OECD WORK ON THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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OECD WORK ON THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT

• Marco Mira dErcole
• OECD Social Policy Division

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National Strategies on Sustainable Development

• Two approaches to the social dimension
• development for whom? Sharing more widely the
  benefits of globalisation at the international
  level
• development of what? Focus on the interactions
  between economic processes and environmental and
  social conditions

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Towards Sustainable Development the Role of
Social Protection

• Focus the social-economic interface in OECD
  countries
• Function contribution of the OECD Employment,
  Labour and Social Affairs Committee to 2001
  Ministerial mandate

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Two main tracks

• Why sustainable development is important for
  discussions about social policies?
• Which social concerns should be integral to
  sustainable development?

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1. Why is sustainable development important for
social policies?

• Three basic insights
• Broad view of human well-being, encompassing
  economic, environmental and social concerns
• Many of the effects of todays decisions will
  last over time and affect well-being tomorrow
• Many of todays problems have their roots in
  actions taken in other fields

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2. Which social concerns should be integral to
sustainable development?

• The life-course perspective
• Supporting child development
• Improving quality and equity in education
• Help youths in their transition to adulthood

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2. Which social concerns should be integral to
sustainable development? (cont.)

• Strengthening adaptability throughout working
  life and avoid marginalisation
• Assuring the sustainability of retirement income
  systems
• Addressing needs for care during old age

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Conclusions

• What do we gain from a broad interpretation of
  sustainable development?
• Which measures for the social dimension?