This brief aims to highlight the benefits to business of engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the EU Horizon 2020 project Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS) can assist with the SDGs focused on managing aquatic ecosystems. The business brief is available for download.
Hogan, Michael; Frederick Weston and Raffaele Piria 2018: Power systems in the 2020s: What can Germany and the PJM region learn from each other? Briefing note for the Germany – PJM States Energy Trends Forum. The Regulatory Assistance Project, Montpellier Vermont, USA.
The Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule was proposed by former U.S. president Trump's Energy Secretary Rick Perry in September 2017. The goal was to introduce a multibillion-dollar incentive program for power plants in large parts of the U.S. that can store at least 90 days of fuel supplies on site. Beneficiaries would be coal-fired and nuclear power plants only. The rationale given was to strengthen the resilience of power systems. This report analyzes the electricity market policies under Trump.
This study, co-authored by Raffaele Piria, provides an overview of how Community Choice Aggregations (CCAs) work and of their legal framework, and discusses their objectives. The second part of the study takes a closer look at the special case of California: the new competition in the retail market, the spread of CCAs, their relationship to the previous monopolists in electricity supply, and effects on the regulatory framework are discussed by the authors.
The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIP Platform) was established in Paris in 2015, but its operationalization is still ongoing. The LCIP Platform could provide an important next step towards a nuanced inclusion of specific non-Party stakeholders in the UNFCCC process. Based on the negotiation process for the Platform and on current modes of participation of non-Party stakeholders, this report develops a toolkit of governance elements for the Platform. The report, written by Arne Riedel and Ralph Bodle, both of Ecologic Institute, is available for download.
The project "Elaborating strategies and contributions to implement SDG12 (responsible consumption and production) on the national level for Germany" aims at setting up a systematic monitoring for implementing SDG12 on the national level for Germany and thus support the German Environment Ministry as the leading department in developing positions for national and international discussions.
The Commission's proposal for Article 10 of the Regulation for the Governance of the Energy Union (GReg) and the related positions of the Council and the Parliament are currently being negotiated. In this report Ecologic Institute's Dr. Heidi Stockhaus analyses the proposals in the light of the EU’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention and highlights the shortcomings that need to be addressed.
Green growth brings about multiple social and economic benefits. Together with Ecofys, Ecologic Institute produced a brochure, which highlights examples of green growth that stem from a range of sectors (energy, buildings, transport, agriculture and industry) and are located throughout Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. The brochure presents cutting-edge technologies, forward-thinking entrepreneurs, smart combinations of financing options, and innovative project designs. The brochure is available for download.
As part of the visual identity for project "Global Material Flows and Demand-supply Forecasting for Mineral Strategies" (MinFuture), Ecologic Institute designed promotional flyers in small postcard format. The postcards summarize general objectives and aims of the project, are styled according to the project style-guides and draw the reader's attention to facts about mineral usage. The three postcards also contain contact information and a QR-code directing to the project website.
The goal of MinFuture is to develop a common methodology to mineral raw material flows at global level, which can be agreed and used at international level. The goal is not to collect data but to support data collectors. Hence this methodology workshop served to discuss how MinFuture could support data collectors, providers and users. The MinFuture Workshop Synthesis Brief is available for download.
The MinFuture workshop "Enhancing data robustness on global level" served to present and test the MinFuture approach of placing statistical data in a system context so that global information flows on mineral raw material become less fragmented and provide a more complete, comprehensive and realistic picture. The MinFuture Workshop Synthesis Brief is available for download.
The MinFuture flyer illustrates the main project outline, objectives and modules. An overview of the project process is illustrated, together with details of the partner countries implementing the project. The flyer is styled according to the project style-guides, contains contact information and an QR-code directing to the project website.
As part of the visual identity for project "Global Material Flows and Demand-supply Forecasting for Mineral Strategies" (MinFuture), Ecologic Institute designed promotional flyers in small postcard format. The postcards summarize general objectives and aims of the project, are styled according to the project style-guides and draw the reader's attention to facts about mineral usage. The three postcards also contain contact information and a QR-code directing to the project website.
Under its ‘Framework contract for Evaluation, review and development of EU Water Policy', the European Commission DG Environment has issued a service request for a Specific Contract to provide "Support for the elaboration of guidance on WFD harmonised environmental requirements for HMWB and hydromorphology". The aim of this Specific Contract is to ensure support for the follow-up activities towards the further elaboration of deliverables as outlined in the Terms of Reference of the Ad-Hoc Task Group on Hydromorphology. The requested services include the provision to the Water Unit in DG Environment of independent and timely support and advice on scientific, socio-economic and technical issues related to the activities of the ATG. This includes the provision of products of high technical quality as specified in the description of tasks and deliverables.
The Arctic Summer College 2017 virtual campus was open to participating Arctic experts, specialists and students in July and August 2017. It provided information on a wide range of topics, including the regional impact of climate change on the Arctic, local challenges such as land use, energy production and distribution and food security, as well as activities in the Arctic Council and the need for a vision for the Arctic.