Trends Identified
Innovative food
Innovative smart food products and processes will be developed that will better respond to consumer preferences, health issues and environmental concerns. Policy bodies, industry and the public should be prepared to foster this transition that will open new job opportunities and bring benefit to society. Innovative food products are already on the market and more will come. Is the regulation ready to face this challenge?
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Recycling
In a context of increasing global awareness over the adverse environmental effects of improper handling of waste, European waste management is becoming increasingly complex due to growing waste generation and number of waste streams needing tailored management routes. It is thus challenging to improve the efficiency of the use of natural resources (e.g. “turn waste into resources” in a circular economy approach) and, ultimately, improve the environmental sustainability of current waste management strategies. Science-based evidence is nonetheless available showing that, from a life cycle perspective, significant environmental benefits can be achieved through higher rates of reuse, recycling and energy recovery. This is reflected also in several EC Directives. However, to identify cost-efficient and environmentally sound recycling options and set up waste-type specific targets for optimal recycling rates, adapting life-cycle based methodologies and applying them in a consistent way across high priority waste stream is required. Equally, it will be required to take into account also the social and economic aspects of waste management in a systematic manner.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Post-carbon society
To prevent the most severe impacts of climate change, the international community has agreed that global warming should be kept below 2 degrees compared to the temperature in pre-industrial times. This means a profound change for the world economy, biodiversity and oceans. EU leaders have committed to transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy and society. To lead the world to the post-carbon era, the EU has committed to cutting its emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020 in view of reaching 80-95% emissions reductions in 2050. The European Commission proposes a mid-term target of 40% emissions reductions by 2030.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Science for the energy transition
The EU is defining a new set of energy policies that will shape the evolution of energy systems and markets towards 2030 and 2050, potentially transforming society in many ways. The 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy policies foresees a new European Governance Framework for integrating the plans, interests and concerns of all public and private actors.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Carbon dioxide reuse
For ages, CO2 has never been considered an issue worth dedicating significant scientific attention to. This has changed with the growing certainty about man-made climate change and the role of CO2 as a greenhouse gas: CO2 emissions need to be avoided or CO2 needs to be stored 'eternally' (Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS, see separate fiche). However, CO2 can also be used as a raw material in industrial processes, notably by using the carbon component (C) through chemical or biological reactions. Research and first pilot installations have started on a number of different technology paths (polymerisation, mineralisation, bio-engineering, etc.)
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) is a technique for trapping carbon dioxide as it is emitted from large point sources, compressing it, and transporting it to a suitable storage site where it is injected into the ground. The technology of CCS has significant potential as a mitigation technique for climate change, both within Europe and internationally, particularly in those countries with large reserves of fossil fuels and a fast-increasing energy demand. Given the dominant role that fossil fuels continue to play in primary energy consumption, there is an urgent need to deployment CCS in Europe and beyond.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Hydrogen society
The Vision: a future in which millions of individual players can collect, produce and store locally generated renewable energy in homes, offices, factories, and vehicles, and share their power generation with each other across a Europe-wide intelligent hydrogen energy web.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Social sciences and humanities
Innovation in the service sector (75% of the EU economy) and social innovation are largely dependent from findings in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). SSH also allow understanding the changing multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious European societies faced by issues like inequalities, including gender inequalities, and ageing of population. SSH as such and SSH integrated in interdisciplinary research (e.g. on health, climate change and food) play a key role in long-term EU growth and quality of life. 50% of tertiary graduate students in Europe are coming from social sciences and humanities.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Social innovation
In addition to technological, product, process, organizational and marketing innovations, social innovation answers to pressing social demands that require the combination of actions coming from the market, the public sector and the civil society. Social innovation delivers results that are positive for economic and social cohesion (cf. new social problems, vulnerable groups, gender discriminations), create new social relationships and foster collaborative economy. Social innovation addresses societal and environmental challenges while improving collective wellbeing. Social innovations are particularly relevant in times of crises and budgetary constraints.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Behavioral science
People make mental shortcuts in order to make complex choices. These shortcuts help in many situations where fast reaction is needed. But when time is available to decide, a profounder thinking process is needed, which requires effort. The Human Behaviour can be studied and influenced. It is studied in Behavioural Science and it can be predicted in order to set conditions and choices so that desirable behaviour occurs; e.g. in relation to health, climate, energy and other policies. Behavioural Science is helping us to understand why and how we behave the way we do. Organ Donation Behaviour: Depending on whether the choice is "opt-out" or "opt-in" the rate of organ donors can vary from 10% in one country to 90% in another country.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)