BIO Intelligence Service: Energy - Scientific intelligence for effective policy

Science-Policy interface

= project ongoing = completed

BIO is leading the consortium of a Framework Contract to support various activities for improving the Science-Policy interface. EEA, 2009-12
Technical support in the context of the Late lessons project. EEA, 2009- 2010
Inter-linkages between ecosystems and human health. EEA, 2009-10
Support to analysis of mega-trends in the areas of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information, and cognitive sciences EEA, 2010 Final report

Other project related to science-policy interface:

Scientific Support in relation to the Community Mercury Policy, including the revision of the Mercury Export Ban Regulation, by examining relevant ongoing research activities and policy aspects of EU-funded research projects. DG ENV, 2010
Develompent of a methodology for the use of EU-funded research results in policy development, 2010
BIO assisted the European Commission in the creation and launch of a service called 'Science for Environment Policy - DG Environment News Alert Service'. This work included the editing and dissemination of this weekly scientific News alert with a worldwide scientific intelligence. DG ENV, 2005-07

Eco-innovation

Study on the Contribution of research to the development of eco-innovation policy. DG ENV, 2009-10
Examination of the impacts of innovation on the regulatory costs of Energy-using Products policy and development of guidance for accounting for innovation costs in policy impact assessments. Defra, 2009-2010 Final report
Guidance to the European and national authorities on the implementation of state aid provisions to support eco-innovation, DG ENV, 2008
In the context of the EU Action Plan for Environmental Technologies (ETAP), BIO developed and implemented a communication strategy and action plan on ETAP in order to increase its visibility and to disseminate relevant and timely information. DG ENV, 2005-07

EU Environmental Policy Support

Analysis of the future application of product policy instruments in the EU, DG JRC IPTS, 2011
BIO is leading the consortiums for the three lots of the framework contract to support Industrial Competitiveness for a Sustainable Future, DG ENTR, 2011-14

Lot 1: EU industrial competitiveness and its relationship with environmental policies, especially in the field of energy, climate change and transport
Lot 2: Sustainable product policy, ecodesign and beyond
Lot 3: Competitiveness, eco-innovation and value chain sustainability

Expanding the evidence base for the design of policy influencing consumer choice for products and services with environmental impacts, DG ENV 2010
Cohesion Policy and Sustainable Development (SD). Define SD in the context of cohesion policy and identify appropriate intervention strategies to promote SD focusing on climate change and clean energy. DG REGIO, 2010
Framework contract for the European Parliament for the provision of consultancy for STOA (Scientific Technology Options Assessment) - Lot 3 (Environment including Climate Change). EP, 2009-12
Environmental Policy Review (2009): Gathering information on new environment policies and green economy initiatives in 27 Member States in view of financial crisis. DG ENV, 2009-10 Website
Plastic waste in the environment, DG ENV 2009-10 Final report
Review of the Community Strategy Concerning Mercury. DG ENV, 2010 Final report
Development of a « Welcome Package » for the newly elected Members of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament (2009-2014). European Parliament, 2009 Final Report (EN - FR - DE)

Impact Assessments

BIO supports actively a wide range of impact assessments conducted at the EU level. Following is a list of recent assignments:

Impact Assessment Study of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive - study under Framework contract for economic analysis, DG ENV 2011
Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of NiCd batteries used in Cordless Power Tools (CPTs) vs. their alternatives NiMH and Li-ion batteries and impact assessment, DG ENV, 2010
Study on elements for an impact assessment on proposed options for capacity labelling of portable primary batteries in the context of the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC, DG ENV, 2010 Final report
Support to the impact assessment for the Energy Saving Action Plan (ESAP). DG ENER, 2009-2010
Support to the impact assessment for the recasting of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). DG TREN, 2008
Support to the impact assessment for the white paper on adaptation to climate change. DG ENV, 2008
Study to establish harmonised methods to determine the capacity of all portable and automotive batteries and rules for the use of the label indicating the capacity of these batteries. DG ENV, 2008 Final report
Support to the impact assessment for the review of RoHS Directive. DG ENV, 2008 Final Report
Support to the impact assessment of the contribution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to improving energy efficiency in different sectors. DG INFSO, 2007-08 Executive Summary Final Report
Support to the impact assessment for the review of the IPPC Directive. DG ENV, 2005-07

Support to the impact assessment for the review of several EU Directives: End-of-Life of Vehicle Directive, Batteries Directive, Waste Oil Directive, Packaging Directive. DG ENV

Financial Security for Environmental Liability

In the context of Environmental Liability Directive (ELD), BIO led following studies:

Implementation efficiency of the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) and related financial security issues. A workshop was organised and coordinated on behalf of the Commission in July 2009. DG ENV, 2009 Final report
An analysis of the current situation in Europe regarding financial security to cover environmental liability. DG ENV, 2008. A workshop was organised and coordinated on behalf of the Commission in June 2008. Final Report

Chemicals

Technical support on reporting obligations and update of the Community Implementation Plan under the POP regulation, DG ENV, 2011
Technical assistance in identification of potential POP substances. DG ENV, 2010
Review of the Community Strategy Concerning Mercury, DG ENV, 2010 Project website Final report
Estimation of emission from treated wood: evaluation of experience under the EU review program of the biocidal products directive. DG ENV, 2010

Nature and Biodiversity

Disturbances of EU forests caused by biotic agents, DG ENV 2010-2011
A comparative assessment of existing policies on invasive species in the EU Member States and in selected OECD countries, DG ENV, 2010-2011
Estimating the economic value of the benefits provided by tourism/recreation and employment supported by Natura 2000 - DG ENV, 2010-2011
Monitoring of the implementation and enforcement of the EC Wildlife Trade Regulations, DG ENV, 2011-2014
Assessment of current situation and knowledge regarding ex-situ conservation of wild species to determine the added value of an EU-level strategy. DG ENV 2010
Census of actions implemented to combat exotic invasive species across France, analysis of key factors for success and failure - French Ministry for Ecology, SustainableDevelopment and the Sea, 2010
Assessment of soil biodiversity policy instruments in EU-27, the importance of soil biodiversity and of its functions in different ecological and socio-economic contexts, so as to devise policy responses that enable its conservation and sustainable use, DG ENV 2009 Final report
Preparatory actions for Natura 2000, Lot 4 - Natura 2000 and its relationship with other initiatives which may serve to protect biodiversity, DG ENV 2009-10

Agriculture and Environment

Evaluation study of opportunity an feasibility of insurance schemes covering risks of implementing cropping systems with moderate agricultural inputs use, French Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and the Sea, 2010
Water saving potential in agriculture in Europe. Findings from the existing studies and application to case studies, DG ENV, 2011
Sustainable agriculture - Environmental impacts of different crop rotations in the European Union. DG ENV 2009-10. Final report
Survey of farmers and data collection to estimate ex post and ex ante the adoption and socio-economic impacts of GM crops in Europe. DG ENV 2010
Soil organic matter management across the EU - best practices, constraints and trade-offs. DG ENV 2009-10

Land-use Choices and Environmental Impacts

Large scale planning and design of resource use, DG ENV, 2010-11
Preserving and enhancing the environmental benefits of "land use services", implementing a land-use modelling framework, as a part of the consortium led by Alterra (NL). A workshop was organised and coordinated on behalf of the Commission in June 2009. DG ENV 2008-09. Final report
Modelling of EU land use choices and environmental impacts, a scoping study. DG ENV, 2008. A workshop was organised and coordinated on behalf of the Commission in June 2008. Policy Summary Final Report

Water policy

Water Performance of Buildings. Analysis of measures for improving the water performance of buildings across Europe and assessment of the related environmental, economic and social impacts in order to provide support for public consultation, DG ENV 2011
Water saving potential in agriculture in Europe. Findings from the existing studies and application to case studies, DG ENV, 2011
Analysis of existing water efficiency standards and identification of their benefits and limitations and evaluating the need and feasibility for introducing water efficiency standards for water-using devices at the EU level and their cost-effectiveness, DG ENV, 2009. Final report
Identification and comparison of existing water performance requirements for buildings across EU and to determine the gaps in view of establishing requirements for water performance requirement for buildings at the EU level, DG ENV, 2009. Final report
Overview of the most recent developments of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, including its implementation in the Community and the Member States, and assessment of the state of the art knowledge regarding the impacts of land degradation and desertification in Europe and globally, indicators to measure and monitor the impacts and possible measures. European Parliament, 2009. Report
Analysis of impacts of water scarcity and droughts on citizens (incl. public health) and economic sectors, as well on natural resources, biodiversity, water quality, soil and many other ecosystem aspects, European Parliament, 2007 Report
Preparation of a briefing to carry out a simplification of the existing water policies, including inland and maritime waters, with an in-depth analysis of six MS, European Parliament, 2007 Report

Exemplary Operations

BIO developed 50 'examples to follow' fact sheets illustrating successful operations carried out by regional and national actors in 11 fields (air, buildings, climate change, waste, sustainable development, energy saving, renewable energies and materials, environmental management, transport, urban planning, Europe and world). ADEME 2008, Consult

Environmental and Occupational Health Safety

BIO edited scientific news for a newsletter published by AFSSET (French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) on the recent developments in environmental and occupational health safety (covering environmental, toxicological, and epidemiological issues). Read here (only in French)

Environmental Management Systems (EMAS)

Guidelines for transition from non formal (regional, national or sector specific) environmental management systems and ISO 14001 to EMAS. DG ENV, 2009

European Environmental Communication Networks (EECN)

Secretariat for European communication networks (incl. Green Spider Network and Climate Broadcasters Network). Assistance, facilitation, and animation of the networks; information dissemination and monthly newsflash; design of best practice fact sheets, brochures, or other documents; organisation of events; amelioration of the influence of the networks. DG ENV, since 2008 see related website

CO2 capture, transport and storage

Editorial management of the Club CO2 website, ADEME, 2008-09.
LCA of prospective scenarios related to the capture and storage of CO2, French National Agency for Research, 2008-11