Comitato economico e sociale europeo
The aim of this study is to provide policy suggestions on bottom-up climate action in the European Union. The study draws its recommendations from a unique analysis which maps existing European-led multi-stakeholder initiatives that address climate change and identifies needs and challenges experienced by a range of stakeholders. The main question of this study is: “What does it take to accelerate non-state climate actions and to enhance effectiveness?”
During the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, in September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EESC has been actively promoting an ambitious agenda for sustainable development, assisting with strengthening SDG implementation and involving the Committee's strong civil society organisation networks and acting as a platform for dialogue.
The "Smart Cities" project is a follow-up to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) own-initiative opinion on smart cities as a driver of a new European industrial policy, adopted in July 2015.
The EESC "Smart Islands" project is based on the own-initiative of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Smart islands TEN/558.
The recent economic and political developments in Europe are a wake-up call for our leaders to take swifter action in order to strengthen the foundations of our Union, including the fragile political and institutional architecture underpinning the euro, thus ensuring lasting stability and prosperity for the people of Europe.
Transition to a circular economy is a must if we are to protect our planet, but also if we are to increase the competitiveness of European industry. This is a long-term process that will require numerous initiatives at European, national and regional level. Companies see the circular economy as an opportunity. "Going green" is beneficial not only for the environment, but also for businesses, providing real savings in terms of raw materials, water and energy.
This brochure was prepared by EESC for the COP21. The EESC wanted COP21 to be a major milestone to place the international community on the right track to limit global warming to a below 2°C compared to preindustrial levels, while developing appropriate tools to face the adverse effects of climate disruptions.
The new United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted on the UN world summit on 25 – 27 September, sets out an unprecedented broad action plan for people, planet and prosperity. An ambitious strategy and the installation of effective governance mechanisms will be key for a proper implementation of the SDGs in Europe.
“Building the Europe We Want” (June 2015) is the Report of a Study by Stakeholder Forum for the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and its Sustainable Development Observatory(SDO) on how best to engage different stakeholders in the implementation, monitoring and review of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the EU level.
This study provides a comparative overview of current legislation and practices concerning food donation in the EU Member States (MS) by mapping key hurdles preventing food donation, by identifying best practices in the field and by developing recommendations on how to legislate or interpret legislation in order to facilitate food donation.
