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<strong>Towards</strong> <strong>Susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Risk</strong>-<strong>Informed</strong><br />

L<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>in</strong> Europe<br />

CULTURE<br />

Dietmar MÜLLER<br />

Environment Agency Austria<br />

NATURE


How we started <strong>and</strong> developed up to now<br />

� early 80ies: public sc<strong>and</strong>als<br />

� zero risk tolerance (no uncerta<strong>in</strong>ties)<br />

� multifunctional use: sites, soil & groundwater<br />

� Can we afford it? How clean is clean?<br />

� l<strong>and</strong>-use related soil/environmental quality<br />

� What do we need to achieve? When?<br />

��<strong>Risk</strong> <strong>Risk</strong>-Based Based L<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong><br />

� How do we achieve our goals?<br />

�susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />

�environmental friendly practices<br />

1


Discuss<strong>in</strong>g needs<br />

Old <strong>and</strong> new challenges ask for <strong>in</strong>novative th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />

… manag<strong>in</strong>g contam<strong>in</strong>ated l<strong>and</strong> …<br />

�geographical scales – site, region, river bas<strong>in</strong>,<br />

globe?<br />

�time scales – urgent (now!), mid- or long-term?<br />

�environmental friendly or/<strong>and</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able?<br />

�stakeholder <strong>in</strong>volvement – whom, how, when?<br />

�wider management frames <strong>and</strong> constra<strong>in</strong>ts<br />

� F<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g (polluter-pays-pr<strong>in</strong>ciple, l<strong>and</strong> markets, role<br />

of privatization, p-p-partnership <strong>and</strong>/vs. state aid)<br />

�� Long-term Long term Liability (If <strong>and</strong> how to share it?)<br />

2


Learn<strong>in</strong>g by identify<strong>in</strong>g deficits<br />

IRGC report: <strong>Risk</strong> Governance Deficits (2010)<br />

�Cluster A: 10 deficits related to assess<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong><br />

underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g risks<br />

�� Do we share a common underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g?<br />

�Cluster B: 10 deficits relat<strong>in</strong>g to manag<strong>in</strong>g risks<br />

DO WE NEED TO LEARN TO …<br />

•improve our actions?<br />

•clarify new frames?<br />

•transform structures?<br />

content frames actions<br />

results<br />

(errors)<br />

<strong>in</strong>cremental improvement<br />

s<strong>in</strong>gle-loop learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

refram<strong>in</strong>g<br />

double-loop learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

transform<strong>in</strong>g (structural change/transition)<br />

triple-loop learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

“TRIPLE-LOOP-LEARNING”<br />

3


Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g “risk” as a concept?<br />

� Use by different discipl<strong>in</strong>es<br />

� e.g. toxicology, eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g, social sciences …<br />

� How it relates with …<br />

� uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty, “hazard” <strong>and</strong> “safety”<br />

� risk acceptance / tolerability<br />

� e.g. traffic-light-model (IRGC, 2005)<br />

� Common elements:<br />

� SOMETHING WE VALUE<br />

� a negative consequence (harm, loss or damage)<br />

� the probability of occurrence,<br />

� an alogarithm to aggregate & cont<strong>in</strong>gency (choices!)<br />

4


WHITE PAPER ON RISK GOVERNANCE (IRGC, 2005)<br />

<strong>Risk</strong> Governance Framework<br />

Decid<strong>in</strong>g Gett<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

broad picture<br />

of the risk<br />

Is the risk tolerable,<br />

acceptable or<br />

unacceptable?<br />

Pre-Assessment<br />

<strong>Management</strong> Communication<br />

Characterisation<br />

<strong>and</strong> Evaluation<br />

Is the risk simple,<br />

complex, uncerta<strong>in</strong><br />

or ambiguous?<br />

Appraisal<br />

Categoris<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the knowledge<br />

about the risk<br />

Introduc<strong>in</strong>g the IRGC’s <strong>Risk</strong> Governance Framework<br />

Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>Risk</strong><br />

assessment<br />

PLUS<br />

Concern<br />

assessment<br />

09


Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g “susta<strong>in</strong>ability” as a concept?<br />

Wide variety of perspectives<br />

Germany (roots back to 15 th century <strong>and</strong> forestry)<br />

… describes the use of a regenerat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

system <strong>in</strong> such a manner, that this system<br />

conserves its fundamental capacities <strong>and</strong><br />

its stocks may be regenerat<strong>in</strong>g naturally.<br />

U.S. America (E.O. 13514; 2009)<br />

“… to create <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> conditions,<br />

under which humans <strong>and</strong> nature can exist<br />

<strong>in</strong> productive harmony, that permit fulfill<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the social, economic, <strong>and</strong> other<br />

requirements of present <strong>and</strong> future<br />

generations.”<br />

‘Development that<br />

meets the needs of<br />

the present without<br />

compromis<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

ability of future<br />

generations to meet<br />

their own needs’<br />

(1987, Brundtl<strong>and</strong>)<br />

6


<strong>Risk</strong> <strong>and</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />

What’s common? What’s different?<br />

<strong>Risk</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />

orig<strong>in</strong> / use economy / science ecology / policy<br />

based on … a mental construct an ethical construct<br />

objective transparency fairness<br />

Important • s<strong>in</strong>gle target<br />

• accountability<br />

• effectiveness<br />

• multi-objective<br />

• <strong>in</strong>terdependency<br />

• efficiency<br />

question Should we act? How can we act?<br />

support to … better decisions better action<br />

strategy prevent or limit synergy<br />

7


<strong>Risk</strong> <strong>and</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />

How to make it complementary?<br />

Clarify<strong>in</strong>g …<br />

�objectives (values)<br />

�system <strong>and</strong> system boundaries<br />

�pr<strong>in</strong>ciples<br />

�milestones along the l<strong>and</strong> management process<br />

� underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g risk prepares a judgement<br />

� susta<strong>in</strong>ability prepares management actions<br />

� risk & susta<strong>in</strong>ability control implementation<br />

WATCH OUT:<br />

�Not trad<strong>in</strong>g risks aga<strong>in</strong>st susta<strong>in</strong>ability!<br />

8


What we need to enhance …<br />

GOOD “GOVERNANCE”<br />

�Deals with identification, assessment, management <strong>and</strong><br />

communication <strong>in</strong> a broad context<br />

�<strong>in</strong>cludes all actors, rules, processes <strong>and</strong> mechanisms<br />

�pr<strong>in</strong>ciples are: transparency, effectiveness <strong>and</strong> efficiency,<br />

accountability, strategic focus, equity <strong>and</strong> fairness, respect<br />

for the rule of law, political <strong>and</strong> legal feasibility, ethical <strong>and</strong><br />

public acceptability<br />

MANAGING “LAND” (resources, soil & groundwater)<br />

�match<strong>in</strong>g human needs to natural capacities<br />

�cross<strong>in</strong>g geographical <strong>and</strong> time scales (site to globe <strong>and</strong><br />

back; short-, mid- <strong>and</strong> long-term)<br />

�promot<strong>in</strong>g synergies, avoid<strong>in</strong>g irreversibility<br />

9


Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g our frames …<br />

… to prepare better decisions (2 nd loop)<br />

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK<br />

� <strong>Risk</strong>-Based L<strong>and</strong> Managment<br />

� Susta<strong>in</strong>ability: SuRF UK & NICOLE<br />

� Governance: <strong>Risk</strong> <strong>and</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />

ANALYTICAL TOOLS (aim<strong>in</strong>g to simulate different choices)<br />

� simple <strong>in</strong>dicators (e.g. carbon footpr<strong>in</strong>t, specific energy use)<br />

� complex environmental account<strong>in</strong>g/balance<br />

� match<strong>in</strong>g economic <strong>and</strong> ecological balances &<br />

organis<strong>in</strong>g stakeholder discourse<br />

METRICS (aim<strong>in</strong>g to condense simplified <strong>in</strong>formation)<br />

� organis<strong>in</strong>g complex <strong>in</strong>formation to provide the complete picture,<br />

e.g. Environmental footpr<strong>in</strong>t<br />

� use simple th<strong>in</strong>gs creat<strong>in</strong>g impacts, e.g. Carbon footpr<strong>in</strong>t<br />

10


Improv<strong>in</strong>g our actions …<br />

… to enhance efficiency (1 st loop)<br />

�Green<strong>in</strong>g Remediation<br />

� m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g the environmental footpr<strong>in</strong>t<br />

� adapt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> contribut<strong>in</strong>g to CO 2 - <strong>and</strong> energy-sav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

� Practic<strong>in</strong>g Synergies<br />

� risk management-recycl<strong>in</strong>g-renewables<br />

� organised at regional scales<br />

� optimiz<strong>in</strong>g eng<strong>in</strong>eered solutions & “work<strong>in</strong>g with nature”<br />

� <strong>Susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong>/Green Technologies<br />

� not a s<strong>in</strong>gle technology but a fan/variety of technologies<br />

� identify typical rout<strong>in</strong>e applications (small, wide-spread<br />

sites)<br />

WATCH OUT: time frames often drive cost & ecology!<br />

11


Need for a Triple-Loop?<br />

Transform<strong>in</strong>g towards better Governance …<br />

RISK-INFORMED (transparent <strong>and</strong> accountable)<br />

� natural capacities <strong>and</strong> ecosystem services (soil/sediments-watersatmosphere<br />

– from local to global - sites & planet) <strong>and</strong><br />

� societal system <strong>and</strong> processes (human well-be<strong>in</strong>g)<br />

SUSTAINABLE (fair, environmental friendly <strong>and</strong><br />

participatory)<br />

� corporate responsibility from local to global (“bottom-up”)<br />

� social learn<strong>in</strong>g (triple-loop-learn<strong>in</strong>g: improve, reframe, transform)<br />

� structured strategies to act on complexity, uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty, ambiguities<br />

� options & scenario-th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g (anticipat<strong>in</strong>g different futures)<br />

� from BAT to NEXT (‘next’ environmental technologies – “factor 4”)<br />

� enabl<strong>in</strong>g society to benefit from remediation while<br />

m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g negative consequences<br />

12


Actors<br />

IMPROVING PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES<br />

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT (IRGC, 2005)<br />

Type of participation<br />

Dom<strong>in</strong>ant<br />

characteristic<br />

Regulatory<br />

bodies/<strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

experts<br />

Use exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />

rout<strong>in</strong>es to<br />

assess risks<br />

<strong>and</strong> possible<br />

reduction<br />

measures<br />

Simple<br />

External<br />

Scientists/<br />

Researchers<br />

Regulatory<br />

bodies/<strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

experts<br />

Maximise the<br />

scientific<br />

knowledge of<br />

the risk <strong>and</strong><br />

mitigation<br />

options<br />

Complexity<br />

Affected<br />

stakeholders<br />

External<br />

Scientists/<br />

Researchers<br />

Regulatory<br />

bodies/<strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

experts<br />

Involve all<br />

affected<br />

stakeholders to<br />

collectively<br />

decide best<br />

way forward<br />

Uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty<br />

Civil society<br />

Affected<br />

stakeholders<br />

External<br />

Scientists/<br />

Researchers<br />

Regulatory<br />

bodies/<strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

experts<br />

Societal debate<br />

about the risk<br />

<strong>and</strong> its<br />

underly<strong>in</strong>g<br />

implications<br />

Ambiguity<br />

As the dom<strong>in</strong>ant characteristic changes, so also<br />

will the type of stakeholder <strong>in</strong>volvement need to change<br />

Introduc<strong>in</strong>g the IRGC’s <strong>Risk</strong> Governance Framework 41


<strong>Towards</strong> <strong>Susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Risk</strong>-<strong>Informed</strong> L<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong> Europe<br />

2012: SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE<br />

November 2012


THANKS FOR LISTENING<br />

Questions are welcome!<br />

<strong>Towards</strong> <strong>Susta<strong>in</strong>able</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Risk</strong>-<strong>Informed</strong> L<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong> Europe

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