EU research must support sustainable development - Stockholm conference conclusions
European research policy must support the vision of sustainable development concluded delegates at the 'Bridging the gap between research and sustainable development' conference in Stockholm from 9 to 11 May. The event, organised by the Swedish environmental protection agency, the European environment agency and the European Commission, attracted a number of high level politicians and 300 researchers. They concluded there is a need to follow up the use of sustainability research and its effects on the EU in both the Council and European Parliament every two years. However, participants came to no conclusion on how to bridge the gap between citizens and scientists - despite a lively discussion on what public involvement really is and how complex problems might be simplified in order to stimulate debate and public participation in decision making. Chairman of the conference, Erik Fellinius stated that bridging the gap requires a greater awareness among researchers of those areas in which decision makers need help and a better understanding among decision makers of the conditions and restrictions of research. Fellinius also underlined the importance of the precautionary principle, which he said requires a new general risk management approach. This should be broader and take alternative solutions into consideration, he added. Workshops during the event aimed to generate discussion on the topic of sustainability in different sectors of research. Participants were able to draw a number of conclusions from these. For example, they report a need for further study of the long term effects of exposure to chemicals on children's health, and, in the transport sector, they conclude the gap between political undertakings and their implementation is greater than the gap between research ad political decisions. In the trade sector, participants found that environmental requirements and other sustainability issues must be emphasised in the standardisation of different products. And in the energy sector, they said, fossil fuels could be used to produce hydrogen and electricity as a bridge to sustainable energy systems which use renewable energy sources, provided that the carbon dioxide formed as a result can be sequestered in empty gas or oil deposits. In addition, participants called for greater independence of research institutions and regulatory authorities from producers consumers and political influence. 'Transparency is necessary but not enough,' they said. The conclusions will be passed on to the EU summit in Gothenberg, where the EU strategy for sustainable development will be discussed.
Countries
Sweden