Ecologic Institute again ranks 6th among Environment Think Tanks in the prestigious 2011 Global "Go-To Think Tank Index" of the University of Pennsylvania. Ecologic Institute - based in Berlin, Germany, and Washington DC - also reached 6th place in this category in the previous year's ranking. Among the Top 50 Think Tanks in Western Europe, Ecologic Institute took 37th place and was the only environmental think tank in this category.
In the fifth such exercise, Prof. James McGann of the University of Pennsylvania Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) tabulated the global ranking. The US-based Pew Center on Global Climate Change ranked first among environmental think tanks, and Chatham House in London came first in the Western European regional ranking, which was dominated by think tanks focusing on international relations and security issues. Brookings Institution received the top score overall.
Reactions from Ecologic Institute
"Of course, we are delighted that Ecologic Institute was again voted into the Top 10 of Global Environmental Think Tanks and made it for the first time into the Top 50 Western European Think Tanks. But we are also dismayed at the low scores accorded to environmental and resource think tanks. The fact that no other such think tank is in the Top 50 in Western Europe shows the low priority of policies to halt degradation of the environment, prevent resource depletion, and secure a sustainable energy system,” says R. Andreas Kraemer, Director and CEO of Ecologic Institute Berlin (Germany) and one of the founders of the research-based policy think tank. "Unique among the top environmental think tanks, Ecologic Institute has no endowment or other institutional support, but wins its grants and contracts in competition with its peers. In spite of this disadvantage, Ecologic Institute has become one of the largest and most influential think tanks in Europe."
Michael Mehling, President of Ecologic Institute Washington DC (EIUS), a legally and financially independent non-profit think tank in the United States, adds that "being present on both sides of the Atlantic, Ecologic Institute understands differences in policy dynamics and opportunities, which allows us to stimulate exchanges for harvesting policy solutions. Being voted into the Top 50 Think Tanks in Western Europe will give a boost to our work here in North America."
Sascha Müller-Kraenner , one of the founders of Ecologic Institute, says that: "The growing influence and recognition of Ecologic Institute is credit to the dedication of its expert staff who are consistently able to identify and analyze new challenges and formulate effective responses. As a board member, I am particularly pleased to see progress in outreach to China and the building of partnerships so we can address the most pressing development issues today.”
About the Think Tank Index, Prof. James McGann
Launched in 2006, the University of Pennsylvania's annual "Global Go To Think Tank Rankings" report has become an authoritative source of the top public policy research institutes in the world. The newest rankings are based on a 2011 worldwide survey of 1,500 scholars, journalists, policymakers and peers from approximately 120 countries. The panel received over 25,000 nominations and ranked 6,545 think tanks from every region of the world.
According to Prof. James G. McGann, Assistant Director of Penn's International Relations Program and Director of the Think Tanks and Civil Society Program at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the one who compiled the survey, the purpose of the ranking is to highlight the important work that think tanks perform for governments and civil societies around the world, often in dangerous and difficult conditions. His report provides a comprehensive global ranking of the world's top think tanks from every region of the world—182 countries; the report is an insider's guide to the global marketplace of ideas.
About Ecologic Institute
With a focus on international policies on environment and development, Ecologic Institute was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Berlin, Germany, to conduct policy-relevant scientific research and provide science-based policy analysis. Ecologic Institute expertise is sought regularly by committees of the European Parliament, various Directorate-Generals of the European Commission, governments of the EU Member States and other countries, and the European Environment Agency. As a recognized research organization, Ecologic Institute leads several EU-funded research consortia and has exchanges with a number of universities not only in Europe but also in the US and China.
The main mission of Ecologic Institute is to improve policies on environment, resources, climate, and energy and integrate environmental concerns into other policies, government budgets and taxes, the economy and employment, technology and innovation, and foreign affairs and national security. The think tank also works with businesses, foundations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen awareness, management, and public-interest advocacy. Ecologic Institute uses its voice to argue for scientific approaches to analyze problems and develop solutions for more effective environment and resource policies.
Contact and Further Information
R. Andreas Kraemer (based in Berlin)
Kraemer@ecologic.eu
Ecologic Institute, Berlin
Pfalzburger Strasse 43/44
10717 Berlin | Germany
Tel. +49 (30) 86880-0 | http://www.ecologic.eu
Michael Mehling (based in Washington DC)
Michael.Mehling@eius.org
1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009 | USA
Tel. +1 (202) 518-2060 | http://www.eius.org
Links
- Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Ecologic Institute, Washington DC
- Ranking report [pdf, 2.2 MB, English]
- University of Pennsylvania Press statement: Global Think Tank Rankings to Be Released by Penn
- Ecologic Institute 2010 Milestone: 15 Years [pdf, 2. 6 MB, English]
- Ecologic Institute in five minutes - animated Video
- Ecologic Institute on Facebook
Links to photos of