1. Economic Stimulus in Europe – Accelerating Progress towards Sustainable Development? – Study online
2. The Global Institutional Architecture and the Financial Crisis – An Opportunity for Sustainable Development? – Conference registration open now
3. Research Group on Ecosystem Services established
4. Environmental Policies and Social Justice – Final Report Available
5. Sustainability in policy evaluation reviewed – EPOS-Conference Documentation online
6. Greening the Mediterranean: Europe's Environmental Policy toward Mediterranean Neighbours – Publication
7. German Experiences in Sustainable, Low-Carbon Technologies Reach an American Audience – Radio Broadcast
8. BMU-Conference: Rural Business: Ecological Future Markets for Rural Areas

1. Economic Stimulus in Europe – Accelerating Progress towards Sustainable Development? – Study online
In response to the economic crisis, many governments have adopted a number of stimulus packages. These packages present an opportunity for sustainable development, but the greater opportunity lies in the fact that the crisis provides momentum for changes of unsustainable structures. The unprecedented depth and magnitude of the economic crisis has put many structures into question that were considered untouchable before: the nationalisation of banks in some countries appeared absurd only months ago and significantly tighter regulation of financial markets was unthinkable before the fall of 2008. Against this backdrop, Ecologic Institute analyses the stimulus packages of six EU Member States – Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and the UK. The paper is available for download.
/2887

2. The Global Institutional Architecture and the Financial Crisis – An Opportunity for Sustainable Development? – Conference registration open now
This event marks the final conference in the context of the research project InEG – Global Environmental Governance and International Environmental Regimes and will take place 14-15 September 2009 in Berlin. The objective of the conference is to expand the understanding of the relationship between the global institutional architecture and the financial crisis and to examine its implications for achieving sustainable development. Please register through our online form until 15 August 2009.
http://www.ecologic.eu/2001

3. Research Group on Ecosystem Services established
Funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the research programme on Social-ecological Research (SÖF), an interdisciplinary research group has been established aiming to improve the understanding of the relationship between market-based instruments (MBIs), ecosystem services, and the quality of life in Central European cultural landscapes. BMBF-funding was granted over a period of four years and amounts to 1.76 million Euros. Holger Gerdes, Researcher at Ecologic Institute, will be doing his PhD within the framework of this research group.
/2899

4. Environmental Policies and Social Justice – Final Report Available
On behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute completed a study on the interactions between environmental policies and social justice. Using selected programmes and measures, this study analysed to what extent environmental and social policy objectives have been adjusted in response to each other and how the interaction between the two can be improved. The Final Report contains an English summary and is now available for download.
/2456

5. Sustainability in policy evaluation reviewed – EPOS-Conference Documentation online
Identifying in advance the effects of political measures on environment, economy and society becomes an important factor in decision-making. Furthermore, taking stock of the achieved outcomes after implementation remains important; such is the résumé of the EPOS-conference "Sustainable Development in Policy Assessment – Methods, Challenges and Policy Impacts" held in Brussels on June 15th and 16th. The conference documentation is now online.
http://www.ecologic.eu/1993

6. Greening the Mediterranean: Europe's Environmental Policy toward Mediterranean Neighbors – Publication
Twenty-one countries share the Mediterranean's coastline with no single country responsible for its environmental deterioration or its protection. They are collectively responsible for both. Over four decades, the environmental dimension of Europe's policy toward its Mediterranean neighbours has become increasingly prominent. This article by Pamela Lesser, Fellow with Ecologic Institute, Washington DC, published in the Mediterranean Quarterly, Volume 20, Issue 2, deals with Europe's environmental policy toward its Mediterranean neighbours and the newly launched Union for the Mediterranean.
/2903

7. German Experiences in Sustainable, Low-Carbon Technologies Reach an American Audience – Radio Broadcast
On 9 June 2009, Michael Mehling, president of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC, was featured on the radio station Los Alamos (KRSN AM 1490) as an invited guest in the radio program "Venus Transit Authority". Discussing pathways to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, Michael Mehling provided insights on Germany's successful adoption of "feed-in tariffs" for renewable energy promotion, a measure that has prompted widespread innovation across Germany and created a significant number of new jobs in a high-tech export sector.
/2885

8. BMU-Conference: Rural Business: Ecological Future Markets for Rural Areas
At a BMU-conference on 30 June 2009 in the Erfurt parliament building, experts from all over Germany discussed future opportunities for rural areas regarding growing markets like environment and ecology. They presented and discussed how innovative business models as well as a close cooperation between political and economic actors and the civil society can promote sustainable development especially in rural areas. The event was the second conference within a BMU/BfN-event series called "Sustainable and Innovative: The Future of Rural Areas – Perspectives for an Environmental-Friendly Economy after 2013". The series deals with rural areas' response to challenges like climate change, loss of biodiversity and the growing worldwide demand for food and energy.
https://raempel.de/midterm.html