TranSust.Scan – Scanning Policy Scenarios for the Transition to Sustainable Economic Structures. Final Activity Report

The focus of TranSust.Scan was to explore a wide range of policy scenarios as to their relevance for the European Sustainable Development Strategy in view of Extended Impact Assessment. Embedded in the TranSust network of researchers, with its expertise in modelling the transition to sustainable economic structures, the project linked and expanded the set of available models to reflect the multidimensional aspect of sustainability policies and their trade-offs with other policies (Workpackage 1). TranSust.Scan widened the conception of sustainability and verified the impacts of this extended concept. This was done by collecting available information, utilising existing modelling approaches and combining quantitative and qualitative elements. In addition to traditional economic, environmental and social aspects, expanded models addressed the new policy agenda as put forward by the Lisbon Strategy of the European Union and the World Summit for Economic Development dealing with competitiveness, economic development, security, preparations for Beyond-Kyoto policies and interaction between technological change and the use of natural resources (Workpackage 2). Using a scenario approach in cooperation with stakeholders, the TranSust.Scan models addressed strategic policy options. The insights arising from the development of this scenario approach were translated into a set of policy relevant recommendations (Workpackage 3). To ensure optimal use of the project's results, special focus was given to the dissemination of results by using the internet as the main communication tool within the network and as a fast publishing platform. A series of meetings, workshops and conferences were organised, fostering collaboration with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the EC. Numerous working papers were published and a special edition of a journal is coming forward. All these dissemination channels serve as a reference on the design of models for extended sustainability issues, provide insights for policy options and have opened a dialogue with non-European research communities (Workpackages 4 and 5).