Contents:

1. The Future of the EU – the Role of Climate and Energy Policies – Publication
2. Planning for Europe's Net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans – Publication
3. Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning – Publication
4. Planning for 2050 – EU Experience with Long-term Climate Strategies – Conference
5. Identifying the Drivers of Successful Implementation of the EU's Birds and Habitats Directives – Publication
6. Implementation of EU Action Plan on Environmental Compliance and Governance – Publications
7. Land Take and Soil Sealing in European Cities – Publication
8. European Embedding of the German Climate Protection Act – Zukunftsforum Ecornet
9. Climate Change on the Agenda at the European Think Tank Summit in Madrid – Presentation
10. 32 Reasons why Europe is a "Damn Good Idea" – Publication
11. Ecologic Institute is Looking to Hire – Job Opportunities

0. Europe votes

   In Washington DC during 2008, the streets were completely decked out with the call to "vote". I was brand new to the American capital and impressed by the degree of non-partisan commitment to the democratic process. If the last few years have shown anything, it is that elections have consequences. Voting as an option and responsibility for active citizens: this notion should also guide us this month in Europe!

   For many decades, the EU (or the EC) has been a unique guarantor of peace, rule of law, and economic development through cooperation. After centuries of wars and conflicts, the EU is an example of integrated, rule-based, multilateral cooperation – an approach urgently needed in our time, including for solving our global environmental problems.

   In many cases, the EU triggered environmental policies more ambitious than what could have been expected with regard to the sum of individual national policies. One example has been at the very heart of European policies since the time of the ECSC: energy. Even though there are many different views and approaches to this issue in the individual Member States – for example with regard to the role of nuclear energy and coal – international cooperation is vital for issues such as air quality, water and climate protection. In recent years, the EU has been able to make progress in this area, for example with its new governance regulation and the long overdue reform of the emissions trading scheme.

   The European Parliament has repeatedly acted as a scolding voice, demanding greater environmental ambition. At the same time, there is still much to do. It is palpable that crossing our planetary boundaries has come at a cost. The societal transformation towards an economy and way of life that generates social welfare within the planetary boundaries can only succeed through cooperative transnational efforts. The new European Parliament will have a formative role to play here.

   So, in this spirit: Vote!

   
   Yours sincerely,
   Dr. Camilla Bausch, Director, Ecologic Institute

1. The Future of the EU – the Role of Climate and Energy Policies – Publication

   In response to Brexit, the EU embarked on a process of reflection and possibly reform, the so-called Bratislava Process or the Process on the Future of Europe. At its meeting on 9 May 2019, the European Council was expected to draw first conclusions. As a contribution to this process, the Ecologic Institute, the Istituto Affari Internazionali, the Institute of European Environment Policies and the Climate Strategy Institute 2050 offered a number of recommendations to EU policy makers on how EU climate policies can support this process, and on how climate policies can benefit from it. The recommendations are available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/16455

2. Planning for Europe's Net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans – Publication

   A report by Ecologic Institute and Climact shows that the draft National Energy and Climate Plans presented by governments at the start of 2019 are in acute need of improvement. They suffer from inadequate targets and insufficient details on the policies and financing needed to move towards net-zero emission economies in Europe. Member States also need to do better in involving their national stakeholders in providing input to the plans, to benefit from their expertise and to get them on board for future policies. Good practice examples exist around the EU to serve as inspiration for the final plans due by the end of the year. The report is available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/16573

3. Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning – Publication

   This case study, prepared by Ecologic Institute and published by World Resources Institute (WRI) describes the status quo and relevant recent developments at the EU and national levels on long-term climate strategies, detailing relevant insights on legal obligations, specific features, existing challenges, and potential future processes. Planning for 2050 is a core strand of debate in the European Union at present, focusing on a long-term EU objective and a strategy to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 2020. In parallel, all EU Member States are also developing national strategies, resulting in a wealth of experience but also a set of disjointed strategies, which will need alignment and integration, with each other and with the EU level. The case study, written by Ecologic Institute's Matthias Duwe and Ewa Iwaszuk, is available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/16583

4. Planning for 2050 – EU Experience with Long-term Climate Strategies – Conference

   The conference "Planning for 2050", organised by Ecologic Institute, will take place on 23 May 2019 in Brussels. It takes stock of the experience with long-term climate strategies gained in Europe and presents lessons learnt as well as challenges encountered in different Member States – and seeks to connect them to the EU's own overall 2050 vision. It is based on insights, conversations and contacts made through a set of dialogue meetings held under the "Climate Recon 2050" project, which brought together policymakers and technical experts involved in long-term strategies from around the EU. A conference brochure, summarising insights from the Climate Recon 2050 project, is available online.

   https://ecologic.eu/16547

5. Identifying the Drivers of Successful Implementation of the EU's Birds and Habitats Directives – Publication

   The time to meet the next target to halt the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2020 is approaching. Thus, it is a time to take stock of the successes and failures. In response, Ecologic Institute contributed to a study for the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment on "Identifying the drivers of successful implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives", which supports the European Commission in improving the implementation of the EU Nature Directives. The authors identified and assessed key drivers of success for measure-driven improvements that could be used to develop more successful conservation measures in the future in order to achieve a better conservation status of species and habitats. This will consequently contribute to the development of the post-2020 biodiversity strategy. The study is available for download.

   https://ecologic.eu/16575

6. Implementation of EU Action Plan on Environmental Compliance and Governance – Publications

   The European Union has quite a number of directives and regulations on environmental matters. While all Member States are obliged to apply and/or transpose them, the degree to which these legal rules effectively help protect the environment depends to a large extent on their implementation in practice. In particular, proper environmental enforcement requires sufficient staff, with appropriate expertise and technical equipment, and good cooperation between different authorities. There is evidence that environmental law is not consistently enforced in Members States. Therefore, in 2018, the European Commission published an Action Plan on Environmental Compliance and Governance; it sets out various actions aimed at improving environmental compliance and governance in Member States. Ecologic Institute leads a consortium supporting the Directorate-General for Environment in implementing the Action Plan.

   https://ecologic.eu/14066

7. Land Take and Soil Sealing in European Cities – Publication

   Urbanisation is an ongoing global trend that results in a considerable level of new land take and the loss of soil and its functions. This book chapter reveals how different EU cities have addressed these issues through specific approaches with a focus on efficient land use. The chapter was published in the "International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2018." Lead by the Ecologic Institute, this analysis was carried out as part of the FP7 project "Preventing and Remediating Soil Degradation (RECARE)".

   https://ecologic.eu/16553

8. European Embedding of the German Climate Protection Act – Zukunftsforum Ecornet

   At the launch of the new event series ZUKUNFTSFORUM ECORNET on 9 May 2019, scientists, politicians and representatives of civil society debated the need for a legal framework for climate protection in Germany and its possible components under the guiding question "What kind of climate protection law is needed?" Matthias Duwe, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, emphasised the advantages of a legal framework in his presentation on the experiences of other EU countries.

   https://ecologic.eu/16444

9. Climate Change on the Agenda at the European Think Tank Summit in Madrid – Presentation

   The 2019 European Think Tank Summit in Madrid brought together think tank leaders from all over Europe – and some guests from Asia and America – to discuss pressing political issues, including the changing face of Europe, artificial intelligence, migration, NATO and the role of think tanks. Ecologic Institute's Director, Dr. Camilla Bausch, elaborated on new policy approaches and public engagement strategies in the field of national and international climate protection.

   https://ecologic.eu/16577

10. 32 Reasons why Europe is a "Damn Good Idea" – Publication

    The EU Member States have committed to be climate neutral by the second half of this century. Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf calls this a fundamental challenge that no EU member state can address alone and that makes the EU indispensable for effective climate protection. This is one of 32 reasons why Europe is a "damn good idea". The eponymous book was published in the run-up to the 2019 European elections. It presents numerous achievements of the European Union in an understandable way, explains complex interrelationships and shows the positive effects of the EU for its citizens.

    https://ecologic.eu/16552

11. Ecologic Institute is Looking to Hire – Job Opportunities

    • Junior Researcher in the Field of Economics of Climate Adaptation
      The Adaptation Team of Ecologic Institute is looking forward to receiving applications from young professionals with environmental and adaptation policy expertise to support projects in the field of (economic) assessment of climate impacts and climate adaptation as well as disaster risk management.
    • Trainee in Urban Governance and Resource Management
      Ecologic Institute is looking forward to receiving applications from graduates and young professionals with environmental policy expertise to support projects in the fields of urban governance and resource management. In the medium term you will also support the acquisition of new projects.
    • HR Generalist
      Ecologic Institute is pleased to receive your application as HR Generalist to support our HR team in its day-to-day business.
    • Web Developer with Drupal-Skills
      Our Web Developers advise clients and project teams on website concepts, structural design and technical usefulness. Additionally, they take on technical assistance, maintenance and development for the Institute's website.