Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Meeting the challenges of climate change — The role of civil society
Date: 2006-09-14
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU policy, European citizenship, climate change, public awareness campaign

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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Meeting the challenges of climate
change — The role of civil society

(2006/C 318/17)

On 19 January 2006 the European Economic and Social Committee, acting under Article 29(2) of its Rules
of Procedure, decided to draw up an opinion on Meeting the challenges of climate change — The role of civil
society.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 11 July 2006. The rapporteur was
Mr Ehnmark.

At its 429th plenary session, held on 13 and 14 September 2006 (meeting of 14 September), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 59 votes to one with two abstentions.

A. Conclusions

dination office to promote links between local, regional and
national levels.

A.1
Climate change is a process that cannot be stopped, not
at least within the next 15 to 20 years. In that perspective, we
must learn to live with climate change, and seek ways and
means to mitigate its effects, and to adapt.

A.7
The EESC regrets that climate change is most often
discussed in terms of far-off scenarios. Climate change is no
longer mainly, or only, a matter for the distant future.

A.2
The discussion on climate change focuses excessively on
the macro level and events in the distant future. There is a clear
need for a debate on how climate change affects — and will
affect — citizens in their everyday life. Climate change issues
must be restructured in a way that makes them more under-
standable and concrete.

1. Introduction

Climate change concerns us here and now.

The social partners and organised civil society have an
A.3
essential role to play in bringing the issues of climate change to
the citizens, and in promoting discussion at local level on how
communities can prepare concrete steps to adapt to climate
change.

A.4
Climate change will have an impact on large sections of
society. The EESC has highlighted a number of examples of this.
The overall conclusion is that communities in the EU, together
with the social partners and organised civil society, must take
greater responsibility for preparing and planning for the conse-
quences of climate change.

A.5
The EESC proposes that organised civil society and the
social partners together launch an EU-wide Public Dialogue on
Climate Change, focusing on how climate change may affect
everyday life. The principal purpose of the Dialogue would be
to raise awareness and make preparations, over the next 15-20
years, when present climate change will worsen regardless of
what mankind can do now.

The EESC proposes that every EU Member State should
A.6
identify and/or establish a climate change information and coor-

1.1
The existence of climate change is widely recognised, the
nature and size of its consequences less so. One reason is the
need for more knowledge from research and from scenario
studies. Another is the nature of climate change itself: mainly a
creeping change interrupted by more and more frequent
dramatic events. A third is the fact that climate change,
in
public debate, is often treated as an issue for others and not for
ourselves. A fourth is the focus on megatrends and far-off
scenarios, which seem to blur the more concrete issues for
everyday life.

1.2
The melting polar ice can be taken as an example. In
recent months, the mass media have been fascinated by calcula-
tions that the melting ice could cause ocean levels to rise by up
to 13 metres (estimation by the European Environment Agency
(EEA)). Another example is the Gulf Stream: if the mechanisms
steering the Gulf Stream are disrupted, there could be a sharp
drop in temperatures in northern Europe. Interesting and impor-
tant as they are,
these stories do not motivate people to
confront climate change in a more immediate and concrete way.

1.3
It is important to stress that the climate changes we at
present observe, and are trying to handle, are just the beginning
of a long process ahead. For the next 15 to 20 years, the
ongoing changes in the climate will worsen for the simple
reason that mankind has delivered — and is still delivering —

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in the form of greenhouse gases.
enough damaging material
Our task therefore is to prepare and adapt to climate change.
However, what will happen beyond the next 15 to 20 years is
also the responsibility of present generations, in the sense that
firm action now can mitigate climate change in the distant
future. The discussions in the framework of UNFCCC (the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change) and under the
Kyoto protocol offer an opportunity for post-2012 action that
must be seized. If this chance is missed, there will be further
deterioration of
the climate — and more drastic action to
reverse the trends will be required. It is not surprising that an
increasing number of governments see climate change as a very
high priority. However, this is not to say that governments
translate priority into action.

we need to adapt now to the initial effects of the process while
preparing for those that will be felt in the future.

1.9
It is often observed that the amount of reports and infor-
mation on climate change is as overwhelming as it is difficult to
absorb by citizens seeking answers on how climate change can
and will affect their everyday life. There is an enormous amount
of information on climate change, and this poses a communica-
tion challenge. It is a situation that will require political leader-
ship, because some of
the inevitable actions will no doubt
involve some discomfort in everyday life.

1.4
The climate change debate is largely dominated by
governments and the scientific community. Environmental
NGOs are doing a very good job but with meagre resources.
Important
trade unions and
employer organisations are on the whole not as active in the
debate on how to meet and mitigate climate change. Organised
civil society should play a key role but seems to be reluctant to
assume this.

large organisations

such as

1.5
It is the firm opinion of the EESC that preparation for
climate change and ownership of the climate change debate
must be extended so as to involve actively the social partners
and organised civil society at large. Climate change is entering a
phase where mitigation and adaptation are becoming issues in
everyday life. Climate change is no longer mainly, or only, a
matter for the far-off future. Climate change is also here and
now. And, therefore,
it is of paramount importance that the
social partners and organised civil society assert and claim their
ownership of the climate change debate and preparation.

1.6
It is essential that the current debate on climate change
integrates to a much greater extent the micro perspectives based
on the situation of individual citizens, and local communities.
There is a need to analyse how citizens can mitigate the effects
of current climate change, be it in terms of costs (cf. energy
costs),
insurance, or consumer preferences, to mention but a
few examples.

It

is

important

1.10
that a number of very
to stress
rewarding studies are being carried out. Of particular impor-
tance is the European Climate Change Programme, now in its
second phase. Within the programme, a number of working
groups have been set up to deal with emissions trading, energy
supply and demand, transport, industry, agriculture and forestry,
to mention just some of the issues. The Second Climate Change
Programme, launched by the European Commission in October
2005,
includes new working groups on adaptation, carbon
dioxide capture and geological storage, aviation, and integrated
approach on CO2 emissions of light duty vehicles as well as a
number of groups reviewing the implementation of previous
actions. All
the Climate Change Programmes are
providing a wealth of analysis and information as well as the
basis for a number of Council decisions.

in all,

1.11
Is there a need for further expansion of the Climate
Change Programme? The answer is yes in the sense that there is
a widespread need for more concrete information and in par-
ticular more examples of successful initiatives. Moreover, addres-
sing climate change requires the active involvement of stake-
holders, and ultimately the citizens themselves. The European
Commission has sensed this need and has launched a major
information and communication campaign. This initiative is
highly welcome. However, there is a need to launch additional
information efforts involving all Member States, coordinating
work at EU, national and local levels, and, most important of
all, bringing the issues to the people.

1.7
The purpose of this opinion is primarily to examine the
role of the social partners and of organised civil society in
analysing, planning and implementing steps for meeting the
challenges of climate change. It focuses on ways and means in
economic, social and cohesion terms, in a concrete, bottom-up
approach.

1.8
The focus on the next 15 to 20 years is motivated by the
fact that this is a period when climate change will continue on
the basis of what we have already done. It is equally clear that

2. The scope of the challenges of climate change

2.1
Climate change will have profound effects on a number
of sectors in modern societies. The effects are not limited to
extreme weather conditions. A non-exhaustive list of impact
areas includes floods, forest fires,
infrastructure damage, agri-
culture restructuring, air quality problems particularly in metro-
politan areas, energy supply problems, water use restrictions
and impacts on industry, particularly in manufacturing industry.
To this list can be added urban planning and the introduction of
new architectural solutions for energy saving.

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The fact

that climate change will affect such a wide
2.2
variety of cross-cutting sectors is only gradually being under-
stood. The public support required for the necessary action is
only slowly emerging.

aspects, there is the risk that adaptation to climate change will
incur new socio-economic imbalances, with negative effects for
citizens in far-off regions or with low disposable income.

2.3
Countering climate change through specific actions will
in many cases have clear and sometimes unpleasant effects on
the every-day lives of citizens.

There is a clear parallel here to the ongoing debate on
2.4
the EU strategy for sustainable development. From the first
stages in this debate,
it has been obvious that the public is
unaware of what it will really entail to improve the likelihood of
sustainable development in the European Union as well as glob-
ally. The challenges ahead in sustainable development have been
characterised as leading to radical changes in the way our socie-
ties work and function (1).

2.5
The battle against climate change is of course an inte-
grated part of the efforts to achieve sustainable development.
The battle against climate change must be, like all the efforts for
sustainable development, concrete and down to earth.

The Lisbon Strategy is sometimes referred to as a realisa-
2.6
tion of the vision of sustainable development, seen in an initial
ten-year phase. The Lisbon Strategy focuses on the economic,
social and environmental pillars. It is often forgotten that, from
the very beginning, the Lisbon Strategy also set out lofty ambi-
tions regarding the environment, climate change, and sustain-
able development in general. Therefore, action against climate
change cannot be discussed as a completely separate issue.
Climate change is a key part of the wider vision and strongly
linked to the overall need for action.

2.7
A recurrent observation concerning the Lisbon Strategy
is that Member States and their governments have not given
enough priority to agreed actions and investments. It can be
argued that the effects on citizens of the Lisbon Strategy are not
very direct and not very tangible. However, the effects of climate
change — natural disasters for instance — are often extremely
tangible. Citizens will have to make appropriate advance
preparations to mitigate these effects.

2.8
Climate change is often identified only in terms of finan-
cial losses. This doesn't paint the full picture. The social dimen-
sions of climate change have to be fully recognised. It is not
only a matter of citizens losing their homes or workplaces. It is
also a matter of meeting higher costs for energy and for leisure
and vacations. It is also a matter of citizens being motivated to
change their consumption behaviour. And, among many other

(1) cf. statement by Mr Rocard at the EESC stakeholder forum in April

2001.

2.9
The EESC underlines the importance of social cohesion
in the battle against climate change. An extended use of
economic factors for persuading citizens must be balanced
against possible negative social effects. Other instruments for
meeting climate change must also be weighed against the effects
on social cohesion. This highlights how essential it is to involve
organised civil society in the whole process of battling climate
change.

2.10
It is necessary to further analyse the consequences of
climate change for working life. These consequences include not
only transitions to energy-saving production methods that econ-
omise on natural resources but also the re-location of produc-
tion units according to the availability of cheap renewable
energy resources. For the employees,
the transition to new
production methods and new service areas will highlight new
demands for further skills upgrading and life-long education.
Social dialogue, particularly at EU level, should highlight the
social impact of climate change, and particularly its effects on
working life. The social partners at EU level should make
climate change a priority issue. In this context, it is important to
underline that mitigating climate change does not per se lead to
unemployment risks. Instead the effects of climate change can
provide new job opportunities (cf. 2.13).

2.11
Consumers will soon feel the effects of climate change,
as it will inevitably lead to changes in consumption patterns, be
it for food, transport, housing or vacations. But consumers are
also potential drivers for mitigating the effects of climate change
— and for providing a basis for long-term action to halt climate
change. The best way to achieve sustainable production patterns
is undoubtedly an established and vigorous consumer move-
ment with the capacity to reach out to citizens. Consumers
should be looked upon as the key players they are — or could
be — in mitigating the impact of climate change on individual
citizens.

2.12
The global dimension of climate change is recognised in
terms of weather-related disasters in other countries, causing
enormous losses in terms of human life and property. Tropical
diseases can spread to new areas as a result of climate change,
adding to the challenges ahead. Climate change will test the soli-
darity between peoples and nations. The industrialised countries
will have to strengthen their capacity for providing support and
help. It should be remembered that, particularly in the devel-
oping countries, it is most often the poor who have to bear the
brunt of climate change. The global social dimension of climate
change is of fundamental importance; it is an area where much
can be done to solve problems that could otherwise easily
multiply.

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Climate change is most often debated in terms of
2.13
threats and weaknesses. However, a positive opportunity is to
be found in the actions to mitigate climate change. With the
rapidly growing need for energy-saving production and trans-
port, a vast new field has opened up for research, for the devel-
opment of new technologies and for marketing new products.
This should be an important part of the EU response to the
challenges of climate change. In the framework of the Commis-
sion initiative for an integrated industrial policy, support for and
orchestration of the development of environmentally-friendly
technologies should have a very high priority. Here, small and
medium-sized enterprises can also play a very important role.

2.14 Meeting and mitigating climate change can raise some
unexpected issues. One example: the new emphasis on produ-
cing ethanol from agricultural products is becoming a success in
some countries. As a result, the use of some crops, such as
corn, is increasingly linked to ethanol production. However, the
same crops are key products in supplying food assistance to
famine areas in developing countries. This example illustrates
the importance of avoiding one-sided solutions.

The scope of the challenge ahead can be illustrated by
2.15
‘Science tells us that we should be aiming to
this quotation:
limit
the future global average temperature increase to 2oC
above pre-industrial levels in order to limit the damage. The 2oC
target implies that policies are needed both to adapt to climate
change and to mitigate climate change. Despite the implementa-
tion of already agreed policies, global emissions are likely to
grow within the next two decades and global reductions of at
least 15 % in emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels
would seem to be necessary, and will take significant effort’
(Commission Communication ‘Winning the battle against global
climate change’ (2)). The last part of the quotation can be charac-
terised as a major understatement. Nevertheless, it illustrates the
importance of anchoring the process at the local and regional
levels, and with the citizens.

3. Ten sectors for civil society involvement

3.1
Urban and community planning is a sector where impor-
tant gains can be made with regard to mitigating climate change
and saving energy. Good urban planning should include climate-
friendly solutions to both housing and transport. Studies made
have confirmed very positive energy effects depending on how
buildings are positioned in the landscape or
in the com-
munity (3). The architectural solutions are important both for

(2) COM(2005) 35 final, p. 8.
(3) e.g. the house-building project in Freiburg.

maximum use of solar energy, and for the insulation of build-
ings. An additional aspect is of course the importance of such
solutions for shaping user-friendly and socially well-functioning
villages, suburbs and metropolitan areas. It is essential that the
social partners and organised civil society be involved at an
early stage in urban and community planning.

3.1.1
The European Commission should launch consultations
with regional and local authorities, and other stakeholders,
concerning guidelines for urban planning in view of accelerating
climate change. The EESC proposes that the Commission should
produce basic information material for urban planning together
with guidelines on existing successful solutions.

The battle against climate change will highlight the need
3.2
for modernisation and insulation of existing and new buildings,
together with the application of all relevant energy-saving tech-
niques and materials. Building materials, particularly with regard
to heat insulation, is an area where further initiatives are neces-
sary. This is not only a question of making heating systems
more efficient. It is also a question of insulating houses better
against both high and low outside temperatures. The experiences
of the hot summer in Europe some years ago should not be
forgotten. Tax incentives could be used to encourage private
owners to reinsulate houses and apartments. The EESC recom-
mends that a system of energy-performance certificates be intro-
duced, as a means of providing consumers with relevant infor-
mation on the energy costs of
living in a specific house or
apartment.

3.3
Road transport is increasing rapidly in the EU. Railway
systems have difficulty in matching the advantages of road
transport, in terms of quick door-to-door delivery. This trend is
unsustainable, both with regard to CO2 emissions and with
regard to increasing fuel prices. A decoupling between GDP
growth and road transport growth is necessary,
if the battle
against climate change is to succeed. The practical steps to
achieve this still have to be settled. A rapid freight railway
system would be the logical answer, all the more so in the
enlarged Union. More freight transported by railway will require
huge investments. To some extent, prices can be used to encou-
rage the transport of freight via railway. For consumers,
it is
essential that distribution of food products be quick and effi-
cient. For industry, it is essential to have smooth and efficient
deliveries, on time. At the same time, congested highways are
substantial polluters. Non-modern fleets of trucks add to the
pollution. There is no simple solution to transport issues in the
is needed is a
wider climate change picture.
multiple-action strategy, including support measures for railway
options, and further research and development work, among
them for developing efficient and environmentally-friendly truck
engines capable of functioning on alternative fuels. It will be
important for consumers to know the real transport cost of a
particular item.

Instead, what

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The travel and leisure sector will have to cope with
3.4
increasingly higher energy prices, which will have an impact on
both road and air transport. The price of petrol has climbed
rapidly in recent years, and constitutes by now a very convin-
cing argument for consumers to choose new solutions. The
rapidly growing interest in buying smaller and more energy-effi-
cient cars is a very promising sign. In fact, this is one of the
clearest cases of win-win situations in the battle against climate
change: smaller and less polluting cars, and a huge potential
global market for such cars and such solutions. Tax incentives
for using alternative fuels are also delivering promising results,
as witnessed in some countries.

special support measures, in line with solidarity under the CAP.
The Commission should initiate studies on the effects of climate
change on agriculture in the EU, based on national reports and
analyses. It is essential to highlight the importance of research
in continuing to reduce the use of inputs in farming practices
and develop substitutes for petroleum derivatives using agri-
cultural raw materials. As for the role of agriculture in diversi-
fying energy supply, it may well become increasingly important.
Finally,
to
produce their own energy.

it would be appropriate to encourage farmers

In this context, the volume of commuting traffic to and
3.5
from metropolitan areas will require specific attention. The
rapid growth of metropolitan areas, in the EU as in other parts
of the world, makes it urgently necessary to try new approaches
for commuting and for freight
transport. Experiments with
special charges for entering city centres by car have been essen-
tially positive when combined with heavy investments in rapid
and convenient public transport. Taking action against car use
without supplying something comparable in return will merely
cause a public outcry. Citizens will battle for the right to use car
transport if alternatives are not suitable. The voices of organised
civil society have a crucial role in this area.

the
The above-mentioned challenges are also part of
3.6
wider issue of reducing the import and use of fossil fuel in the
European Union. The uncertainties of securing a safe supply of
fuels in the winter of 2005/2006 have added to the
fossil
urgency of
finding new solutions. Some Member States are
launching ambitious programmes for drastic reductions in the
use of fossil fuels and are aiming for more renewable alterna-
tives together with new policies for promoting the use of
energy-efficient solutions. In some countries,
like in Sweden,
governments have launched studies on how to drastically reduce
fuels. The European Commission should
imports of
launch consultations with stakeholders and Member State
governments on new efforts to make a drastic cut in the EU's
import of fossil fuels. By the end of the decade, all EU Member
States should have launched initiatives to identify the ways and
means of achieving major reductions in the import and use of
fossil fuels. This could be a major contribution to the next
Kyoto programme, and to halting climate change in the long
term.
It would also be a major technological and industrial
opportunity for the European Union. Organised civil society
would benefit greatly from such efforts.

fossil

for

Challenges

3.8
industry present another area where
advance planning and adaptation is essential. This is not only an
issue for industry in lowland areas where flooding can be, or
will be, a major problem. For industry, smooth and efficient
solutions to freight transport needs are essential. The supply of
raw materials could be limited by climate change. The supply of
energy — and at reasonable prices — is essential. For industry,
climate change is also providing new opportunities. The global
market for energy-saving technologies will be immense. Enter-
prises with sufficient capacity to invest in the development of
such technologies can look to a rosy future.

3.9 Workplace issues are another sector where advance plan-
ning for adaptation is important. With the advent of more
energy-saving technologies and goods production applying such
technologies, there will be a demand for further upgrading skills
and competences. Some new technologies for future expansion
will put heavy strains on the workforce, for example in applying
Issues relating to workplace challenges are
nanotechnologies.
compounded by the issue of rising energy prices. There will be
increasing interest
in opportunities to work from home —
which necessitates better ICT techniques, including broadband
facilities.

3.10
Disaster management is yet another important area in
the context of climate change. Weather-related disasters are
becoming more frequent and have wider consequences. A
disaster response body capable of delivering timely assistance at
short notice should be established within the EU. In a number
of Member States, such units already exist. What is needed is
the establishment of similar bodies in all Member States, and a
certain level of coordination and cooperation. In this way, the
EU would have the capacity to assist the victims of weather-
related disasters not only within the EU itself but also in other
parts of the world.

3.7
Agriculture, and therefore food prices, will be directly
affected by climate change, and the ensuing effects on energy
prices. In the EU, desertification in southern areas will require

3.11
Disasters caused by extreme weather conditions also
place heavy demands on financial assistance, primarily from
insurance companies. The frequency of weather-related disasters

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will place a greater strain on the insurance sector, with effects
on insurance costs for citizens. The European Commission
should carry out a study on these issues, with a view to safe-
guarding a sustained functioning insurance system.

commuting to city centres (London and Stockholm are just two
examples).

4. Adaptation and mitigation — but how and by whom?

4.1
Communicating climate change and its consequences to
the public will be a huge task. It is important to take a balanced
and somewhat pragmatic approach towards raising awareness. It
is not a matter of frightening citizens but of focusing on the
practical work ahead in order to provide a sustained quality of
life for all citizens.

4.2
The EESC proposes that all EU Member States should set
up contact, information and coordination offices with a capacity
for advisory services and for carrying out studies on adapting to
and mitigating climate change. Exchange of experience with
other Member States, and the distribution of such information
to civil society and municipalities should be an important part
of this work. Contact with local communities, social partners
and organised civil society will be particularly important, as will
contact with industry and enterprises.

4.3
The EESC proposes that an EU-wide Dialogue on Climate
Change be launched on the ways and means to counter further
climate deterioration, and to take steps towards adapting to the
changes already taking place. This Dialogue should be supported
by the institutions of the European Union, but responsibility for
the practical work should lie with municipalities, educational
institutions, trade unions and employers' organisations, farmers'
organisations and consumer organisations and others. The EESC
is willing to take active part in the dialogue, and function as a
clearing-house for exchange and assessment.

4.4
The EESC would like to express its satisfaction that the
European Commission has launched a wide-ranging EU infor-
mation and communication programme on climate change.
This will be a major contribution to raising awareness about
climate change. The EESC's proposal on a Dialogue on Climate
Change targets local communities, regions and nations, with
special emphasis on the social partners and organised civil
society. The two programmes would complement each other in
a constructive way.

The Dialogue should start in the winter of 2006/2007. It
4.6
does not need any final deadline. It should be closely related to
efforts to communicate the vision of sustainable development.
Climate change issues will obviously provide an opportunity to
make sustainable development issues more tangible.

4.7
No dialogue with citizens on climate change will be
possible without the clear and continuous participation of stake-
holders at the local and regional level. Financial support should
be made available for planning and exchange. Obviously some
time will be needed for capacity-building in communities and in
organised civil society as well as among the social partners.

4.8
In 2012 there will be a follow-up UN conference on
sustainable development, following on from the 1992 confer-
ence in Rio and the 2002 conference in Johannesburg. The
EESC strongly recommends that the next conference, in 2012,
should focus specifically on climate change and the global
impact of this change. Cooperation initiated between the EESC
and the ILO, as well as between the EESC and the United
Nations Economic and Social Council will provide opportunities
for joint studies on the global effects of climate change. Coop-
eration will also help to highlight how the social partners and
organised civil society could be active stakeholders in the battle
against climate change.

5. Instruments for promoting awareness and support

5.1
Promoting citizen awareness of climate change and its
consequences should primarily be the responsibility of the local,
regional and national levels, with support and initiatives taken
at EU level. The object should be to use a bottom-up approach
that invites citizens to put forward the solutions they prefer and
not to deliver pre-packaged answers.

5.2
Among civil society organisations, consumer organisa-
tions will be particularly important in mobilising consumers
and in fostering dedicated involvement. Consumers exert — or
can exert — considerable pressure on the market through the
goods and services they purchase. For the European consumers
movements this will be a real challenge.

4.5
An essential part of the Dialogue on Climate Change
would be to circulate information on examples of good practice,
for instance from countries trying to draw up action plans for
decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. Other types of examples
could be metropolitan solutions for reducing the use of cars for

5.3
The social partners will have a special responsibility for
analysing the impact of climate change on working life, and in
proposing relevant mitigation or adaptation strategies. The
social dimension of the battle against climate change is a crucial
part of the whole effort.

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5.4 Winning the battle against climate change will not be
possible without the active support and cooperation of industry
and enterprises.
Industry can play a key role in integrating
climate change issues into planning, production, marketing and
evaluation.
Industries could benefit from incorporating more
information on their work on climate change into their annual
reports. Being active in climate change issues could prove to be
a winning marketing concept.

5.5
In debates on the effects of climate change, many obser-
vers express support for various forms of tax or other financial
incentives. There is no doubt that such motivators can produce
very clear results. They should, however, be applied with some
caution. For example, taxing car fuel will have a negative social
impact on people in sparsely-populated areas. Charging motor-
ists for entering core city areas in by car is having a positive
impact on the overall traffic situation, but such a system has to
be accompanied by new investments in public transport. Other-
wise, the charge will create new socio-economic imbalances:
those who can afford to, will continue to use their cars, whereas
those who cannot will have to rely on a public transport system
which may or may not be really efficient.

5.6
Another important tool for raising awareness would be
the introduction of environment managing processes, such as
the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), a voluntary
scheme established under European Council Regulation 761/01.
The purpose of EMAS is to recognise and reward organisations
that go beyond minimum legal compliance and continuously
improve their environmental performance.

impact of various activities,

5.7
By applying EMAS, individual organisations and institu-
tions explore concrete ways to measure and reduce the environ-
mental
for instance energy and
materials use and travelling by car or railway or airplane. The
European Economic and Social Committee could consider intro-
ducing EMAS and in particular explore the possibility of calcu-
lating the emissions caused by travelling to meetings — and
then introducing compensatory measures (cf. annex with some
preliminary calculations).

Brussels, 14 September 2006.

Another proposal under discussion is to calculate the
5.8
transport cost as part of the total price for an item. This could
give consumers more basic information when choosing between
alternative items.

6. A challenge for civil society

Organised civil

6.1
society at European level has been
working with the issues of sustainable development ever since
the Rio and Johannesburg global conferences.

6.2
Organised civil society has a unique opportunity to play
a valuable role in the proposed European Dialogue on Climate
Change. The contribution of civil society could focus primarily
on 5 areas:

— taking active part in raising awareness of climate change and

its effects;

— mobilising consumers and other vital groups to adopt clear
consumption preferences that take account of the impact of
climate change;

— initiating, influencing and supporting new programmes for
and

planning,

including

transport

housing,

urban
commuting;

— acting as channels between citizens and governments, on
issues of mitigating climate change and — in a longer
perspective — halting present processes;

— acting in cooperation with civil society in other countries
and regions to take constructive action to mitigate the
effects of climate change.

6.3
In line with the statements made by the European
Council, the EESC has built an inter-active network with all
in EU Member States. The
economic and social councils
network is particularly focused on the Lisbon Strategy.

6.4
The EESC is open to considering an expansion of the
network to include issues concerning climate change and
Europe's answers to the effects of that change.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND