Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia
Consell Assessor per al Desenvolupament Sostenible de Catalunya (CADS)
Consell Assessor per al Desenvolupament Sostenible de Catalunya (CADS)
Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia
Avinguda Sarrià, 30,1er 3ª
E-08029 Barcelona
Spain
Tel.: +34 93 363 38 67
Fax: +34 93 410 09 39
Council Members and Staff Members
Current and Future Activities
Priority Fields (general)
The CADS scope includes the following issues.
- Climate change and energy;
- Natural risks;
- Culture of sustainability;
- Sustainable economy and tourism;
- Water
- Mobility
- Governance for sustainable development
- Land use and rural development
- Landscape and biodiversity
Current Priority Fields (2011)
In 2011, CADS' work will focus on the following topics:
- Green economy: opportunities for Catalonia?
- Energy and water interlinkages
- Sustainable cities and planning
- 1st Ecotourism Forum (organisation of an international congress in Autumn 2011)
- Climate change (dissemination of the 2nd Report on climate change published recently)
- Follow up of the Catalan Sustainable Development Strategy
- Support to non-profit organisation SD projects
Recent activities (2010):
- Publication of the Second Report on Climate Change in Catalonia (December 2010)
- Assessment to the Catalan Sustainable Development Strategy (approved 2010)
- Participation in international networks (EEAC; nrg4SD; Working Community of the Pyrenees -Observatory of Climate change in the Pyrenees)
- Workshop “Peace, conflicts and SD in the Mediterranean Region”
- Seminar on the "Implementation of Electric Vehicles in Catalonia;
- Workshop "Payment for Environmental Services (PES) in Catalonia;
- Debate sessions "Climate change in the Pyrenees' glaciers;
- Workshop and Web Portal "Tools to improve Ecotourism in Catalonia;
- Support to local initiatives for the promotion of sustainable development in Catalonia (180.000 Euros for non-profit organisation projects in 2010)
- Developing new tools for dissemination of CADS reports and SD community: online video broadcasting (CADS Visual), web tools "Research Directory on Environment and Sustainable Development (DIRMAS);
Past priority fields
Special events:
In 2009 CADS celebrates its 10 years anniversary. Some special dissemination activities were organized throughout the year, with the slogan "Present to keep the future":
- An Open event in June presenting a book and a short film about the 10 years of history;
- A three day seminar 14-16 October entitled “Challenges for sustainability of Catalonia” to discuss important issues evaluated and assessed by CADS during the last ten years (climate change, natural risks, energy, urban environment, sustainable tourism, etc).
- An event in Barcelona the 2-3 November (held in English) entitled “Climate Change: the effects on security and peace”, in which CADS was strongly involved. It is an international seminar, held in the context of the last preparatory COP previous to Copenhagen summit, in collaboration with the Foundation Culture of Peace. The event featured many interesting speakers, e.g. the Vice-president of Catalonia Mr. Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, and the former UN General Secretary Mr. Kofi Anan.For this occasion a website has been released where more info can be found: www.reptessostenibilitat.cat (in Catalan).
Background and Mission
Establishment
CADS was founded in December 1998 by means of Decree 311/1998, 1st December, creating the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of Catalonia; DOGC number 2784 - 11-12-1998; modified through Decree 256/2000, 4th July 2000.
The Council is currently attached to the Presidential Department.Mission
Functions of the Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia (CADS):
- Advise the government of Catalonia on general policy guidelines, laws and planning tools related to sustainable development;
- Propose information, dissemination and education activities;
- Promote research and innovation for sustainable development;
- Contribute to strategic thinking on sustainable development.
These functions are performed through the following activities.
- Assessment for the Government to mainstream the culture of sustainability in the Catalan society and decision-making process within our country.
- Studies and expert working groups performing and promoting studies on topics related to sustainable development, in collaboration with experts from different fields, seeking an interdisciplinary vision of sustainability.
- Publishing reports, research briefings, and international documents on environmental and sustainability issues, authored by CADS in collaboration with other experts or entities.
- Education and communication on the culture of sustainability promoting the access to information about different working areas related to sustainable development (CADS' website, bulletin, Directory of Sustainability, teaching materials, etc.).
- Networking with local, national, European and international institutions, focused on sustainable development.
Council Members
CADS has 15 Council Members, chaired by the president of the council, all of them independent experts from different disciplines and fields. They are appointed by the Council president for two years (and then they can be appointed for two additional years). The Council was partially renewed in 2009.
President
Gabriel Ferraté
Former Chancellor of the Open University of CataloniaVice-President
Manel Gausa
Architect (PhD) President of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of CataloniaMembers
Josep AlabernGeneral Manager Aigües de Manresa S.A.
President of the Industrial Engineers Association of Central CataloniaMartí Boada Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
President of the Board of Directors of the Natural Park of Alt PirineuPurificació Canals Biologist. (PhD) Vice-President of UICN
President of the environmental NGO DEPANA (League for the Defence of Natural Resources)Isabel Cacho Geologist (PhD)
Research Group on Marine Geosciences at the University of BarcelonaMarcel Coderch Telecommunications and Information Science Engineer
Vice-President of the Telecommunications Market Commission
Secretary of the Association for Energy Resources ResearchMarta Estrada i Miyares Research Professor at CSIC Institute of Marine Sciences Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona Teresa Franquesa Biologist (PhD); Director of Strategy, Environmental Department at the Barcelona City Council Anna Ma. Geli Chancellor of the University of Girona
Professor of Experimental Sciences at the University of GironaCarles Ibáñez Biologist (PhD) Director of Aquatic Ecosystems Program at the Agrifood Research and Technology Institute (IRTA) Carme Llasat Professor of Physics at the University of Barcelona Director of the Research Group Analysis of Adverse Meteorological Situations (UB) Joandomènec Ros Professor of Ecology at the University of Barcelona
Josep Maria Serena Industrial Engineer Managing director of the consultancy firm AUMA, and president of the environmental commission at the Industrial Engineers Association Carme Valls Medical doctor on Internal Medicine and Endocrinology
President of the Centre for Analysis of Healthcare Programmes (CAPS)Staff members
The CADS has a secretariat with around six staff members. Ramon Arribas is the Director.
Work style
Substructure of council
There are no formal groups or sections. However, there is the possibility to create specific commissions when the Council elaborates its reports.
Council meetings
The Council plenary meets every one and a half months. The 2011 meetings are scheduled for February 8, March 15, May 3, June 7, July 12, September 27, November 8, and December 13.
Type of Advice
The Council gives advice regarding general policy guidelines, laws and planning tools in those fields related to sustainable development, both on request of the government and other administrative units, and on its own initiative.
In the case of mobility and transport planning, the law establishes the need for a compulsory report from CADS before the plan can be approved. Furthermore, the CADS is often considered an "involved stakeholder" in the so-called strategic environmental assessment (SEA) processes regarding plans and programs related to sustainable development.
Moreover, the Council has as objectives the promotion of "the culture of sustainability" to the Catalan society. Therefore, the CADS promotes research and innovation for sustainable development, it proposes information, dissemination and education activities, and contributes to strategic thinking on sustainable development of Catalonia.Activities in the EEAC Network
The CADS joined in 2004. It is an active member of the Working Groups Biodiversity, Energy and Sustainable Development/Governance . Moreover it is an observer to the Working Groups Marine and Agriculture.
List of Selected Publications
You can find the full list of policy advice in the EEAC Search Engine which also contains the titles in English of publications only available in original language. Visit also the full list of reports and publications at the CADS' web page (www.gencat.cat/cads).
- Secrets of "ecoedition" (Catalan, 2011)
- The CADS voices. 10 years of the Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia (2010)
- Challenges for the sustainability of Catalonia (2010)
- A new culture for land planning and ethics for landscape (2010)
- Ecotourism in Catalonia. A Guide for exploring and conserving nature (2010)
- Environmental justice in Catalonia. Integration of environmental, territorial and social aspects into decision making (2010)
- Diagnosis and perspectives of electric vehicle in Catalonia (2010)
- Towards a sustainable habitat (urban planning, building, home) (2010)
- Payment for ecosystem services. a tool for natural resources conservation in Catalonia (2010)
- Reassessing the world. The values of sustainability (2010)
- Small ideas for a Great Future: 40 suggestions for a sustainable lifestyle (2010)
- Ecotourism in Catalonia (executive summary in English pdf.) (2009);
- Participate. How to influence land planning decisions (2009);
- SOSTEC: transition towards a sustainable electricity model in Catalonia (2009);
- Sustainability and Local Finances (in Catalan) (2009);
- Waste prevention: a challenge for Catalonia (in Catalan) (2009);
- 10 years of the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development (in Catalan) (2009);
- Analysis of the Energy Metabolism of the Catalan Economy (May 2009);
Older publications can be consulted here
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Last update 23 June 2011.