Since 2019, the European Union has introduced a range of new laws as part of its "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package. This report assesses the implementation status and quality of a selection of 11 provisions from 4 EU laws (inter alia Electricity Market Directive and Regulation, Renewable Energy Directive) in 6 EU countries (Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Poland and Spain). In addition to the country fiches, the report contains an overall assessment that includes trends indicating comparable results in the Member States not included in this analysis. A key message is that delivering the benefits of EU legislation for the clean energy transition requires the timely and effective implementation of all provisions at the national levels.

This report analyzes documents and formats focusing on resource efficiency, resource conservation and the circular economy at the German, European and international level. It outlines significant developments and expected trends in resource policy and identifies research needs. Given the rapid increase in global resource use driven by population growth and economic expansion, the transition to a resource-efficient and circular economy is a key challenge. This need is exacerbated by various global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and increasing resource dependency. The report emphasizes that innovative and effective policies are needed at both national and international levels to promote and implement this transition.

The report examines the challenges and opportunities of phasing out coal in Germany, focusing on the Central German, Rhenish, and Lusatian coalfields. It highlights the importance of developing regional infrastructures sustainably to address economic, social, and ecological concerns. Innovative technical solutions and a stronger integration of different infrastructure sectors can support the transition to a sustainable and resilient regional development. The report emphasizes tailored approaches for each coalfield and proactive infrastructure design, stressing the need for forward-thinking solutions to meet 21st-century demands.

The book and e-book "Climate Change in Germany" was republished in March 2024 by the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS). The open access book is a comprehensive presentation of climate change and the consequences of climate change in Germany. The interdisciplinary work brings together specialist areas and topics from 165 experts from the climate, natural, environmental, social and human sciences. The work highlights various options for action for adaptation and climate protection activities in individual regions in Germany and across different sectors. Dr. Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute is co-author of the article "Further development of climate change adaptation strategies".

Speech: Mandy Hinzmann

On 4 April 2024, Mandy Hinzmann presented communication insights and best practices of the citizen science program "Plastic Pirates" at the European Citizen Science Conference in Vienna. The presentation highlighted the crucial role of effective communication strategies for the success of citizen science initiatives.

Panel Discussion: Aaron Scheid

At the Think2030 conference in Brussels, Aaron Scheid discussed the role of the agricultural sector in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 during a Science4Policy session. While some progress has been made, efforts have stagnated and current projections suggest that only a modest reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) can be expected by 2030, making the sector number one in terms of GHGs emissions. As such, moving away from emission-intensive practices and transitioning to a low-emission agricultural sector must be our top priority, with farmers being the driving force behind the transition.

Panel Discussion: Ewa Iwaszuk

As part of the Polish Climate Congress, which was held from 19 to 20 March 2024 in Warsaw, Ewa Iwaszuk took part in a panel discussion on implementing nature-based solutions in urban areas. Joining her on the panel were Joanna Kiernicka-Allavena (Climate-KIC), Anna Banaszczyk (World Bank), Marcin Sadura (Warsaw Municipal Sewage Company) and Robert Skowroński (Szczecin Marshal’s Office). The discussion was moderated by Mateusz Kowali (Polish Green Network). In her contributions, Ewa Iwaszuk highlighted the importance of precisely defining what nature-based solutions are – and what they are not – when working with the term.

On 14 and 20 March 2024, stakeholder workshops were held in Berlin and Cologne as part of the AMAREX project. In the second series of workshops within AMAREX, the first prototype of an online tool for assessing the potential of rainwater management measures was discussed with stakeholders in Cologne and Berlin. The aim of the workshops was to test the user-friendliness of the tool and to compare the requirements of potential user groups directly on the prototype in order to further develop the tool in line with requirements.

Moderation: Dr. Grit Martinez

Organized by the Euro-Mediterranean Climate Change Center (CMCC) in close collaboration with the EU Climate Change Adaptation Mission, the European project Climateurope2 celebrated a festival uniting science, services and standards for a climate resilient future from 11 to 13 March 2024. Dr. Grit Martinez of Ecologic Institute contributed to the festival with a set of activities spanning from facilitation of fishbowl discussion and break out groups with practitioners to an interview with the media team of Climateurope2. The Climateurope2 team wishes to thank all participants for their active participation in the Climateurope2 Festival. The insightful discussions, presentations and debates that took place over the three days of the event laid the basis for fostering new connections within the European climate services community.

Lecture: Doris Knoblauch, Natalia Burgos Cuevas

Niepołomice, a Polish city with a population of almost 30,000, has received tailor-made training on how to tackle challenges in their community with nature-based solutions. Marcela Gutierrez (University of Costa Rica), Natalia Burgos Cuevas and Doris Knoblauch (both Ecologic Institute) presented concrete options for the municipality to representatives of the city of Niepołomice in March 2024, after the city representatives had presented their urban challenges in December 2023.

Heat, drought stress, heavy rainfall – the challenges of climate change are real, and they affect us all – especially in our cities. To address these challenges, numerous municipalities in Germany have already adopted climate adaptation concepts. But how can such measures be meaningfully integrated into climate adaptation concepts? What opportunities does their integration offer – and what challenges are there in practice? We would like to discuss these and other questions with you as well as speakers from science, municipal practice and consulting in the webinar "Naturally resilient: anchoring nature-based solutions in municipal climate adaptation concepts" on 7 May 2024. The webinar will be held in German.

Join us in discovering the transformative power of nature-based solutions for our cities! Learn how we can integrate these solutions into the local context and align them with broader sustainability goals. Participate in interactive sessions, workshops and field trips to learn about successfully implemented nature-based solutions. The international conference will take place on 2 and 3 October 2024 and is aimed at professionals from Europe and Latin America. Register now for free and join us in reshaping the future of urban spaces!

As a proud partner of the Nature of Cities Festival 2024, we cordially invite you to be part of an extraordinary three-week event that focuses on the importance and beauty of urban nature. This multifaceted festival offers a wide range of activities both online and in person - from inspiring discussions to collaborative workshops that allow participants from all over the world to actively engage at any time. We look forward to not only celebrating the importance of urban nature, but also actively contributing to the festival's content. Natalia Burgos will participate as a virtual speaker, while Ewa Iwaszuk and McKenna Davis will welcome the audience in person in Berlin.

The Climate Farm Demo (CFD) project has taken an important step by recruiting nearly 1500 farms in 26 EU countries, representing a wide range of agricultural systems. The majority are dedicated to animal husbandry and mixed farming. This network will consolidate CFD actions on the ground to promote and initiate the dissemination of a variety of Climate Smart Farming  practices. The aim is to help the EU achieve sustainability and reduce the impact of farming on the environment, while supporting farmers in managing their farms.

Ecologic Institute is a UN-accredited voice for a global plastics agreement. However, we lack funding for the next crucial round of negotiations in Busan (South Korea) in November 2024. Our participation helps to counteract lobbying and enables delegates to obtain reliable information. In Ottawa, we are currently providing expert information on the effects of plastic production and consumption. Your donation will strengthen independent science and enable us to continue this important work!