European Economic and Social Committee

Sustainable
Development
Observatory

SDO

What is Sustainable Development?

According to a commonly used definition, Sustainable
Development stands for meeting the needs of present
generations without jeopardizing the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs - in other words, a
better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations
to come.
The role of the SDO
The Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO) is a
cross-cutting body that aims to tackle the Sustainable
Development policies in a horizontal way. The Sustainable
Development Observatory (SDO) was set up by the EESC in
October 2006 in response to the mandate given to it by the
EU Sustainable Development Strategy. The SDO is composed
of 33 members drawn from a wide range of interests
represented in the EESC and operates within the remit of the
NAT section, the EESC's specialised section for environment
and agriculture.
The long-term objective for the SDO is to make the EESC a
credible authority on Sustainable Development from a civil
society perspective, building on its close links to organised
civil society and its constructive working relations with the
European Commission, the Council and the European
Parliament.

The tasks of the SDO

The main tasks of the SDO are to:
stimulate debate on sustainable development;
analyse sustainable development issues from a civil
society point of view, and;
share best practice.

EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS)

In the EUs June 2006 Sustainable Development Strategy,
the European Council asked the EESC to give input to the
biennial progress report on the implementation of the
Strategy. In 2007, the SDO issued an opinion on the first
progress report, asking the Member States to be more
ambitious and take more distinct actions, particularly in the
fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. The SDO
will produce such a report every two years.
Growth can no longer be seen in purely quantitative terms;
rather, a new concept of growth is needed, which puts qualitative
objectives based on sustainability criteria first.
(SDO opinion on the progress report on the EU Sustainable Development
Strategy, NAT 348)

Climate change
While the SDO is working on different fields of sustainability,
it is giving much focus to climate change policies. It is closely
following the negotiations in the framework of the United
Nations and aims at introducing a civil society dimension to
the debate. It works on how to achieve the EUs climate
change targets in a cost-efficient and effective way and on
how to prepare for unavoidable climate changes within
Europe. The SDO also contributes to awareness-raising on
climate change through workshops and conferences.

Dialogue with civil society

The SDO aims at being a mediator between civil society
organizations and the EU institutions.
In order to carry out this task it organizes conferences and
seminars in cooperation with different organizations. In the past
year, it has, for example, organized a large conference
on Climate Change and a public hearing on civil society
participation in the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.
Climate change is a major test for our capacity for solidarity.
The EESC underlines the importance of a continued Lisbon
Strategy that combines competitiveness, social cohesion, and
action against climate change.
(SDO Opinion on Climate Change and the Lisbon Strategy)

What is the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)?

The EESC is a consultative body set up by the Rome Treaties in 1957. The EESCs main task
is to advise the three major European Institutions, the European Parliament, the Council of
the European Union and the European Commission, primarily by adopting Committee
opinions.

The

Committee is made up of 344 members belonging to representative national

organisations of organised civil society in the European Union and divided into three
groups: the "Employers" group, the "Employees" group and the "Various Interests" group
(which includes farmers, the professions, environmentalists, consumers, and so on.).

The

EESC enables representatives of economic, social, socio-occupational and civic

organisations to be an integral part of the policy and decision-making process at
European Union level.

For more information, go to: http://www.eesc.europa.eu

Mr Derek Osborn,
President of the SDO
(mandate 2006-2008)
Sustainable Development can be everything or nothing! The SDO
takes on this challenge and tries to identify the sustainability
aspects in each policy area. One part of our job is to ensure that the
EESC sends out a coherent message throughout all of its opinions
a sustainable one!

Vice-Presidents, Mr Ernst-Erik Ehnmark (left), Ms Ulla Sirkeinen (right)

THE SDO SECRETARIAT

Annika Korzinek, Administrator Tel. (32-2) 546 80 65
Robert Kaukewitsch, Administrator Tel. (32-2) 282 23 66
Elisabeth Lorin, Assistant Tel. (32-2) 546 92 89
Email: SDO@eesc.europa.eu
The SDOs Website is at:
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/sections/sdo/index_en.asp

European Economic and Social Committee

Visits and publications Unit
For further information, please contact:
publications@eesc.europa.eu
Tel. (32-2) 546 96 04 Fax (32-2) 546 97 64
Rue Belliard 99 B-1040 Bruxelles

www.eesc.europa.eu
Catalogue No.: EESC-2008-03-EN

QE-30-08-341-EN-D