This report investigates how public procurement can be used as a strategic policy instrument to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality. The central finding of this report is that public procurement in the EU has untapped potential as a strategic instrument for climate action. It finds that public procurement is responsible for at least 11% of the EU’s GHG emissions, with the majority (81%) concentrated in four spending categories, in each of which public procurers are responsible for at least a quarter of total emissions. The report recommends actions for the successful implementation of Public Procurement for Climate Neutrality (PPCN) in the EU.

In March 2023, member states were required to submit reports on the implementation of multilevel climate and energy dialogues (MLCEDs) for the first time, as mandated by Article 11 of the Governance Regulation (2018/1999). This paper examines to what extent and how member states have met the obligation to carry out multilevel climate and energy dialogues. The preliminary assessment shows that formal requirements are barely met, and many details are missing.

National climate framework laws have become a common approach for establishing the governance machinery required to tackle the transition to a climate neutral society. This report serves as a brief update on the status and substance of such laws in Europe as of summer 2023, with a focus on framework laws aimed at achieving long-term transformational change.

A coherent German foreign climate policy is essential for the success of the national and European energy transition, as well as for the effective support of ambitious climate policies outside the European Union. This Ariadne background paper provides cornerstones and discusses options for the elaboration and further development of Germany's foreign climate policy.

This paper makes a proposal for how future EU agricultural policy and particularly funding structures should evolve to better respond to sustainability challenges, whilst supporting farmers and other land managers in a transition that also ensures viable businesses and vibrant rural areas. This is intended as a contribution to a wider debate on the future of EU food systems.

The complex interactions between nature, climate change, and mental health are currently receiving an increasing amount of attention, as society faces more and more environmental challenges. This study explores these connections, focusing on (1) how mental health is affected by the effects of a changing climate in Europe, and (2) how green spaces and nature-based solutions can play a role in reducing and treating those negative effects. The research uncovers the transformative power of promoting a harmonious relationship with the natural world to nurture our collective ecological and social resilience. Key findings of the report are summarized in an infographic.

Citizen science initiatives enable innovative scientific studies and make science accessible to the public. For the success of such initiatives, it is essential to communicate effectively with the citizen scientists before, during and after sampling. This new research article gives insights into the communication in the citizen science program "Plastic Pirates". The program has been  successfully engaging schoolchildren and teachers in plastic pollution research since 2016. The article offers insights into the experiences gained and offers recommendations for other citizen science practitioners. It was co-authored by Linda Mederake, Mandy Hinzmann and Doris Knoblauch from Ecologic Institute.

The latest episode of the "Green Deal – Big Deal?" podcast, hosted by Ricarda Faber and Aaron Best from Ecologic Institute, features interview guests Professor Johan Lilliestam of the Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) and Dr. Andrzej Ancygier of Climate Analytics. During the discussion, they shed light on the past, present, and future of renewables in the EU, describing the major market shifts, policy events and technological developments that have made renewable energy one of the most exciting facets of achieving sustainability in Europe.

On 10 October 2023, the online expert dialogue "Circular diversity: creative solutions to promote the reuse of second-hand goods" will take place. The aim of the event is to showcase the diversity of existing creative approaches to boosting the reuse of second-hand goods. Based on the examples, current barriers as well as potentials and key elements for the successful promotion of the re-use of second-hand goods will be demonstrated. Please register your participation.

On 11 October 2023 from 10 to 12 a.m., the networking project "MoorNet" will introduce itself and its activities and provide an overview of its current status. The focus of this event will be on the new MoorNet website with a database of peatland conservation projects and funding programs in Germany, which will be continuously updated.

The status conference "Biodiversity and Climate Change – Exploring Synergies" offers an opportunity to exchange information on current research questions at the interface of biodiversity and climate change. Together, knowledge gaps and further research needs will be identified. The event will take place in Berlin on 6 and 7 December 2023.

Since 2016, young people have been successfully researching and mapping plastic pollution on and in rivers in Germany. As part of the citizen research project "Plastic Pirates", they take on the role of scientists and investigate the state of our rivers. During the current campaign period of the "Plastic Pirates" project, school classes and youth groups set off in search of plastic waste in the Elbe river system including its tributaries such as the Havel, Mulde or Saale. School classes and youth clubs are cordially invited to participate and conduct a sampling until 15 November 2023. Feel free to spread the word!

To support our team in Berlin, we are looking for a researcher with expertise in water and climate adaptation policy. We look forward to welcoming you as a graduate with expertise in national and European water policy and water resources management, as well as climate adaptation policy.