Contents:

1. EPI-Water Project: First Conference in January 2012 in Berlin – Preliminary Results Online
2. BioFresh Survey on Freshwater Biodiversity in Policy-making – Publication
3. The 3Ts - Tariffs, Taxes, and Transfers - in the European Water Sector – Publication
4. Agricultural Water Pricing in Europe – Publication
5. Renewable Energy Opportunities for Farmers – Presentation
6. Impact of EU Bioenergy Policy on Developing Countries – Publication
7. Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in ENP Countries – Publications
8. The Frontiers of Networked Governance – Publication
9. Greening the Economies of Germany and Poland – Conference
10. US-German Workshop: Obstacles to Adapting to Climate Change – Discussion with Practitioners
11. Further Information and News

1. EPI-Water Project: First Conference in January 2012 in Berlin – Preliminary Results Online

   Ecologic Institute organized the first EPI-Water conference on 26 and 27 January 2012 in Berlin. The conference provided all the partners of the FP7 EPI-Water project an opportunity to gather. Participants shared and discussed the findings from thirty case studies conducted in Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Chile, China, Israel, and the USA. The conference focused on addressing water quantity issues, tackling water quality concerns, promoting the sustainable development of hydropower along with the protection of aquatic ecosystems, and developing innovative water policy instruments applicable throughout Europe. The proceedings of the conference, as well as preliminary results of the EPI-Water project, are now available.
   http://ecologic.eu/4598

2. BioFresh Survey on Freshwater Biodiversity in Policy-making – Publication

   Between June and August 2011, BioFresh Team members from Ecologic Institute and Oxford University School of Geography and the Environment undertook an online survey of stakeholders' opinions of the status and policy profile of freshwater biodiversity in policy-making and of various communication channels that link science and policy. The evaluation report is available for download.
   http://ecologic.eu/4599

3. The 3Ts - Tariffs, Taxes, and Transfers - in the European Water Sector – Publication

   Ecologic Institute supported EUREAU in its contribution on financial sustainable solutions for the water sector within the context of the 2012 World Water Forum in Marseille. One key aspect of these solutions is the promotion of the "3Ts" approach developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The final report is available for download.
   http://ecologic.eu/4154

4. Agricultural Water Pricing in Europe – Publication

   The underlying goal of the Agricultural Water Pricing Project is to draw relevant EU-level conclusions about water pricing policy and water allocation policy in the European agricultural sector and to assess the local situation regarding these policies on a European level. The findings are relevant for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive - WFD (2000/60/EC) as well as for the Communication on Water Scarcity and Droughts, for both of which water pricing in agriculture is a crucial – yet until now neglected – element. The final report and the annexes are now available for download.
   http://ecologic.eu/3878

5. Renewable Energy Opportunities for Farmers – Presentation

   At the largest annual event for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities in the United States, Michael Mehling, President of Ecologic Institute in Washington DC, described European experiences with renewable energy in agriculture.
   http://ecologic.eu/4616

6. Impact of EU Bioenergy Policy on Developing Countries – Publication

   In order to meet its renewable energy targets by 2020, the EU is likely to increase its demand for biomass, not only for biofuel crops but also for woody biomass. A significant portion of this biomass will likely come from developing countries, particularly those in West and Central Africa, as well as Latin American countries. This demand can have significant negative impacts in these developing regions, including environmental degradation and threats to food security. In this brief for the European Parliament, researchers at Ecologic Institute analyze some of those main impacts, focusing particularly on woody biomass.
   http://ecologic.eu/4644

7. Social and Economic Benefits of Enhanced Environmental Protection in ENP Countries – Publications

   Enhanced environment protection in European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries would have positive impacts. In a project for the European Commission, Ecologic Institute analyzed the social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection in ENP-countries. The results are available for download now.
   http://ecologic.eu/3651

8. The Frontiers of Networked Governance – Publication

   In this paper, researchers from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Ecologic Institute propose that a more decentralized governance structure is one possible solution for dealing with complex problems. The authors argue that highly complex problems, such as achieving sustainable development, are better solved by networks of diverse actors interacting and collaborating both inside and outside of government - what the authors call "governance networks." The promise of governance networks lies in the incorporation of actors from outside government structures who can offer different ways of solving problems. Such collaboration would make solutions more effective at the implementation stage. The report is available for download.
   http://ecologic.eu/4640

9. Greening the Economies of Germany and Poland – Conference

   EU Member States are facing the most severe financial and economic crisis in recent decades. With soaring energy prices, out-dated energy infrastructure, and ever increasing global greenhouse gas emissions, Europe also faces other significant problems. These challenges are intertwined in many ways. Against this background, Ecologic Institute -in cooperation with the European Climate Foundation- organized a conference in Warsaw to discuss how Poland and Germany can address these challenges in a manner that is mutually reinforcing. Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, State Secretary at the Economics Ministry of Poland, and Freiherr Jürgen von Fritsch, German Ambassador to Poland, opened the conference. High-level business representatives spoke at the conference. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, co-chaired the event. The presentations are available for download.
   http://ecologic.eu/4628

10. US-German Workshop: Obstacles to Adapting to Climate Change – Discussion with Practitioners

    A workshop co-organized by Ecologic Institute in Annapolis, Maryland, investigated how the public's view of climate change can influence local government's ability to adapt to climate change. It was a part of the exchange activities of the RADOST project (Regional Adaptation Strategies for the German Baltic Sea Coast) with partner regions in the USA. The examples provided at the workshop focused on the coastal zones of the US state of Maryland and the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein.
    http://ecologic.eu/4642

11. Further information and news

    • Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Rebound Effect Limits the Results of Efficiency Programs – Publication
    • Shale Gas and Fracking - an Energy Revolution in Europe? – Climate Talk
    • Design, Implementation, and Cost Elements of Green Infrastructure Projects
      The presentation slides are available for download.
    • RADOST in Exchange with Coastal Planners in the USA
    • Ecologic Institute Seeks: Expert in Renewable Energies – Job Opportunity