International Scan 2016

This International Scan 2016 has been conducted at the request of the board of the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) and was written by the secretariat of the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli). The International Scan gives an overview of relevant international and European policy developments and sketches trends and emerging issues which could become relevant for the EEAC network and its member councils over the coming years. The aim of the report is to contribute to the agenda setting of the EEAC network. The report presents a brief overview of the rapidly changing and challenging global and European arena that forms the context of the council’s advisory activities. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (COP21), both adopted in 2015, will challenge governments, the private sector and civil society to engage in new alliances and partnerships. At the same time, important new questions arise about the institutional architecture, the role of UN institutions and the accountability of relevant actors.