Socio-ecological evaluation in politics

The importance of evaluation in political decision-making and planning processes is growing. This results on the one hand from the increasing pressure to justify political measures and programmes, the legitimacy and acceptance of which is to be increased through evaluation. On the other hand, learning political approaches must detect their effects at an early stage and constantly optimise them. The evaluation of sustainability effects is gaining particular relevance. Within the framework of conventional sustainability assessments, economic aspects frequently dominate the other sustainability dimensions, and so a new project by IÖW and Ecologic – Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, will attach greater importance to the evaluation of socio-ecological factors. The project team will participate in selected networks in this field and set up a new international network. The scientists will also organise an international conference and a summer school for young up-and-coming scientists.

Project homepage: www.ecologic.de/soef/epos/index