Contents:

1. Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2017
2. Sustainable Communities through Digitization?! – Publication
3. A Taste of the Future of the Seas – Pilot Report
4. Plastic in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions – Publication
5. The BRIGAID Market Analysis Framework (MAF+) – Online Collaboration Facility
6. Emissions Trading in China and Europe – Conference
7. Dr. Bausch in Discussion with Prof. Edenhofer and Melissa Eddy on US Climate Policy – Panel Discussion
8. Effective Stakeholder and Public Engagement in the Bioeconomy – Final BioSTEP Conference
9. Guide to Art and Sustainability Initiatives in Berlin – Book Launch

1. Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2017

   EUROSTAT has issued its 2017 edition on Sustainable Development in the European Union. The report provides an updated snapshot of the current situation concerning a selected number of indicators related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Over the past five years, the EU has made significant progress towards five goals and moderate progress towards eight SDGs. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The publication is available for download.

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2. Sustainable Communities through Digitization?! – Publication

   With this contribution Doris Knoblauch and Susanne Langsdorf from Ecologic Institute offer a three-step process that enables a meaningful assessment of projects' sustainability and is easy to use at the same time. The process has already been tested by two digitization projects. The article is available online in the "Monitor Nachhaltige Kommune. Report 2017" published by the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

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3. A Taste of the Future of the Seas – Pilot Report

   Engaging the public on science and sustainable consumption: the how-to guide published in the pilot report "A Taste of the Future of the Seas" explains how to organize fun and impactful popular-scientific events, with a special focus on sustainable food. The guide, published by Ecologic Institute, is part of the Science Year 2016*17 – Seas and Oceans and is available for download in German.

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4. Plastic in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions – Publication

   With its comprehensive research programme, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding 18 research projects which have the overall aim to noticeably decrease the amount of plastics in the environment. This conference reader, published by Ecologic Institute, presents the aims of the overall research programme as well as the 18 research projects spanning a wide range of research areas such as Green Economy, Consumption, Recycling, Freshwater Systems as well as Seas and Oceans, and the accompanying research of PlastikNet. The PlastikNet conference reader is available for download.

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5. The BRIGAID Market Analysis Framework (MAF+) – Online Collaboration Facility

   Ecologic Institute has recently launched an online collaboration facility that helps climate innovators bring new solutions to market: the BRIGAID Market Analysis Framework (MAF+). By helping to identify actual market needs for solutions against droughts, floods and extreme weather events, MAF+ improves innovators' capacities to recognize business opportunities in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. This work is carried out within the BRIGAID project, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme of the EU.

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6. Emissions Trading in China and Europe – Conference

   On 13 December 2017 the China Emissions Exchange and the European Commission hosted a conference in Shenzhen on emissions trading in China and the EU. The conference was organized by Ecologic Institute. The event brought together experts from the world's largest emissions trading scheme, the EU ETS, and China's future major emissions trading scheme. The conference took stock of what emissions trading in the EU and China have achieved so far and what lessons can be drawn from it. Moreover, the event dealt with how emissions trading can contribute to mastering future climate policy challenges. The presentation slides are available online.

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7. Dr. Bausch in Discussion with Prof. Edenhofer and Melissa Eddy on US Climate Policy – Panel Discussion

   Donald Trump's announcement that the USA will pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement triggered the German Federal Agency for Civic Education to put American climate policy on stage in its popular series "What's Up America". Dr. Camilla Bausch of Ecologic Institute, Prof. Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer of PIK Potsdam and the New York Times Berlin correspondent Melissa Eddy addressed the reasoning behind this controversial decision and possible consequences.

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8. Effective Stakeholder and Public Engagement in the Bioeconomy – Final BioSTEP Conference

   Over a period of three years the BioSTEP project developed participation tools to involve the public in the development of the European bioeconomy. Different types of participation were sought. During the final conference on 22 February 2018 in Brussels, the participation formats and their possible impact as well as the BioSTEP research recommendations will be presented and discussed. Registrations are possible until 15 February 2018.

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9. Guide to Art and Sustainability Initiatives in Berlin – Book Launch

   The fruits of Yasmine Ostendorf's Writer-in-Residence term at Ecologic Institute were presented at a festive December evening at Zabriskie Bookshop. The publication "Creative Environment – A guide to art and sustainability initiatives in Berlin" was rolled out to a vibrant group of scientists, artists, curators and the general public. The publication is available online and in hard copy.

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