Sustainability Performances, Evidence and Scenarios

Project Information

SPES

Grant agreement ID: 101094551

DOI

10.3030/101094551

Project closed

EC signature date 12 December 2022

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 677 276,00

EU contribution

€ 2 677 276,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SPES (Sustainability Performances, Evidence and Scenarios)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

A growing consensus recognizes that economic growth does not inherently lead to social inclusion and environmental sustainability. Economic, social, and environmental policies in Europe are progressively characterized by a commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth, leaving no one behind. But to achieve this, there is a need for original concepts and evidence that can support European and global policies in the transition towards achieving Sustainable Human Development.
By generating new knowledge about the nexus between economic growth, human flourishing, and sustainability, the SPES project aims at fostering the transition towards Sustainable Human Development in Europe.
To achieve this, the SPES project considers a combined research and policy perspective to
1. Define an appropriate measurement and analytical framework for Sustainable Human Development and transition performances.
2. Enable an integrated policy approach towards sustainability based on the co-evolution of social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability.
SPES work on these specific objectives focuses on the five pillars of Sustainable Human Development, both theoretically and empirically, and it addresses this main research question: How can productivity, equity, environmental sustainability, participation & empowerment, and human security be reconciled to drive the transition towards Sustainable Human Development in Europe?
To tackle this complex research question, the SPES research design is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining desk-based, quantitative, and participatory research methods to jointly perform literature and policy reviews, statistical analyses, case-study analyses, and scenario analyses. Moreover, the strong involvement of both the SPES International Stakeholder Committee and the SPES Scientific Advisory Board, as well as the adoption of tailored communication, dissemination, and impact strategies, decisively contribute to fostering SPES policy impact.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work performed is contributing to relevant achievements in both SPES specific objectives.
First, the SPES project has been defining and disseminating an appropriate theoretical, analytical and measurement framework on sustainability transitions towards Sustainable Human Development Second, the SPES project has carried out research and policy-engagement activities aimed at enabling an integrated policy approach towards sustainability.
Indeed, the whole set of its scientific deliverables (D2.1; D2.2; D2.3; D3.1; D4.1) delivered by the end of year 1 – January 2024 – have provided novel arguments by: integrating the sustainable development and human development paradigms in a theoretically-grounded and policy-oriented framework centred on collective human action; examining how the EU approaches the sustainability transition and sustainable development in its overarching strategies and policy statements; providing key messages and policy recommendations for global and European policies to embrace an integrated vision of Sustainable Human Development; mapping and assessing available indicator sets and composite indices to measure transition performances in Europe and across the world; mapping the use of innovative data sources and data integration methods to measure sustainability transitions.
SPES progress on both defining an appropriate theoretical, analytical and measurement framework and enabling an integrated policy approach has truly benefited also from: a) the effective involvement of the SPES Scientific Advisory Board and International Stakeholder Committee, whose members have provided inputs and suggestions to SPES research and policy arguments; b) several activities organized as part of the clustering initiative with the other projects funded under the same call (ToBe, WISE Horizons, Wiser), which offered the invaluable opportunity to join forces – rather than competing – in setting a common understanding and shared messages on inclusive and sustainable well-being.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SPES achieved and expected results intend representing a central reference point in the scientific debate on the nexus between economic growth, human flourishing, and sustainability. In particular, all SPES scientific deliverables are contributing to consolidate the paradigm of Sustainable Human Development for its decisive mainstreaming, through the creation of a novel theoretical and measurement framework and an original investigation of sustainability transition performances, including trade-offs and synergies among different dimensions.
Such scientific results are pointing to an integrated policy framework with a potential economic and societal impact.
On the former, SPES arguments are meant to shape a new economic model to make EU, national and local economic systems more able promote inclusive and sustainable well-being.
On the latter, SPES pushes to reconcile social fairness, inclusiveness, and sustainability within growth processes paying equal attention to productivity, equity, environmental sustainability, participation & empowerment, and human security. Moreover, by embracing a Quintuple Helix model and a political economy perspective, SPES is arguing that sustainability transition processes are centred on collective human action by all societal actors.
Key needs to ensure further uptake and success concerns follow-up research as well as coordination and support actions enabling clustering initiatives across projects with similar backgrounds, scope, and ambitions. At the same time, supporting continuous policy engagement with EU institutions is fundamental for the effective uptake of novel ideas and findings.

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