Contents:

1. Tools for the Economic Evaluation of Climate Adaptation – ECONADAPT's Toolbox and Library
2. Consumer Rights in International Trade Agreements – Publication
3. Environmental Change and Human Security in Africa and the Middle East – Publication
4. Ecologic Institute at the 45th Cairo Climate Talks in Egypt – Panel Discussion
5. Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy – BioSTEP Forum
6. Coordinated Global Governance: Integration in the Atlantic – Publication
7. Public Award Voting for REFRESH Food Waste Solution Contest – News
8. Launch of the Global Go To Index Report 2016 – News

1. Tools for the Economic Evaluation of Climate Adaptation – ECONADAPT's Toolbox and Library

   The FP7 Project ECONADAPT ended in September 2016 after three years of research on the economics of adaptation. The main impetus of the project was to support adaptation planning by building the knowledge base on the economics of adaptation to climate change and converting this into practical information for decision makers. Ecologic led work in the development of two web-based databanks, the ECONADAPT Toolbox and the ECONADAPT Library, which will remain available to the public and interested stakeholders.

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2. Consumer Rights in International Trade Agreements – Publication

   In principle, increased trade resulting from trade agreements can offer consumers access to goods and services that are less expensive or of higher quality. At the same time, there is a risk that rules in trade and investment agreements limit the sovereign right of states to adopt measures for consumer protection at the domestic level. Hence, much depends on how these agreements are designed. A study, compiled by Christiane Gerstetter, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute and Christian Pitschas provides an overview of consumer-related rights in recent international trade agreements. The study was commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv); it is available for download in German.

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3. Environmental Change and Human Security in Africa and the Middle East – Publication

   For many populations that are already socially marginalized, resource dependent and with limited capital assets, human security will be progressively undermined by environmental change. A new book, co-edited by Katriona McGlade, Fellow and Coordinator of International Development at Ecologic Institute, examines interactions between environmental change and human security in the Middle East and Africa. The collected volume, published by Springer, demonstrates that global environmental change in general, and climate change in particular, are putting both human security and human rights (e.g. to life, health, shelter, and food) at risk.

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4. Ecologic Institute at the 45th Cairo Climate Talks in Egypt – Panel Discussion

   Ecologic Institute's Lena Donat provided the European perspective on the Paris Agreement and the outcomes of COP22 in Marrakesh at the 45th Cairo Climate Talks, titled "COP22: Fostering Climate Change Resilience in Egypt". The event brought together decision-makers as well as representatives from business, academia and civil society. The presentation slides and a video recording of the discussion are available online.

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5. Creating Networks for the Transition to a Bio-based and Circular Economy – BioSTEP Forum

   On 29 March 2017, the BioSTEP Forum will present and discuss the results of the stake-holder engagement activities in BioSTEP and their value to the current policy discussions on the bioeconomy and the circular economy. In three policy workshops, the BioSTEP project analyzed the participation processes that are necessary to build and strengthen the new value chains of the bioeconomy. The policy workshops discussed how bioeconomy strategies can be developed in a participatory way, ensuring that the change of economic value chains, necessary for a transition to a bioeconomy, is understood and supported by all stakeholders. Registration for the forum in March is now open; please make sure to register in time.

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6. Coordinated Global Governance: Integration in the Atlantic – Publication

   The book, "Germany's New Responsibility" (Deutschlands Neue Verantwortung), contains contributions from 144 key political, practical and scientific thinkers, whose joint message underlines the challenges to and necessity of a new German foreign policy. In his article, R. Andreas Kraemer, founder and director emeritus of Ecologic Institute, explains how Germany, Europe and other western powers should react in the face of withdrawal and isolationist foreign policy by the USA. His contribution emphasizes the opportunities that arise through enhanced cooperation with countries in the South Atlantic and demonstrates how Germany can do justice to its global responsibility.

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7. Public Award Voting for REFRESH Food Waste Solution Contest – News

   Voting for the Public Award of the REFRESH Food Waste Solution Contest is open from 1 until 28 February 2017 to all members of the public. The REFRESH Food Waste Solution Contest was launched in 2016. Choose your favorite from over fifty project submissions from across Europe! The aim of the contest is to recognize and support groundbreaking projects and ideas addressing food waste.

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8. Launch of the Global Go To Index Report 2016 – News

   The Global Go To Think Tank Ranking was launched in capitals around the world on 26 and 27 January 2017. Ecologic Institute was ranked in seven categories and remains among the Top 10 Environmental Think Tanks globally.

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