Das Projekt "Modellierung nachhaltiger Regionalentwicklung in der europaeischen Informationsgesellschaft" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von UFZ-Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig-Halle GmbH durchgeführt. UFZ - Application for the Environment and Climate (1994-1998) Programme: 1) The main aim of the proposed project consists of a general model, both as a theory and applicable at case studies, for integrated sustainable regional development in the information society regarding the process of structural change and the environmental situation in Europe. This model refers to the aspects of change from an industrial to an information society according to the so-called Bangemann Report for the Commission. The present development of the information society in Europe changes the economy, work and lifestyles. All of these factors influence the land use and the environment. Especially we assume the information and communication technologies will have the most future impacts on the European development and contribute as a 'clean technology' according to the EU White Paper 'Growth, Competitiveness, Employment' towards sustainability. In that sense they have a great importance on the 'Environment and Climate' Programme. How can the emergence of new industries and of different socioeconomic structures give new opportunities to solve economic and environmental problems and to advance sustainability? What model for sustainable regional development do we need in the information society? The main objective in theoretical research of this project is to improve the state of the art of system dynamics models concerning these aspects. 2) This system model evaluates the complex interdependences of economic, social, ecological and cultural structures within a region. The project wants to compare that complex in different regional case studies over Europe and to concentrate on the best practice for integrating sustainability. The application of this general model is the other practical research task for each partner in the team. Are there some variances on the level of different European regions? 3) All results and discussions in the project concern high relevance to the EU - environment and regional development policies. What political consequences do have technological changes by information technologies for sustainable development? Can our model and our case studies give some implications for local, national or European policies? Another special aim of this project is to look at the complex system and interdependences of these policies and their impacts on the environmental and economics situation of different European regions. In that sense it refers to the EUs current fifth Action Programme on the Environment: 'Towards Sustainability'. Concerning the fifth Action Programme on the Environment it is clear that this research project wants to bring together the issues of the environment and an approach towards sustainable development. The fifth Action Programme 'Towards Sustainability' adopted in 1992 proposes a new strategy for the environment and sustainable development ...