The problem

Existing economic modelling methods do not adequately cover the challenges of long-term sustainability, especially in relation to emerging global issues including the effects of climate change. There is a need to broaden the concept of sustainable development and improve understanding of how policies can promote economic welfare without causing environmental and social harm. Meeting this need will require refined economic modelling and impact-assessment techniques, and broader interaction among academics and policy-makers throughout the world.

Overview:

TranSust.Scan will investigate policy issues that are crucial for promoting the EU’s major goal of sustainable economic development.

The project will:

• Study a wide range of policy scenarios to assess their relevance to sustainable development
• Extend existing economic modelling methods to give better attention to the issue of sustainability
• Develop a scientifically sound forecasting framework to make policy recommendations promoting a sustainable future

Contribution to policy development:

• TranSust.Scan will produce methods and recommendations to support the EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy.
• It will result in more coherent policy planning, linking economic, environmental and social concerns.
• It will help develop better understanding of policy options to tackle the challenges of climate change.
• The project will improve long-term impact-assessment modelling.

Project deliverables

• Three workshops – October 2006, January 2007, May 2007
• Two international conferences – September 2007, May 2008
• Scientific working papers – June 2006, December 2006, December 2007
  Publication of final results in book form – July 2008
• A set of consistent environmental sustainability scenarios - July 2008
• Policy recommendations – July 2008

Dissemination

• Project website – from March 2006
• Publication of working papers and final results – June 2006, July 2008
• Direct contacts with networks of stakeholders – as appropriate
• Communication with non-EU institutions in Asia and North America – at regular intervals

Technical information

Project acronym: TranSust.Scan
Project’s official full title: Scanning Policy Scenarios for the Transition to Sustainable Economic Structures
CORDIS ref: http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.simpledocument&PJ_RCN=8820403&CFID=1434535&CFTOKEN=68757154
Specific webpage: http://www.transust.org
Proposal/contract no: 22773
Start date: 01/02/2006
Kick off meeting: 21/02/2006
Completion date: 31/07/2008
European Commission scientific officer: Patrizia Poggi

Coordinator:
Name: Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Abbreviated name: WIFO
Address: Wien 3, Arsenal, Objekt 20, 1103 Wien, Postfach 91
Country: Austria
Tel: +43 (676) 591 3150
Fax: +43 (1) 798 9386
Website: http://www.wifo.ac.at

Partners

Name: Centre for European Policy Research
Abbreviated name: ZEW
Country: Germany

Name: Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et de Sciences Humaines
Abbreviated name: SMASH
Country: France

Name: Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
Abbreviated name: ECN
Country: Netherlands

Name: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei
Abbreviated name: FEEM
Country: Italy

Name: Institute of Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Abbreviated name: IVM
Country: Netherlands

Name: Institute for World Economics, Kiel
Abbreviated name: IfW
Country: Germany

Name: Lodz Institute of Forecasts and Economic Analyses, University of Lodz
Abbreviated name: LIFEA
Country: Poland

Name: Spanish Council for Scientific Research
Abbreviated name: CSIC
Country: Spain

Name: University College, Dublin
Abbreviated name: UCD
Country: Ireland

Name: Centre for Marine and Climate Research, University of Hamburg
Abbreviated name: UniHH
Country: Germany

Name: University of Economics, Prague
Abbreviated name: IEEP
Country: Czech Republic