<p>Hannah Strauss, visiting scholar at Ecologic Institute, together with other experts on the Arctic and H.E. Danish Ambassador Per Poulsen-Hansen, discussed Europe’s impact on and interest in a "New North". The panel discussion was preceded by a presentation of Matthias Hannemann’s recent book, "Der Neue Norden. Die Arktis und der Traum vom Aufbruch", and focused on various aspects related to the political and economic development of the Arctic region.</p>

<p>&#13; At the conference on "Water and Climate Change in the MENA-Region", organised by GIZ and BMZ, Rodrigo Vidaurre, Researcher at Ecologic Institute, held a presentation on policies that address the link between human security, water conflicts, and Climate Change. Jennifer Möller-Gulland, Researcher at Ecologic Institute, held a further presentation on innovative benefit assessment methodologies to assess quantitative and monetary benefits from improved water resources use.</p>&#13;

<p>&#13; At an Ecoscholars event hosted by First Solar, GmbH, David Wortmann, the company's Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs provided an overview of the company and discussed the key role of policy in the continued promotion and expansion of the renewable energy industry and fostering the market for renewable energy technologies.  The dialogue was initiated by Loni Gardner of Ecologic Institute, who coordinates Ecoscholars.  Ecoscholars is a discussion and networking group for Berlin-based international scholars and experts who are involved in climate change, energy, sustainability, and other environmental topics.</p>&#13;

In the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine, the member Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and the European Commission work cooperatively and successfully towards a sustainable development of the Rhine River. This presentation focused upon experience with transboundary control of pollution.

<p>&#13; Pollution and prevention of pollution from industrial sources is a central field of European and German environmental policy. This presentation of Alexander Neubauer, Coordinator European Research and Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, introduced the basic terms, concepts and instruments that European and German industry-related environmental policy employs.</p>&#13;

Waste policy is developing dynamically in Europe and Germany. The presentation of Alexander Neubauer, Coordinator European Research and Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, dealt with both the basic European requirements for waste policy and current German developments.&#13;&#13;

With its rapid economic growth and its rapidly growing energy hunger, the People's Republic of China plays a central role in international climate policy. The emerging economy is now the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. At least at the national level, the Chinese government has declared its intention to fight climate change. China implemented a series of measures on energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable energies and was able to reduce energy intensity of its economy by 20% in the past five years (according to own data). This is in line with the last five-year plan. The country also is the world's biggest producer of wind turbines and solar cells. But despite these successes and despite still moderate per capita emissions, China's total energy consumption and emissions continue to rise rapidly.

<p>&#13; Germans fear that climate change harms political stability in other countries and thus affect trade, induce migration, and ultimately causes conflict. Talking to a delegation from China, R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute describes Germany's new energy solutions, effective domestic policies, and promotion of good climate policy abroad.</p>&#13;

<p>&#13; Successive policy challenges and EU enlargement have added layers of policy, legislation, and institutions to create the current European system for addressing environment, climate, energy, and sustainable development. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute speak on policy international policy learning before a GIZ delegation from China in.</p>&#13;