Giljum, S., Hinterberger, F., Jäger, J., Karlsson, S., Lorek, S., Kaivo-oja, J., Kemp, R., Kinnunen, V., Luukkanen, J., Schnepf, D., Schreuer, A., (2006)

This report begins with a description of six emerging environmental concepts in terms of their proponents, their potential for further use and the differences between responses in the EU and in other countries, including developing countries. The six environmental policy concepts, which were selected during the scoping process and in particular at a meeting at the European Parliament in January 2006, are: ecological footprint, cradle-to-cradle, dematerialization, eco-sufficiency, transition management and vulnerability.

Six emerging environmental technologies are described and assessed in terms of their scope, private and public uptake, potential for future development, potential future benefits and the differences in use between the EU and in other countries, including developing countries. The environmental technologies, which were selected for detailed description during the scoping process are: white biotechnology, hydrogenbased transportation fuels, small-scale wastewater treatment systems, energyproducing greenhouses, solar panels combined with heat pumps, and CO2 sequestration. They represent a range of options with differing benefits and costs. The implications of the above concepts and technologies for future EU environmental policy, for the Lisbon and EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) objectives and for relationships with non-EU countries, including developing countries are discussed.

Widespread implementation of the environmental concepts and technologies discussed in this report will require environmental mainstreaming/policy integration. Furthermore, given the extent of environmental changes already observed and those predicted, mitigation and adaptation policies will be required. The technologies described in this report can contribute significantly to mitigation, while vulnerability assessment can guide adaptation policies.

The concepts and technologies discussed in this report can contribute substantially to meeting the targets of the renewed Sustainable Development Strategy for an enlarged European Union.

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