Proposal for a Flemish Sustainability Assessment Framework

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Proposal for a Flemish Sustainability Assessment
Framework

• Jean Hugé
• Policy Research Centre for Sustainable
  Development

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This presentation

• Introduction
• Research method
• Institutional arrangements w.r.t. SD
• RIA
• From RIA to Impact Assessment for SD?
• Proposal for a Flemish Impact Assessment scheme
• Next steps

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1. Introduction

• Sustainable development in practice?
• Implementation gap
• Sustainability assessment can solve this,
  but...
• it does not pop up in an empty institutional
  environment.
• If SA is to be useful, the institutional context
  needs to be taken into account.
• Situation in Flanders?

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2. Research Method

• Objective
• To analyse the institutional barriers and
  opportunities faced by SA
• To develop policy recommendations
• Method
• Analytical framework micro, meso- and
  macro-level barriers and opportunities
• Desk study
• Consultation (survey interviews)

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3. SD institutional context

• Competence of the Flemish Minister-President
• Coordination Cell for SD
• Working Group for SD
• Regional Strategy for Sustainable Development
  (VSDO)
• SD Decree (2008)
• Inclusive policy ?how to cope with this challenge?

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4. RIA history

• 2003 8 principles of better regulation
• 2005 Regulatory Impact Analysis as a tool to
  realise a politically driven selection of goals
• Preparation and underpinning of policy
• Transparency
• Coordination
• Implementation tool of the better regulation
  agenda was designed fast
• Inspired by international evolutions
• e.g. OECD Recommendations for Improving the
  Quality of Government Regulation UK..

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4. RIA history (continued)

• RIA guidance, last updated in 2006
• RIA evaluations
• RIA criticisms
• Opening up RIA?

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5. From RIA to Impact Assessment for SD

• Synergy of policy agendas
• ECs example the IA system
• Elements of SD in other RIA-like systems (e.g.
  Finland)
• Merger of two instruments with a different
  history

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5. From RIA to IA for SD quid Flanders?

• RIA needs to be reformed
• SD policy agenda needs an implementation tool
• ?
• RIA ? Impact Assessment (for Sustainable
  Development)

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6. Proposal for Flemish Impact Assessment Scheme

• Dual approach
• Type I IA based on RIA, but including SD aspects
  fully
• Type II IA participatory exercise focussing on
  policy proposals yet to be defined experimental?
• Both IA types use supporting tools (impact
  matrices, mindmap)

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6. Impact Assessment Scheme
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7. Next steps

• Discussion with policy-makers
• Case study Type II in practice
• Open process involvement of stakeholders and
  policy-makers
• Added value of IA for SD
• RIA reform?

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6. Contact

• Ir. Jean Hugé
• Policy Research Centre for Sustainable
  Development
• Human Ecology Department
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Jean.Huge_at_vub.ac.be
• T 024774926