Activities 2006 - European Academy of Sciences and Arts

EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES & ART
XI.2.Institute of Advanced Studies on Sustainability, Muenchen: Peter Wilderer
Prof. Peter A. Wilderer, Amalienstraße 75, 80799 Muenchen, Germany
Tel.: +49 89 289 13700, Fax: +49 89 289 13718
E-mail: peter@wilderer.de
www.advances.de
About the Institute
The Institute of Advanced Studies on Sustainability (IoS) was funded in the year 2002 by
the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) as a centre of excellence in the field
of environmental sciences and technology. The mission of the Institute is to assist in the
further development and in the practical application of the concept of sustainability
throughout Europe. Consequently, it acts at the interface between the various scientific
disciplines, the decision making sector and the public.
Through its activities IoS provides service to the governments in Europe as well as to the
private sector and to the scientific community. It supports any attempts to gain knowledge
on integrated resources management, and to interpret scientific information to the decision
makers in governmental institutions and in industry.
The Institute accomplishes its purpose by
• bringing together experts and advise seekers.
• exploring needs for further research and actions to be taken.
• organizing and moderating multi-disciplinary conferences and workshops.
• initiating and coordinating research projects.
• analyzing the outcome of conferences and research projects.
• transferring knowledge to decision makers and to the public.
• supporting development of technology and legal frameworks.
By the end of the year 2006 the activities of the Institute is supported by 20 members from
5 different European countries. Prof. Dr. Peter A. Wilderer acts as Director and Prof. Dr.
Josef Bugl serves as Deputy-Director. The Advisory Board currently consists of Dipl.-Ing.
Hans Huber, CEO of the Hans Huber AG, Dipl.-Ing. Martin Grambow, Bavarian Ministery
of the Environment, and Dr. David Johnstone, Consultant.
On the essence of sustainability
Sustainability has become an important political and economical guiding principle throughout
the world. This concept was first introduced in the 18th century by German forestry,
then adopted and further developed by the Brundtland Commission. In 1992, as a result
of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, this concept is to be considered a corner stone of a comprehensive plan
of action known as the Agenda 21.
Sustainable development is commonly understood as a process encompassing ecological,
economic and social dimensions. The art of mastering sustainable development is finding
the right instrument that drives sustainable development.
A triangle is widely used to represent these three dimensions. It is usually arranged having
equal sides. Each of them should be given equal consideration. The triangle is to be con-
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