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SEDG – Sustainable European Development Goal
The SEDG scenario is primarily oriented towards increasing the quality of life, comprising economic factors such as income and employment as much as social factors (networks, relations, health) and the services gained from a benign environment (relation to SRES: for climate probably B1, but not a B1 world as described by the IPCC, so also for emissions something different). Quantitative surplus is neither considered as negative, nor as a substitute for qualitative gains: less (e.g. materials throughput or working hours) can be more (in particular quality of life). Consequently, a significant reduction in material flows, conspicuous consumption and working hours is sought. The policy focus is not on economic growth as such (as an indirect means to combat the sustainability problems of society is emphasised), but towards strategies to directly deal with the problems identified (e.g. unemployment, a lack of distributional justice or gender justice, poverty, etc.), with growth occurring as a side effect. Not achieving a maximum, but a balanced optimum is the overarching orientation. This attitude of economic actors is based on an evolution of individual attitudes towards social behaviour, environmental consciousness and high esteem for the public good.
The scenario aims at a long-term stabilisation of climate and general environmental conditions as a condition for a sustainable socio-economic development. Reducing the increase of GHG is a policy priority, with the aim to reach stabilisation earlier and on a lower level than in other scenarios. The target value of stabilisation at 450 ppm is considered desirable, but not realistic; thus a stabilisation at 550 ppm is a policy objective for domestic and foreign politics.
The sustainability of societal development is furthered by an integrated social, environmental and economic policy. Objectives are a competitive economy, social cohesion, self-realisation opportunities and capabilities, a healthy environment, gender equity and European as well as international development co-operation. Governance will be improved by enhancing transparency through technical and organisational means and by involving civil society groups in the decision process.
This requires long term reliable policy conditions based on a consensus that is as broad as possible, an intelligent combination of informational, economic and command-and-control policy instruments including voluntary agreements ('agree-and-control'), labelling, eco-taxes, and proactive health and safety standards.
Political responsibility will require a number of means to be in public hands, such some shares in certain businesses, regulations and obligations, re-regulation with the intention to make regulation more effective and efficient, deregulate where regulation has become superfluous, but also introduce new regulations when necessary.
At the European level, this will mean a deeper integration of more policy fields and a reform of the Union structures to enhance effective and efficient decision making, policy integration and a stronger role for the parliament. Furthermore, significant funds will be made available for the integration of Europe, for the accession countries as well as for collaboration with the Mediterranean and East European neighbours. Development cooperation will receive greater emphasis, including a coordinating role in the definition of external trade, economic and foreign policies. Internationally, agreements for social and environmental standards will be sought (global governance).
The ageing society will be perceived as a political challenge, calling for social innovation (integration and cohesion) as much as for technological innovation (regarding health, housing, etc).
Proactive social policies will be a constitutive element of the sustainability course, providing protection against life risks such as unemployment or bad health well above the poverty level, although additional private savings are still welcome. Pensions are intended to preserve the standard of living achieved during the active working life. This requires a reversal of the income distribution trends, towards a functional income distribution more similar to the 1970s or 1980s.
Ltate income will increase due to taxation of environmental "bads", and the money will be spent on improved social security including poverty eradication, environmental protection investments and education and research. Life long learning opportunities will be provided with appropriate incentives.