The EU Commission's recently proposed Framework for Carbon Removals Certification aims to incentivize carbon removal from the atmosphere – but is it also suitable for climate-friendly soil management? Researchers from Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut critically assess the Commission's 2022 framework proposal. They evaluate whether the Framework's so-called QU.A.L.ITY criteria (Quantification, Additionality, Long-term storage, Sustainability) are sufficient to ensure high quality soil carbon removals. The brief summarizes the specific challenge posed by soil carbon sequestration, identifies problems with the current proposal, and makes recommendations for improvements. The brief is available for download.

The objective of the EU Mission 'Restore our ocean and waters by 2030' is to provide a systemic approach for the restoration of our oceans, seas and waters by 2030. The Mission lighthouses act as hubs and platforms for the development, demonstration and deployment of solutions to support the implementation of the Mission's specific objectives. This baseline study, co-authored by Ecologic Institute, focuses on the Danube River Basin, Atlantic and Arctic Sea Basins, and the Mediterranean Sea Basin. The study maps the situation in the lighthouse areas in 2021-22 with respect to the Mission's objectives, targets and activities. It is available for download.

There are many questions associated with governance of the European Green Deal: What does governance mean, and how does it play out in the EU context? Why is it important to consider viewpoints, ideas and needs of different social groups, stakeholders and scientific experts when designing policies – and what is the best way to do it? In the latest "Green Deal – Big Deal?" podcast episode, the hosts, Ecologic Institute's Ewa Iwaszuk and Nick Evans, discuss these questions with their interview guests Claire Dupont (University of Ghent) and Sharon Turner (European Climate Foundation and University of Sussex). The two guests explain their understanding of EU governance, how it has evolved over the years, and the crucial role it plays in shaping Europe's future.

This article, written by researchers from Ecologic Institute, provides a review of different digital tools and resources available to support related decision-making processes in the search for solutions for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Furthermore, it introduces the Diagnostic Water Governance Tool (DWGT) that builds on a clear diagnosis-therapy-logic. The article aims to advance the understanding of digital tools' potential to foster water governance and management in general. It's available online.

Building on the momentum created by the negotiations on the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRL) as well as by the overall successful outcome of the biodiversity summit COP15, the think tank network "Think Sustainable Europe" (TSE) met with EU Environment Commissioner Sinkevičius. As part of TSE, Ecologic Institute presented key recommendations on the NRL. These build on a series of policy briefs by Ecologic Institute and IEEP, respectively, and were favorably received and attracted great interest from both the EU Commission and the European Parliament.

Food should be healthy and grown sustainably. Yet ever increasing amounts of pesticides end up on the fields and thus in our food. On 7 February 2023, Aaron Scheid, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, took stock of pesticides in agriculture. He discussed possible alternatives with Amira Mohamed Ali (Chairwoman of DIE LINKE parliamentary group), Corinna Hölzel (Pesticide expert of the BUND) and Ina Latendorf. The presentation slides are available for download.

Ecologic Institute is running a webinar series for young people in Europe. In this second webinar, we discussed the food systems approach adopted by the "Farm to fork" strategy and investigated how the strategy will impact producers, consumers and global food markets. We further explored strategies to address food waste and examined why meat is a politically sensitive issue. The experts' presentations are available online.

At the invitation of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Dr. Camilla Bausch held a "Lectio Magistralis". At this Lectio, leading experts such as Jean-Claude Trichet (Former President of the European Central Bank) and Sergei Guriev (Professor of Economics at Sciences Po in Paris) discuss key political and scientific insights with master's students of the ISPI School. Dr. Bausch's lecture focused on dynamics, setbacks and breakthroughs in international climate policy – including an outlook on 2023 and identifying opportunities for the students to take action themselves. The full Lectio Magistralis is available online.

In this webinar session, the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) presented its latest report "Offset Use Across Emissions Trading Systems", followed by a discussion with a panel of experts representing policy, offset project origination, and an offset credit standard. The discussion centered on, among other things, on the role offsets can play in carbon pricing instruments, the benefits and risks of their use, policy solutions to maintain the integrity of the emissions trading system, and the impact of the use of offsets on the carbon credit market. A recording of the webinar is available online.

Underutilised spaces such as brownfields, abandoned industrial areas, oversized roads and parking lots as well as roofs and facades of buildings offer a unique opportunity to increase the share of urban nature. However, such transformations are often associated with challenges. The City of Chemnitz, upcoming cultural capital of Europe, in cooperation with Climate Alliance and Ecologic Institute invites you to a two-day conference on how to achieve a green transition in cities. The conference targets municipal actors and practitioners interested in tapping into the potential of underutilised areas to expand urban nature. The conference is free of charge. Participation is possible on-site only. English / German / Spanish interpretation is available. We look forward to welcoming you in Chemnitz!

The EU has set a legally binding target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with an interim target of at least a 55% reduction by 2030. To achieve this, clever policies must work in concert to accelerate the pace of change. Ecologic Institute is running a webinar series for young people in Europe to discuss the central role of climate policy in the European Green Deal, exploring how policy can spur innovation and reduce net emissions to zero. On 6 March 2023, we will discuss the central role that climate policy plays in the European Green Deal, exploring how policy can spur innovation and reduce net emissions to zero in the European Union. Registrations are welcome.

The first International Symposium of the NICHES project will combine presentations about international successful examples of nature-based solutions and provide a forum for discussions on current challenges and opportunities in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The symposium will take place on 6 March 2023 between 10 am and 13 pm CET. Please register, to join on the 6 March in person or online!

Following four years of development negotiations, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on 19 December 2022, replacing the CBD's Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Targets. Ecologic Institute produced a series of policy briefs on ecosystem restoration, which is a key priority and specific target in the New Global Biodiversity Framework. A separate publication on the outcomes of the CBD COP15 and their relevance to the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration is in preparation.