Contents:

1. Future of the EU: What Role for Climate and Energy Policies? – Background Papers
2. Scenarios for Deep Decarbonisation of EU Industry – Webinar
3. Microplastics Analytics – Discussion Paper
4. A Sustainable Economy – Working papers on sustainable food systems and living labs
5. Think 2030: Science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe – Presentation
6. Geopolitics of Climate Change – Panel Discussion
7. Much Heat and Little Water – River Restoration – News
8. Nature-based Solutions and Multi-level Governance for Carbon-neutral and Resilient Cities and Regions – COP24 side event
9. Plastic in the Environment – Status Conference
10. Participation, Appropriation, Representation: Towards an inclusive, sustainable Arctic – Arctic Circle Assembly 2018 side event
11. Arctic Think Tank Panel – Arctic Circle Assembly 2018
12. Footprints in the Arctic – Evening Event

1. Future of the EU: What Role for Climate and Energy Policies? – Background Papers

   The EU has been going through a series of crises – from the Eurozone crisis and Brexit to controversies about the rule of law, democracy and migration. In response to Brexit, the EU has embarked on a process of reflection and possibly reform. As a contribution to this process, Ecologic Institute explores EU climate and energy policies as part of the block’s future. Two background papers are available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/15630

2. Scenarios for Deep Decarbonisation of EU Industry – Webinar

   The EU and its Member States aim to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to use energy more efficiently. Decarbonisation of industry plays a key role in reaching this goal. This 26 November 2018 webinar presents strategies for reaching ambitious low emission levels in European industry. We look at technological solutions, but also at strategies like reducing power demand and increasing recycling rates. Online registration is required to attend the event.

   https://ecologic.eu/16084

3. Microplastics Analytics – Discussion Paper

   This discussion paper, sponsored by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research and edited by Ecologic Institute, presents the various ways of analyzing microplastics in the context of the Ministry’s interdisciplinary "Plastics in the Environment" initiative coordinated by PlastikNet. The paper brings together physicochemical investigation methods used in the initiative's 18 separate projects, identifying validated methods and comparable results of microplastics analysis in the research focus across projects. It reflects the current state of debate within the "Plastics in the Environment" research focus, contributing to a standardized methodological toolbox for this issue in science, industry, and administration. The discussion paper is available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/16071

4. A Sustainable Economy – Working papers on sustainable food systems and living labs

   As the institution in charge of the German government sponsored initiative "Scientific Coordination of the Support Measure for Sustainable Management" (NaWiKo), Ecologic Institute was involved with several of its working papers. These are available for download and summarise the results of various NaWiKo research projects on specific individual aspects of a sustainable economy, including policy recommendations for promoting sustainable food systems in Germany

   https://ecologic.eu/16087

5. Think 2030: Science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe – Presentation

   Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, the Think 2030 conference launched a new sustainability platform that aims to inform a science-based agenda for European environmental policy beyond 2020 and propose solutions to Europe's most pressing sustainability issues. Ecologic Institute's Matthias Duwe co-authored a paper on long-term climate planning in the EU together with Lola Vallejo (IDDRI). The paper was discussed during a dedicated session, where Matthias Duwe served as a rapporteur. A summary of the paper is available online.

   https://ecologic.eu/16063

6. Geopolitics of Climate Change – Panel Discussion

   At the 2018 Global Think Tank Summit (GTTS2018) in Brussels, hosted by European think tank Bruegel and the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the University of Pennsylvania, Ecologic Institute prepared and hosted a panel on the geopolitics of climate change. It covered the geopolitical dynamics of accelerating climate change as well as the geopolitical consequences of transformation in the energy and transport sectors.

   https://ecologic.eu/16074

7. Much Heat and Little Water – River Restoration – News

   At temperatures above 30° C, the project team of "Information Platform for the Restoration of Rivers" toured Germany to document ten river restoration projects. Due to the low water levels in 2018, the hydromorphological conditions of the water bodies that were of particular interest to the project team were clearly visible. Ecologic Institute conceptualised the information platform, which is funded by the German Federal Environment Agency to inform and motivate potential river restoration project coordinators. The projects will be presented in 2019 on the agency's website.

   https://ecologic.eu/16086

8. Nature-based Solutions and Multi-level Governance for Carbon-neutral and Resilient Cities and Regions – COP24 side event

   On Saturday, 8 December 2018, Ecologic Institute will host a side event in the EU Pavilion at the COP24 in Katowice (Poland). In Cooperation with ICLEI Europe, invited practitioners and experts will discuss the role nature-based solutions (NBS) and multi-level governance play in facilitating the transition of cities and regions to carbon neutrality. The event is open to all accredited participants and delegates to the COP24.

   https://ecologic.eu/16096

9. Plastic in the Environment – Status Conference

   Projects that are part of the German government sponsored research initiative "Plastic in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" will present their initial results at the programme’s status conference on 9 and 10 April 2019. The event, which will take place at Berlin’s Kalkscheune venue, will feature project representatives discussing their findings and challenges as well as cross-cutting topics. Save the date for your participation!

   https://ecologic.eu/16103

10. Participation, Appropriation, Representation: Towards an inclusive, sustainable Arctic – Arctic Circle Assembly 2018 side event

    Ecologic Institute's Arctic Summer College, supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, hosted a side event on sustainable development in the Arctic that welcomed over 50 participants in its first session during the Arctic Circle Assembly on 20 October 2018. A recording of the side event is available online.

    https://ecologic.eu/16098

11. Arctic Think Tank Panel – Arctic Circle Assembly 2018

    "Strengthening Cooperation between Arctic and Non-Arctic Countries" was the theme of a meeting of Arctic Think Tanks at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2018 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Participants focused on the role and functions of policy institutes – or think tanks – in addressing challenges specific to the Circumpolar North and how its peoples and countries relate with the rest of the world. The meeting was convened by the Arctic Summer College as a joint programme of Ecologic Institute in Berlin (Germany) and Ecologic Institute US in Washington DC (USA).

    https://ecologic.eu/16073

12. Footprints in the Arctic – Evening Event

    What does Germany have to do with the Arctic and what impact do Germans' daily decisions have on it? These and other questions were discussed on 22 October 2018 during Ecologic Institute's evening event on Germany's arctic activities, part of a project for the German Environment Agency (UBA). The evening brought a broader audience together with experts in a scientific setting, and enabled exchange interaction with various German organisations at information booths. The evening’s opening event was the premiere of a short documentary film called "Footsteps in the Arctic," which explores to what extent Germans are responsible for the changes in the Arctic and what they can do.

    https://ecologic.eu/15944