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EU Presidency communications Networking with GSN...

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EU Presidency communications As EU Member States take turns in presiding over the Council of the European Union, naonal environmental authories become involved in communicang their country’s priories and iniaves for their EU presidency term. It is a great challenge for communicaon officers to be at the heart of the European environmental agenda for six months. European Environmental Communication Networks European Commission June 2010 Róbert Konràd Diana Leuci, network member from the Flemish authority in Belgium, talks about the Belgian EU Presidency: What will your tasks be for the upcoming Presidency ? Diana: During the Belgian EU Presidency, the Flemish minister for the Environment will chair the environment councils. Environment being mainly a regional competence in Belgium, the Belgian representaon at the meengs of the European Ministers has an internal rotaon system. We have launched a special EU website in English, announcing the events in details. In parcular, we have to organise and promote the Informal Meeng of Environment Ministers. An exhibion will also be held, to familiarise the general public with sustainable materials management and with the theme discussed during the meeng. What are the priories for the Belgian presidency ? Diana: The four environmental priories will be: climate, biodiversity, sustainable materials management and beer instruments for environmental governance. Is there anything else you would like to share with the network ? Diana: For the EU presidency, sustainability is the keyword for all communicaon. Event organisers have a manual and a checklist for a sustainable organisaon of meengs. We find it extremely important that all the events are organised as sustainably as possible, from transportaon and catering to business giſts. We will proacvely communicate this message to all the parcipants. I also call on all the Green Spiders to pay special aenon to sustainability when they organise an event. 2011 - Sustainable Production and Consumption The 2011 central topic for the European Commission, as well as the theme for Green Week 2011, will be resource efficiency. This concept, which essenally signifies doing the most with the least resources, can be applied both to the private and public sectors, from the producer to the end user. The EU encourages its Member States to develop policies which foster resource efficiency, highlighng that it should be promoted in order to ease dependence on primary raw materials and to improve environmental balance, as well as to meet industrial needs. According to Anna Gasquet, from EEA, “The EEA will priorise work on resource efficiency throughout 2011 to help enable the true condions for greening the European economy.” The Green Spiders will also engage in resource efficiency thinking, and more generally will try to encourage sustainable producon and consumpon. As Hildegard Kaiser, the chair of the Core Group, points out, “the renewed EU Sustainable Development strategy names clear goals for seven key challenges in the field of sustainable development. Many of them, such as sustainable consumpon and producon, are close to the Europeans’ daily lives, so it is of the utmost importance to engage in dialogue with the cizens, as Germany already did with its dedicated internet portal.” The Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles also works on these issues, showing the significance of these concepts in the years to come. Networking with GSN The Green Spider Network is collaborang on communicaon maers with environmental stakeholders, with non-governmental organisaons (NGOs) as well as with other networks. The European Environment Agency, a member of the network, faces constantly renewed environmental communicaon challenges. “Collaborang with the Green Spider Network is a great forum for us and our network, the EIONET (European Environmental Informaon and Observaon Network), to exchange experiences and best pracces regarding communicaon on environmental issues, thereby strengthening internaonal cooperaon”, says Anna Gasquet from EEA. The network can for instance contribute construcvely to the work of the expert group on Arcle 6 of the UNFCCC, further strengthening its results. This arcle calls on governments to promote public awareness and understanding of climate change, to increase public access to informaon and to promote training of specialised scienfic, technical and administrave personnel in climate science and management. The GSN is a well-established interlocutor of DG Environment: “I am looking forward to working acvely with the Green Spider Network”, says Mr. Róbert Konràd, the new Head of Communicaons at DG Environment. “The added value of this very useful plaorm depends on everyone’s commitment to acvely share with others. I look forward to a wide parcipaon in the network’s acvies in the years to come.” “Whenever I need an overview on an environmental communicaon issue, I know who to turn to”, says Carina Vopel, the Deputy Head of Communicaon at DG Environment. “I think the Green Spiders are already known as the European reference in this field.” EECN secretariat Assistance is provided through the EECN secretariat, currently run by the French company BIO Intelligence Service. Apart from praccal support to network, the Secretariat acvely disseminates best pracces to a wider public through the EECN newsflash and the website. Regular newsflashes The EECN newsflash is issued every two months and distributed to subscribers in and outside Europe. It deals with topics related to environmental communicaon and awareness-raising. Recent topics include an overview of recent research on environmental communicaon towards young people, and the EU biodiversity campaign. Designed by BIO Intelligence Service Printed on recycled paper Subscribe to EECN news If you want to subscribe to the EECN news service, contact the EECN Secretariat by email at [email protected]. All past issues of the EECN newsflash are available at www.ec.europa.eu/environment/networks/news_en.htm. www.ec.europa.eu/environment/networks/greenspider/contacts_en.htm Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey United Kingdom European Commission European Environment Agency* Observer: Switzerland
Transcript
Page 1: EU Presidency communications Networking with GSN …ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/networks/greenspider/doc/GSN... · EU Presidency communications As ... priorities and initiatives

EU Presidency communications As EU Member States take turns in presiding over the Council of the European Union, national environmental authorities become involved in communicating their country’s

priorities and initiatives for their EU presidency term. It is a great challenge for communication officers to be at the heart of the European environmental agenda for six months.

European Environmental Communication Networks

European Commission

June

201

0

Róbert Konràd

Diana Leuci, network member from the Flemish authority in Belgium, talks about the Belgian EU Presidency:

What will your tasks be for the upcoming Presidency ? Diana: During the Belgian EU Presidency, the Flemish minister for the Environment will chair the environment councils. Environment being mainly a regional competence in Belgium, the Belgian representation at the meetings of the European Ministers has an internal rotation system. We have launched a special EU website in English, announcing the events in details. In particular, we have to organise and promote the Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers. An exhibition will also be held, to familiarise the general public with sustainable materials management and with the theme discussed during the meeting.

What are the priorities for the Belgian presidency ?Diana: The four environmental priorities will be: climate, biodiversity, sustainable materials management and better instruments for environmental governance.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the network ?Diana: For the EU presidency, sustainability is the keyword for all communication. Event organisers have a manual and a checklist for a sustainable organisation of meetings. We find it extremely important that all the events are organised as sustainably as possible, from transportation and catering to business gifts. We will proactively communicate this message to all the participants. I also call on all the Green Spiders to pay special attention to sustainability when they organise an event.

2011 - Sustainable Production and ConsumptionThe 2011 central topic for the European Commission, as well as the theme for Green Week 2011, will be resource efficiency. This concept, which essentially signifies doing the most with the least resources, can be applied both to the private and public sectors, from the producer to the end user. The EU encourages its Member States to develop policies which foster resource efficiency, highlighting that it should be promoted in order to ease dependence on primary raw materials and to improve environmental balance, as well as to meet industrial needs. According to Anna Gasquet, from EEA, “The EEA will prioritise work on resource efficiency throughout 2011 to help enable the true conditions for greening the European economy.”

The Green Spiders will also engage in resource efficiency thinking, and more generally will try to encourage sustainable production and consumption. As Hildegard Kaiser, the chair of the Core Group, points out, “the renewed EU Sustainable Development strategy names clear goals for seven key challenges in the field of sustainable development. Many of them, such as sustainable consumption and production, are close to the Europeans’ daily lives, so it is of the utmost importance to engage in dialogue with the citizens, as Germany already did with its dedicated internet portal.” The Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles also works on these issues, showing the significance of these concepts in the years to come.

Networking with GSNThe Green Spider Network is collaborating on communication matters with environmental stakeholders, with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as with other networks.

The European Environment Agency, a member of the network, faces constantly renewed environmental communication challenges. “Collaborating with the Green Spider Network is a great forum for us and our network, the EIONET (European Environmental Information and Observation Network), to exchange experiences and best practices regarding communication on environmental issues, thereby strengthening international cooperation”, says Anna Gasquet from EEA. The network can for instance contribute constructively to the work of the expert group on Article 6 of the UNFCCC, further strengthening its results. This article calls on governments to promote public awareness and understanding of climate change, to increase public access to information and to promote training of specialised scientific, technical and administrative personnel in climate science and management. The GSN is a well-established interlocutor of DG Environment: “I am looking forward to working actively with the Green Spider Network”, says Mr. Róbert Konràd, the new Head of Communications at DG Environment. “The added value of this very useful platform depends on everyone’s commitment to actively share with others. I look forward to a wide participation in the network’s activities in the years to come.”

“Whenever I need an overview on an environmental communication issue, I know who to turn to”, says Carina Vopel, the Deputy Head of Communication at DG Environment. “I think the Green Spiders are already known as the European reference in this field.”

EECN secretariatAssistance is provided through the EECN secretariat, currently run by the French company BIO Intelligence Service. Apart from practical support to network, the Secretariat actively disseminates best practices to a wider public through the EECN newsflash and the website.

Regular newsflashes

The EECN newsflash is issued every two months and distributed to subscribers in and outside Europe. It deals with topics related to environmental communication and awareness-raising. Recent topics include an overview of recent research on environmental communication towards young people, and the EU biodiversity campaign.

Designed by BIO Intelligence Service Printed on recycled paper

Subscribe to EECN newsIf you want to subscribe to the EECN news service, contact

the EECN Secretariat by email at [email protected]. All past issues of the EECN newsflash are available at

www.ec.europa.eu/environment/networks/news_en.htm.

www.ec.europa.eu/environment/networks/greenspider/contacts_en.htm

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey United Kingdom European Commission European Environment Agency* Observer: Switzerland

Page 2: EU Presidency communications Networking with GSN …ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/networks/greenspider/doc/GSN... · EU Presidency communications As ... priorities and initiatives

The Green Spider

NetworkThe members of the Green Spider Network (GSN) are communication officers from national environmental ministries and agencies in Europe. The network is a forum for sharing information, ideas and best practices. It provides a platform for developing coordinated ways in which European environmental policies can most effectively be communicated to target groups. The network was established in 1995; it now has almost 50 members representing 30 countries. DG Environment uses the network as a channel for involving national institutions in its own communication activities.

Communicating biodiversity in 2010

The EU Biodiversity campaign seeks to address the challenge of biodiversity communication. One of the main goals of the campaign is to connect people and biodiversity, using several tools. The logo of the campaign is a human silhouette constituted of various species, plants and animals. The motto of the campaign, ‘We are all in this together’, highlights how eco-systems and their components are intertwined together.

The Green Spiders have taken part in the development and implementation of this campaign. Some Green Spiders were part of the Steering Committee which oversaw the creation of the campaign. Other members acted as intermediaries between national campaigns related to biodiversity and the European Commission, providing information and materials.

Examples of national campaigns:

• Biodiversity quiz (France), a TV programme to raise awareness on biodiversity

• Ambassadors for biodiversity (Austria), where celebrities sponsor specific species

• Be Plant wise (United Kindgom), a campaign which encourages responsible management and disposal of invasive non-native aquatic plants

• Europe in bloom (European Environment Agency), a living façade adds life to central Copenhagen

• Nature´s year (Sweden), a network of 20 organisations working together to raise awareness on biodiversity and the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

The Green Spiders at Green Week 2010 Green Week, the biggest annual conference event on European environmental policy, organised by DG Environment, took place from 1 to 4 June 2010 in Brussels. This year’s theme was ‘Biodiversity – our lifeline’ and the Green Spider Network (GSN) was present with a stand at the exhibition. Six national campaigns were presented throughout the week, along with specific material, demonstrating the variety of possibilities to trigger interest and action on biodiversity.

Green Week was a great networking and exchange platform, as highlighted by the Green Spiders themselves: • “Green Week provided a great opportunity to show Hungary’s colourful

agrobiodiversity and share our awareness-raising experiences with the visitors”, said Ditta Greguss from Hungary.

• The Swedish team thought that “the stand served as a meeting point for all Green Spiders. It gave us a good up-date on the situation in other countries”.

• “This year again the GSN stand at Green Week was a good opportunity for us to present one of our campaigns, and we had some inspiring discussions about the importance of biodiversity. Green Week is pretty valuable for exchanging ideas”, stated Thomas Kappe from the German team.

Ditta Greguss, the winner of the friendly annual best practice competition in 2009, speaks about her experience with the Hungarian award-winning initiative:

What is the Fairy-tale writing

competition about ? Ditta: ‘Are there still any sky-high bean stalks in your village?’ invited children and adults to write a tale or a short story related to crop, vegetable or fruit varieties. Our aim was to raise awareness on the importance of agro-biodiversity, and specifically on local varieties. The participants’ imagination and their enthusiasm exceeded our expectations. The best stories were published in a colourful two-volume fairy tale book.What were the consequences of the title? Ditta: Several European colleagues approached us to ask for details. They may initiate something similar in their countries. Two Hungarian organisations have also announced that they intend to organise a similar campaign in their own region.

What is the latest state-of-play of this initiative?Ditta: This April at the International Book Fair in Budapest, our fairy tale book won the prize for the best publication with an educational and awareness-raising purpose. Since its publication, the book has become available in libraries and several bookstores. Moreover, on the occasion of the International Year of Biodiversity, a postcard design competition entitled ‘Send a message to the world to conserve biodiversity’ was organised.

• The Polish campaign intends to make the general public more aware of biodiversity issues.

• The German campaign uses the traditional practice of rambling to help citizens discover their local biodiversity.

• Hungary presented its fairy-tale writing competition, a very successful event focusing on agro-biodiversity.

• The UK designed a campaign to increase the number of people involved in nature conservation, entitled ‘Muck in 4 Life’.

• The Swedish team presented a programme for dialogue on nature conservation, which is a competence-building programme for Environmental Protection Agency and other administrative officers in Sweden.

• The Belgian federal campaign aims to show that daily small actions can make a difference for biodiversity, and stimulate people to ‘give life to their planet’.

The EU biodiversity campaign logo

Mieke Van de Velde, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment,President of GSN (2010):

How is Belgium taking advantage of the Green Spider Network ?

Mieke: It gives us the ideal opportunity to stay informed about communication initiatives from our European colleagues and the European Commission. We learn from the experiences of the other Green Spiders, who all work in different contexts. We even work together more closely at our own national level.

The topic of the annual meeting in Brussels will be biodiversity. What will the GSN members learn about that in particular? Mieke: In this International Year of Biodiversity, many biodiversity campaigns are running at national, European and international levels.

Some of them will be presented, showing different approaches to biodiversity communication. This may inspire other Green Spiders to start up a campaign in their own country; biodiversity also deserves attention after 2010!

What kind of good practices does Belgium have regarding biodiversity? Mieke: Our public service works together with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences on a federal campaign: ‘I give life to my planet’. The aim is to raise awareness and engage people in biodiversity conservation. Our tools are an almanac with 366 tips for biodiversity and the website www.igivelifetomyplanet.be where people can commit online. At the national level, authorities are working together on a unique television project on biodiversity (on Flemish and French-speaking channels).

The network at the 2009 annual meeting in Bucharest

A conference session at Green Week


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