The final report of the study conducted by Consentec and Ecologic Institute deals with the development of a capacity mechanism for the German electricity market. The need for such a mechanism is discussed against the background of the increasing share of renewable energies and the decline in conventional power plants. The capacity mechanism is intended to ensure security of supply, especially in view of the expected increase in electricity consumption and geopolitical uncertainties that may require short-term market interventions. The focus of the considerations is on the development of a comprehensive, centralized capacity market and selected related balancing issues.

Peatlands provide important ecosystem services such as carbon storage, regulation of the landscape water balance and habitat for wildlife. Despite their importance, around 500,000 hectares of peatlands are degraded annually, causing CO₂ emissions and loss of ecosystem services. This article, co-authored by Aaron Scheid, describes the MoorFutures® certificates introduced in 2011 to support peatland rewetting, which quantify ecosystem services through methods such as the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, cooling, and biodiversity. A study in the Kieve polder in north-east Germany showed significant reductions in CO₂ emissions, nitrogen release, and heat flow after rewetting. The results emphasize the importance of such projects for climate protection and biodiversity and provide a basis for global adaptation and the development of regional carbon credits.

The final report of the TRAFIS II project presents dissemination processes of sustainable and resilient infrastructure solutions. Stakeholder networks, political framework conditions as well as experimentation strategies are identified as key conditions for successful dissemination. Furthermore, the TRAFIS.NB assessment tool for the early evaluation of sustainability and resilience of infrastructures, which was developed and tested in the project, is introduced. The report concludes with successful approaches to implementing sustainable infrastructures at the local and regional level.

Panel discussion: Susanne Langsdorf

On 17 April 2024, the fifth h_da Dialogue Forum took place at the Schader Forum in Darmstadt as part of the Darmstadt Days of Transformation. It included a panel on the "post-growth economy for small and medium-sized enterprises", which sparked a lively discussion if and how a post growth economy can work for SMEs or if, taking the post-growth perspective, it might even be the only possible solution to tackle the triple planetary crisis. Susanne Langsdorf, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute in Berlin, explained the potential role of circular economy solutions to tackle the challenges and elaborated on the current political activities on the national and European level aiming to transform to a green(er) economy

The aim of the expert dialogue is to initiate a discussion to develop recommendations for effective adaptation measures and the protection of seas, coasts, and estuaries. A particular focus will be on strategies, challenges, and opportunities in nature-based coastal protection. The specialist dialogue is aimed at experts from the fields of marine research, environmental and climate policy as well as representatives from business and NGOs who deal with the topic of climate change and marine protection. The dialogue will take place on 4 July 2024 from 9:30 – 15:00 and will begin as a hybrid event and then switch to a purely face-to-face event involving presentations and various discussion formats.

Young people have been successfully researching and mapping plastic pollution in and around rivers in Germany since 2016. As part of the "Plastic Pirates" citizen science project, they take on the role of scientists and investigate the state of our rivers. During the upcoming campaign period of the "Plastic Pirates" project, school classes and youth groups from other EU countries can now also set off in search of plastic waste on the Danube River system – including its tributaries such as the Isar, Altmühl or Regen. School classes and youth clubs are cordially invited to participate in a sampling in the period from 15 September to 15 November 2024. Please spread the word!

As part of the Credible project, we invite stakeholders and citizens to participate in the discussion on carbon farming in the EU by providing feedback on the project reports during this public consultation. This is your opportunity to influence the ongoing development of the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) and the wider discussion on carbon farming in the EU. The feedback provided through your comments during the public consultation will be shared with the wider expert community and policy makers to ensure that EU policy on carbon farming works with and for farmers and delivers climate and biodiversity benefits. Provide feedback on our work to date on the "Minimum requirements for ensuring the sustainability benefits of carbon" by mid-June.

The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, was held in Ottawa (Canada), from 23 to 29 April 2024. This session marked a crucial step in the global effort to address plastic pollution, with over 2,500 participants from governments, academia, civil society organizations, private sector entities, UN entities, and international organizations. Linda Mederake attended the INC-4 negotiations in Ottawa on behalf of the Ecologic Institute, supported by the Konrad von Moltke Fund.

Application Deadline: 30 June 2024

For the next training year starting in September 2024, we are looking for a motivated and communicative trainee to become an IT Specialist for System Integration. During your training in our IT department, you will become a competent contact person who supports our employees in the realization of customized IT solutions.