Ecologic provides policy consultancy, and facilitates and vitalizes international policy processes in order to develop new approaches at interfaces between different policy fields, and across policy communities. A selection of such projects, with a focus on transatlantic environmental policy, are listed below.

Ecologic Transatlantic Projects listed in chronological order:

Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptations in the Marine Arctic (Arctic TRANSFORM)

This project develops transatlantic policy options for supporting adaptation in the marine Arctic environment. Arctic TRANSFORM explores the roles of EU and US marine policies in light of both the changing climate and the current political and legal complexities of the Arctic region. The challenges being discussed include, i.a. increased access for shipping and oil- and gas- exploration, new threats to marine biodiversity and indigenous communities as well as international treaties and sovereignty disputes.

Sponsor: European Commission, DG External Relations
Partners: Heinz Center, The Arctic Centre, The Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS)
Duration: 01.01.2008 until 30.06.2009
Project number: 1913

What Price Energy Transformation?

The three-part seminar series "What Price Energy Transformation" deals with the energy and security policy challenges evoked by climate change. The participants from Europe and the USA discuss their views and knowledge on the causes, impacts and solutions of the changes with the aim of developing a common paper providing concrete recommendations and instructions for policy-makers.

Sponsor: European Commission, DG Relex; German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Support: Royal Danish Embassy Berlin; Heinrich Boell Foundation Washington
Partners: The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), Environmental Defense
Duration: 01.01.2007 until 28.02.2009
Project number: 1721-24

Johns Hopkins University Summer School: ''Anything is Possible''

Ecologic taught a Johns Hopkins Summer School on European Environmental Politics from 9th to 20th of June 2008. Ecologic staff members and guest speakers conducted lessons on all relevant subjects, ranging from European Integration to European Water Policies. Johns Hopkins students also met with a variety of stakeholders in Berlin and Brussels to discuss European Environmental Policy. To study German nature conservation policies, students visited the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide.

Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Duration: 15.05.2008 until 31.07.2008
Project number: 221-04

Fulbright Seminar "Science and Society: The Impact of Science on Policy Formulation"'

The Fulbright German Studies Seminar 2008 brought 17 scholars from US universities and colleges to Berlin and Brussels for a two-week study tour on "Science and Society: The Impact of Science on Policy Formulation" focusing on governance at the science-policy interface in Germany and the European Union. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic advised on scoping and concept development and was key-note presenter on policy-making in the European Union and sustainability politics.

Sponsor: German-American Fulbright Commission
Duration: 01.04.2008 until 30.06.2008
Project number: 1811-02

EU governance: towards a new architecture?

Widespread characterizations of EU governance as multi-level and networked overlook the emergent architecture of the Union’s public rule making. In this architecture, framework goals (such as full employment, social inclusion, “good water status”, a unified energy grid) and measures for gauging their achievement are established by joint action of the member states and EU institutions. Lower-level units (such as national ministries or regulatory authorities and the actors with whom they collaborate) are given the freedom to advance these ends as they see fit.

Sponsor: European Union Center of Excellence, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Duration: 01.11.2006 until 01.06.2008
Project number: 250-01

Transatlantic Cooperation with Local and Regional Communities in the US: Explaining EU Policy

The lecture tour from 31 March to 4 April 2008 was initiated by the World Affairs Council of Rhode Island (WACRI) and involved a number of universities, law firms, local chapters of the WACA, and Eric M. Warburg Chapters of the ACG, as well as representatives from consular offices of EU Member States.

Sponsor: American Council on Germany, World Affairs Council of America, World Affairs Council of Rhode Island
Duration: 01.03.2008 until 31.05.2008
Project number: 201-64

Transatlantic Farmer-to-Farmer exchange on bioenergy and climate friendly farming practices

On 9-19 August 2007, a transatlantic Farmer-to-Farmer exchange program brought together 30 farmers, policy makers, scientists, and journalists from the United States and Europe with an agricultural background. The program included field visits to farms and biomass processing facilities in Germany and the U.S. as well as visits to research institutes to see experimental bioenergy cropping, climate friendly agricultural practices and to discuss the link between climate and agricultural policy.

International Dialogue on Ecological Policy

The Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance (MSWG) in the United States held its annual workshop 2007 as "An International Dialogue on Ecological Policy" on 18-20 June 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin, and invited Ecologic Institute to contribute European perspectives. Peter Kessler spoke on environmental innovation in practice, Ingmar von Homeyer on innovative environmental governance and regulation in the EU, and R. Andreas Kraemer on sustainable water management infrastructure, and the infrastructure needed for transatlantic cooperation.

Sponsors: United States Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance (MSWG)

Duration: 01.04.2007 until 30.06.2007

Project number: 101-05

Federalism in Germany and the USA: Environmental Regulatory Implications and Trends

The USA and Germany are currently each engaged in a battle over the respective rights of the federal vs. state government in determining environmental standards and regulations. In the United States, California and a number of other states are introducing emissions regulations either on their own or in regional partnerships. In Germany, reform of federalism could lead to exceptions from country-wide environmental regulations. In both instances, this tug-of-war could lead to disparate environmental regulations and standards from region to region, an outcome that could pose significant challenges for industry. The project report focuses on the federalism debate as it relates to environmental regulation in Germany and the United States and its implications for business.

Sponsors: American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), DaimlerChrysler-Fonds im Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft

Duration: 16.10.2006 until 30.06.2007

Project number: 201-42

Smart Grids – Future Electricity Grids in a Transatlantic Learning Center at the CSD 15

Combinations of electrical, information and communication technologies allow for Smart Grids to provide dynamic efficiency for power generation, transmission and distribution. Ecologic took the lead in preparing a Learning Centre on the current state and potential of Smart Grids at the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15). The course highlighted the benefits of smart grids for an increased use of variable renewable power sources, while enhancing energy security, stabilising electricity grids and reducing the need for reserve capacity, leading to economic benefits and reduced carbon dioxide emission.

Partners: United Nations Foundation, Low Carbon Accelerator, Energy Future Coalition, RLtec, IBM

Duration: 01.03.2007 until 31.05.2007

Project number: 101-04

Institutional Interaction in International Environmental Governance: Transatlantic Science Outreach

The results of the flagship project on "Institutional Interaction" on Conflicts and Synergies between International and EU Environmental Institutions, financed by the European Commission (GD Research) and Ecologic, were presented and discussed with scholars at two Annual Conventions of the International Studies Association (ISA) in Portland, Oregon, in 2003 and in San Diego, California, in 2006. Sebastian Oberthür and Thomas Gehring chaired the sessions with scientists from the Institutional Interaction project team presenting, and Oran Young leading the discussion on the interaction and synergies among institutions in international environmental governance.

Sponsor: Ecologic Institute

Duration: 01.01.2001 until 31.12.2006

Project number: 890-01

Transatlantic Climate Dinners - Wine & Ideas from the New World
This series of events will bring U.S. climate policy experts together with their German counterparts to discuss policies, strategies and recent developments in the climate debate in an informal yet private atmosphere. Dinner participants will include senior experts from government, research, civil society, and business. These Transatlantic Climate Dinners are part of Ecologic’s Dinner Dialogue series.

Sponsor: The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Duration: 16.02.2005 until 31.12.2005
Project number: 1710

Transatlantic Environmental Cooperation on the Subnational Level
A number of environmental partnerships have been evolving between Europe and the U.S. at the sub-national level. As state and local authorities on both continents work to respond to environmental challenges such as urban sprawl, brownfield redevelopment and energy efficiency, they are looking across the Atlantic for models of innovative policies and projects. Thanks to a scholarship from the John J. McCloy Foundation Ecologic Fellow Markus Knigge investigated the creation, maintenance and impacts of transatlantic environmental cooperation at the subnational level in the US.
Sponsor: American Council on Germany
Duration: 01.04.2005 until 30.04.2005

Transatlantic Dialogue on Precaution, Risk and Regulation
Differences in the approaches to risk assessment and management, and the development of regulation under conditions of uncertainty are important sources of friction between the US and the EU. A transatlantic dialogue entitled "The Reality of Precaution", managed by the Duke University Center for Environmental Solutions and the Group of Policy Advisors of the European Commission addresses the application of the precautionary principle in practice. With sponsorship from the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), R. Andreas Kraemer participates in and contributes to the dialogue.
Sponsor: German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF)
Duration: 01.01.2002 until 31.12.2004
Project number: 101-06

Enhancing Prospects for Environmental Leadership: Challenges for Rio + 10
This workshop organised by Ecologic offered expert policy-makers and researchers from both sides of the Atlantic a forum for discussing the current state of international environmental policy and transatlantic cooperation.
Sponsor: German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF); Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento (FLAD)
Duration: 03.11.1999 until 30.04.2000
Project number: 862-3