Scientifique, peut être obtenu auprès des SPP-PS.

Evaluation of the environmental policy-strategy for Wallonia

The walloon Region adopted in march 1995 a policy strategy with regard to the environment. The CEDD conducted an ex-post evaluation of a series of policy-measures for the Ministry of the Environment (DGRNE) on the basis of the efficiency of these environmental policies. The report for this research can be obtained from DGRNE.

Criteria and impulse for change towards sustainable consumption: sector-based approach

The general objectives of this project were concerned with improving the knowledge on stakeholder intervention (including public authorities) in the field of sustainable consumption policies. More particularly, the context of this research is set by the framework of integrated product policy. A specific objective of the project was to provide in-depth knowledge of stakeholder sensitivity, in situations of change of consumption patterns, through the study of several case studies on a series of sectors or product categories. A subsequent aim was the determination of more ''favourable'' (to change) sectors or product categories for which concrete policy proposals will be e

Evaluation of the environmental policy-strategy for Wallonia

The walloon Region adopted in march 1995 a policy strategy with regard to the environment. The CEDD conducted an ex-post evaluation of a series of policy-measures for the Ministry of the Environment (DGRNE) on the basis of the efficiency of these environmental policies.

Establishment of agro-environmental indicators

Ce projet, réalisé pour le compte de la Direction Générale de l'Agriculture du Ministère de la Région Wallonne, a pour objectif de proposer un ensemble d'indicateurs permettant de suivre les interactions entre l'agriculture et la société au sens large. Les domaines étudiés ne se limiteront pas au secteur strict de l'environnement (pressions exercées par l'agriculture, état des milieux affectés par cette activité) mais intègreront des aspects économiques (développement d'une politique de produits du terroir,...) et sociaux (influence de l'éducation des fermiers sur les pratiques culturales, influence de l'agriculture sur le maintien des espaces ruraux,...). Le set d'indicateurs défini sur cette base sera proposé à la DGA en mars 2001.

Political Instruments of sustainable development and population role

Using methodological and applied research to thoroughly understand the population behaviour and opinions on environmental issues, the main purpose of this project is to build knowledge in order to better understand public and major groups participation in the design and application of instruments in environmental politics (for example by designing effective tools to modify consumption patterns). This project, funded by the Prime minister's Services (Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs), is carried out in collaboration with the F.U.L. (University of the Province of Luxembourg).

Adaptation to climate change in developing countries (West Africa)

PhD 2008-2012

Identification, selection and development of an environmental indicator dashboard for Wallonia

Following the publication in the 1990s by the Directorate General for Environment of the walloon Region (Direction Générale des Ressources Naturelles et de l'Environnement - DGRNE) of a series of state-of-the-environment monographies (eg: soil, water, air,...), this contract had the objective to elaborate a multi-dimensional indicator dashboard. The first phase (february 1998 - mai 1999) of the research was concerned with the selection of a series of indicators that were to realize the core of future annual State-of-the-Environment reports. The research draw benefits from a former contract on environmental performance indicators for Belgium on behalf of OECD. The second phase of the project (october 1999 - july 2000), conducted in collaboration with the Institut de Conseil et d'Etudes en Développement Durable, was used for data-gathering, for the definition of the presentation of the report, as well as to develop the interpretations relative to the detected evolutions. This issued in the publication of the first environmental indicator dashboard for the region in december 2000. The State-of-the-Environment report is available in hardcopy at the DGRNE, and can be consulted online in its complete form, as well as in a synthesis-report. This mission gave birth in 2002 to a long term partnership with the DGRNE for whom the CEDD is commissioned to elaborate its environmental reports.

Sustainable Consumption : What Role for Consumers ?

This project has allowed the organisation of seminars aiming at pooling and discussing research led in Belgium and other European countries (UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany) about sustainable consumption. The perspective and limits of the roles consumers can play are put under scrutiny in relation with ecological oriented consumption and fair trade. A book was in 2007 : E. Zaccaï (ed.), Sustainable Consumption, Ecology and Fair Trade, Routledge, London.

Enhancing methodology and feasibility of Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIA) for the Belgian federal level

State-of-the-Environment reports and score-boards for Wallonia : http://environnement.wallonie.be/eew/default.aspx

Contribution to a methodology for a 'more responsible consumption guide'

Euromodel : Training in International Development Co-operation

EUROMODEL is a project established to develop a training model on European Development Co-operation to respond to the new training needs that have resulted from the enlargement of the European Union. This training program is aimed at young graduates searching for their first employment and at adults who are seeking to obtain qualifications to work in the development co-operation sector. EUROMODEL can be used by non profit organisations, universities, local bodies and enterprises that wish to provide training in this sector. EUROMODEL is founded on a trans-national partnership with an inter-institutional nature and the participation of partners coming from four countries: Belgium, the Czech Republic Italy and Poland. More information on EUROMODEL is available on : (http://www.euromodel.it)

Evaluation of policies related to biodiversity conservation and waste management in Benin

The objectif was to gain knowledge of constraints and action existing in waste management and biodiversity conservation in Benin through the analyzes of the political and (international) law contexts, effectivness of these policies, limits encountered, selection of indicators relative to biodiversity, policy formulation for belgian cooperation policy. The research conducted to the organization of a seminar in Contonou with the assistance of Université de Bénin, in order to select relevant indicators for the biodiversity policy-field.

Identification of prioritarian product categories for the federal environmental product policy

Pursuying their objective to define a federal product policy, the Ministry for Federal Environmental Affairs asked the Institut de Conseil et d'Etudes en Développement Durable and VITO to identify - via an aggregated LCA-methodology - a series of prioritarian product categories for immediate action. The CEDD participated to this effort by organizing stakeholder validation of these priorities. This validation was achieved by organizing a national round-table with stakeholders.

Sustainable development policy-instruments and role of population

By using both a methodological- and a field-research approach, this project aimed to gain knowledge of the role of the population within the wider objective of facilitating the implementation of particular policy instruments in Belgium. In-depth studies concerned with the analyzes of the roles of citizens and consumers in relation with the environment have been conducted.

Facing environmental and territorial impacts of climate change in the Walloon Region

PhD on regional adaptation to climate change

The networking of organisations and research centres focusing on responsible consumption in the countries of the European Union

Mené en collaboration avec le RCR (Réseau de Consommateurs Responsables), ce projet a obtenu le soutien financier de la Commission européenne pour construire un réseau d'organisations et de centres de recherche qui travaillent sur le thème de la consommation socialement responsable. L'objectif de ce réseau est, entre autres, de favoriser les contacts entre organisations actives dans ce domaine, entre les centres de recherches compétents ainsi qu'entre les organisations actives et les services de recherches et ainsi de renforcer la réflexion par des échanges d'informations et d'expériences. Il offrira en outre une opportunité de diffusion des travaux menés en la matière à l'échelle européenne. Dans le cadre de ce projet, une base de données présentant les spécificités des organisations et centres de recherches sera accessible sur le Web et une rencontre européenne sera organisée à Bruxelles en juin 2001.