August 22, 2023
From think tank to think-and-do tank
The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. A key part of achieving this is setting science-based targets, which Brussels-based sustainability think tank IEEP (The Institute for European Environmental Policy) has been supporting for over 45 years.
In 2018, IEEP set up the multi-stakeholder platform Think2030 to bring together European think tanks, civil society, the private sector and local authorities. Tetra Pak was one of the first to join.
“We're moving towards what I like to call a think-and-do tank. We’re bringing together leading industry players and providing strong recommendations to policymakers”
By focusing on producing relevant, timely and concrete policy recommendations, Think2030’s key objective is to identify science-based policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe.
“We're moving towards what I like to call a think-and-do tank. In addition to working on identified gaps and delivering evidence and research, we’re bringing together leading industry players and knowledge organisations to provide strong recommendations to policymakers,” says Martijn Pakker, Head of Strategic Relations at IEEP.
Uniting the interests of siloed sectors
Advocacy work has tended to be siloed. Academia would work through its own channels, civil society would travel down its own inroads, and the private sector would focus on its own interests.
“Think2030 brings stakeholders together to focus on what unites us as interested parties – and then building on that common ground. It’s about trying to find the highest common denominator so you can activate a broader group aiming to achieve the same ambitions,” says Katie Carson, Director of Corporate Affairs, Food & Climate Policy at Tetra Pak.
“We’re looking at things like how can we create the right policy conditions for a sustainable food system transition”
The aim is to engage with all partners to encourage knowledge-sharing across sectors and industries – and figure out where network members can support each other.
A key initiative the platform is focusing on is the European Green Deal, as well as its various ramifications. In this context, the platform addresses the need to transform the EU food system through the upcoming EU policy framework on Sustainable Food Systems, looking at environmental and health issues while also considering the diversity of agri-food systems in Europe.
“We’re looking at things like how can we create the right policy conditions for a sustainable food system transition – and we need all the expertise we can get to achieve it,” says Martijn.
Taking the temperature on policy progress
The Think2030 platform has contributed to the development of IEEP’s European Green Deal Barometer, an annual expert survey report that analyses the progress made on Green Deal objectives and identifies gaps and opportunities.
“Tetra Pak was a great support in the development of the barometer, particularly when it came to dissemination to different stakeholder groups.”
The barometer has only been around for three years but has already been called a useful tool a by EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkečius.
Global companies play a role in sharing joint messages
Tetra Pak is one of the first industry members of the platform. Another example of a member is Oatly – and having these global companies on board is valuable for many reasons, according to Martijn.
“It adds gravitas to the messaging – and it also helps cover more ground,” he says.
As of this year and every six months, IEEP organises a national Think2030 Dialogue with a Think Sustainable Europe member and other national stakeholders to discuss environmental policy and exchange ideas and innovations. The most recent event in April focused on the topic of “Navigating crisis through sustainability” and was co-organised with SEI in association with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“We need to maintain the Green Deal’s ambitions and level of commitment even after 2024, and we need to move faster than we currently are”
“These events are a great forum for sharing our insights and working together with other leaders. It’s also an opportunity to show the way forward and hopefully inspire other organisations,” says Katie.
Martijn explains that the industry has an important role to play in the implementation of the Green Deal, especially when it comes to innovation and sustainability efforts. “Because we need to maintain the Green Deal’s ambitions and level of commitment even after 2024 and the current EU political mandate,” he says.
“We need to move even faster than we are currently when it comes to the Green Deal. There’s more than enough to tackle. Food systems, for example, account for more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions – and nearly a third of all food is lost or wasted. How can we produce more food globally to feed a growing population – while working to combat the effects of climate change that are putting an unprecedented strain on our food systems?” says Katie.
Picture from Think2030 Dialogue – Sweden (IEEP 2023)
A one-stop shop for policymakers
The multi-stakeholder platform is already demonstrating value to policymakers because it brings together a range of different stakeholders.
“We’re not focused on single issues or working with a single vision. Because to achieve a more sustainable Europe, we all need to work together”
“It makes life much easier for policymakers because we’re able to offer a one-stop shop for consultations and for gathering evidence. And at the same time, it sends a very strong signal to policymakers that our priorities are not particular to one sector,” says Martijn – and Katie agrees.
“The collaborative approach really strengthens the messages we’re trying to convey. It shows that we’re focusing on shared priorities – that we’re working towards common goals,” she says.
“We’re not focused on single issues or working with a single vision. Because to achieve a more sustainable Europe, we all need to work together,” says Martijn.
The European Green Deal Barometer
The Think2030 platform has contributed to the development of IEEP’s European Green Deal Barometer, an annual expert survey report that analyses the progress made on Green Deal objectives and identifies gaps and opportunities.
“The barometer helps create a picture of the opinions and views of EU environmental experts and really serves as a confidence barometer on European Green Deal implementation,” says Martijn.
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