The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform is a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), launched in March 2017. The two institutions are working closely together to promote the Platform as a space for the exchange of ideas and a growing body of information, and to make the circular economy happen faster to the benefit of all. At the EESC, the Platform is spearheaded by three Members: Anders Ladefoged (Group I: Employers), Maria Nikolopoulou (Group II: Workers) and Cillian Lohan (Group III: Diversity Europe).
This study aims to set a framework for the legal recognition of the Rights of Nature in the EU legal order, as a prerequisite for a different and improved relationship between human beings and Nature. This aim should be possibly accomplished through the development of a EU Charter on Fundamental Rights of Nature.
The core mission of the EESC Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO) is to promote sustainability in the EU by advancing economic prosperity, social inclusiveness and environmental responsibility in an integrated and balanced way. Its members come from a wide range of interest groups, with expertise in all areas of our work and extensive outreach with civil society organisations across European Member States.
Based on an intensive civil society dialogue the EESC contributed to establishing the EU's position on Rio+20. In February 2012, the major EESC conference Go sustainable, be responsible! European civil society on the road to Rio+20, sent out a list of messages to take on board at Rio+20 and called on our political leaders to step up their efforts to arrive to an ambitious outcome at the UN conference.
The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform was launched as a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in March 2017. The two institutions are working closely together to develop the Platform as a space for the exchange of ideas and a growing body of information, and to make the circular economy happen faster to the benefit of all.
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?”
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has been advocating for organised civil society and citizens at global, national and subnational levels to be fully involved in the development, review and, above all, implementation of the Paris Agreement. With the general framework agreed at the COP21 in Paris, it is now also the role of non-state actors, including civil society, to work together to implement it. Multi-level and multi-stakeholder climate governance is the strong focus of our work in 2017 and beyond.
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.
