International Activities - Europe Declaration of Gmunden for the encouragement of sustainable resources - English

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
Biocomposites/Boards : Biopolymers/Gums : Bulk Chemicals : Detergents : Fine Chemicals : Flavours/Fragrances : International Activities - Other : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Packaging : Paints/Coatings/Plastics : Paper/Pulp : Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics : Solid Biofuels : Solid Wood Products : Textiles/Fabrics/Geomembranes

Declaration of Gmunden for the encouragement of sustainable resources
Declaration by the EU Expert Conference "Crops for a green Industry"
Gmunden, 7th October 1998

This address was delivered at the "Crops for a Green Industry" 6-8 October 1998, Gmunden

English, German, French

Sustainable development which takes into account the balance between economic, social and ecological requirements is more than ever before a matter of central importance to our economy and to the quality of our lives. As an essential factor for strategic sustainability, innovative, marketable products made from sustainable raw materials are eminently suitable as a means of harmonising economic and ecological needs and creating income and employment throughout Europe.

A policy of encouraging sustainable raw materials requires an integrative and comprehensive approach which will necessitate initiatives in all relevant areas of policy such as agriculture and forestry, environment, economy, employment, energy, research and development, information and education. On the basis of the Wurzburg Declaration, passed within the context of the 10^th European Conference on Biomass on 8 June by members of parliament from every country in Europe, the following demands relate to individual policy areas:

Agriculture and forestry

Throughout the period of recorded history, providing energy and raw materials has been an important function of agriculture and forestry alongside the provision of food and animal feed. In future also, agriculture and forestry will be able to supply sustainable raw materials to a very considerable extent. For example, experts estimate that the production of heat, electricity and fuels from sustainable raw materials can be increased from approximately 40 million tonnes oil-equivalent in 1995 to more than 130 million tonnes oil-equivalent in 2010. This expansion by 90 million tonnes oil-equivalent corresponds to an area of 14 million hectares.

The reform proposals for Agenda 2000 reflect neither the commitment of the European Commission white paper to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 12 % nor the goals established in Toronto and Kyoto regarding the extensive reduction of emissions of greenhouse-gases.

In order to exploit the extensive opportunities offered by agriculture and forestry, the participants at the "CROPS FOR a green INDUSTRY" conference have expressed the following demands:

• improved political and economic framework conditions for sustainable raw materials,
• in particular, more encouragement and a stronger anchoring of sustainable raw materials within the framework of agricultural policy than hitherto,
• a future-orientated European raw materials programme for the material and energetic utilisation of sustainable raw materials, and
• the creation of an impulse fund for necessary investments and sales promotion measures.

Environment

A healthy environment is an essential factor for the quality of life. To ensure a good quality of life throughout Europe it will be necessary in future to integrate the model of sustainable development into other political areas. This demand has been confirmed by the Amsterdam Agreement and the conclusions reached by the Council of Cardiff. The challenges of environmental policy, such as climate protection, can only be resolved by integrated, comprehensive action.

We therefore call for

• a package of measures for fulfilling the obligations undertaken in Kyoto,
• national action plans designed to respond to the requirements set out in the white paper "Renewable Sources of Energy",
• intensified replacement of fossil fuels by biogenic fuels, for example, by means of regulations on mixing and
• the rapid implementation of the Commission Proposal regarding Europe-wide harmonisation of taxes on fossil-based energy.

Employment

At present, some 18 million people in the European Union are without employment. The massive import of fossil energy leaves employment potential throughout the Community unexploited. As a result of the lack of adequate employment, the rural regions of Europe in particular are faced with the serious and increasing problem of emigration and the resulting social consequences (tilting of the age-pyramid etc.). By contrast with fossil raw materials, the intensified use of sustainable raw materials creates or secures urgently needed employment in rural areas. The relevant jobs will be distributed between agriculture, forestry, retail trading, commerce and industry.

The European Commission estimates in its white paper that doubling renewable sources of energy from 6 to 12 % could create an additional 500,000 jobs. Exporting the necessary technology would provide an additional 350,000 jobs Europe-wide.

To exploit the employment potential offered by sustainable raw materials, we therefore call for:

• tax relief for the economic factor of labour,
• the rapid preparation of a Europe-wide employment action plan for exploitation of the employment effects listed above and
• consideration for the employment effects associated with the use of sustainable raw materials in all international agreements (MAI, WTO etc.)

Energy

The provision of energy to the European Union is based predominantly on the use of fossil fuels. In addition to ecological effects, increasing dependence on imports can lead to numerous, serious economic problems. Strain on the economy through the failure to consider external costs, extreme dependence on geopolitical crisis areas or the loss of regional autonomy are just some examples of this effect.

To ensure an enduring, long-term, sustainable supply of energy, we therefore call for:

• the internalisation of external costs in the energy and transport sector
• joint implementation of the concrete goals of the white paper by 2010 with national action plans and
• rapid realisation of model demonstration facilities and on-going evaluation of their ecological and economic effects.

Research and Development

Successful research and development form the basis for innovative and marketable products. The realisation of demonstration projects and the dissemination of information about these projects are essential if the opportunities arising in the field of sustainable raw materials are to be exploited.

A successful research policy must therefore:

• increase investment in the relevant areas of basic and applied research,
• clearly document the ecological, social and economic advantages of sustainable raw materials,
• encourage the use and application of products made from sustainable resources within the context of a broad programme of research and
• create an appropriate basis in the fields of material testing, standardisation and process engineering.

Information and education

Lack of knowledge about the opportunities and advantages of products made from sustainable resources is one of the major obstacles to the longterm success of these products in the various markets.

On the one hand the processing and use of sustainable raw materials requires specialist knowledge which is currently unavailable to many potential users. On the other hand, the advantages of sustainable raw materials must also be communicated to a broad spectrum of the general public.

To ensure that sustainable resources enjoy the position they deserve in public opinion and also to encourage their use, we therefore call for:

• Europe-wide, concentrated information campaign on sustainable raw materials,
• immediate adoption of the opportunities and conditions for the use of sustainable resources in relevant teaching and training plans at all levels of education, and the realisation of corresponding further education programmes.