What's new

Publication:Report
 
The EU Methane Regulation (EU-MER) is crucial for reducing methane (CH4) emissions from the energy sector, thereby enhancing our chances at achieving the climate targets. This paper discusses the respective roles of the responsible ministries (RM) and the competent authorities (CA) and examines how the CA's tasks can be allocated to various pre-existing agencies at the national or regional level. Additionally, the working paper discusses the importance of political autonomy for CA and how MS can prevent undue influence.

Governance at the National Level: Responsible ministries and competent authorities

Implementing the EU Methane Regulation Working Paper N° 2

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Publication:Report
 
cover oage (updated)
This publication discusses the penalty regime to be established by the EU Member States to sanction infringements against the recently adopted EU Methane Regulation (EU-MER). In these regimes, (administrative) fines will play a major role. The EU-MER stipulates that the level of fines must be proportionate to the environmental damage and impact on human health associated with the infringement as the core criterion. The working paper proposes applying a core reference value of 6.000 EUR/tCH4 to be adjusted according to the aggravating or mitigating factors foreseen by the regulation.

Penalties and Selected Legal Issues

Implementing the EU Methane Regulation Working Paper N° 3

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Event:Conference
 
Promotional banner for a Policy & Research Dialogue Conference titled "Managing the Transition to Net Zero: EU Climate Policy in a Global Context," scheduled for 9th & 10th July 2024. The banner features the logos of NDC Aspects and 4i Traction, with the event dates highlighted in a green box. A "Register now!" call-to-action is displayed in the bottom left corner against a blurred background of an audience attending a conference.
This conference, taking place a month after the European elections, sought to spotlight key issues in the EU’s transition to climate neutrality – and discuss options to address them, with a global context in mind. The conversations among policy-makers and other stakeholders were kicked-off by content inputs from two EU-funded research projects, 4i-TRACTION and NDC ASPECTS, that have been working over the past three years to generate new insights on climate action challenges in Europe and globally.

Managing the Transition to Net Zero: EU climate policy in a global context

4i-TRACTION x NDC Aspects Joint Conference

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Brussels, Belgium

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Presentation:Panel discussion
 
Dr Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, took part in a panel discussion in the Bundestag as part of a workshop on environmental crime organised by Bündnis90/Die Grünen. In his keynote speech, he outlined the most important innovations of the amended EU Environmental Crime Directive and the challenges of its implementation in Germany. The panel discussion was chaired by MdB Lukas Benner. Other panellists were Katharina Lang (WWF) on the topic of illegal timber trade and journalist Marius Münstermann on the topic of illegal waste trade.

Amendments to the EU Environmental Crime Directive


Dr. Stephan Sina

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News
 
Three working papers aim to support the responsible ministries and competent authorities of EU Member States in implementing the EU Methane Emission Regulation (EU-MER), expected to enter into force in July 2024.
 

Implementing the EU Methane Regulation

Series of working papers on the implementation of the EU-at the national level MER published

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Cover page of the CECILIA2050 Policy Brief No 4 "Pathways for the evolution of existing climate policy mix"
This policy brief describes policy pathways for the evolution of the current EU climate policy mix. It defines combinations of instruments that have a reasonable chance of meeting the desired emissions targets. Policy pathways are defined based on three policy dimensions: 1) Carbon pricing, 2) Technology policies and 3) Behavioural Change promotion. Although each pathway focuses more attention in one type of instruments, all packages have a certain combination of the three policy dimensions to meet the targets. Finally, instruments to adapt EU climate policy to different international conditions are explored.

Pathways for the Evolution of the Existing Climate Policy Mix

CECILIA2050 Policy Brief No 4

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News
 
Dr. Benjamin Kupilas and Dr. Ulf Stein attended the launch of the new BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub in Paris on 30 and 31 May 2024. Both have been appointed as experts to the hub, which is a thematic network consisting of selected researchers with expertise in biodiversity and ecosystem restoration.
 

Launch of the New BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub

A Collaborative Network for Nature Restoration

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Project
 
The Brandenburg Action Plan for Organic Agriculture has been implemented since 2022 and aims to increase the proportion of organically farmed land in the state to 20 per cent by 2024. As part of the Action Plan for Organic Agriculture, product-related market information meetings will be organised to bring together market players from the agricultural and food sectors and discuss current developments, challenges and opportunities. These talks are key to strengthening the regional organic value chain and promoting dialogue between producers, processors and marketers.

Market Information Talks for the Organic Sector: Organic value chains for cereals, niche crops, meat and community catering

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Project
 
Digital technologies have the potential to close economic loops, reduce CO2-emissions and increase resource efficiency. However, the possibilities of digitalisation for shaping a comprehensive circular economy are far from exhausted. This research project investigates how digital solutions can support consumers in aligning their consumption with sustainable and circular criteria.

Conceptualising and Planning Digital Solutions to Promote Sustainable Consumption for a Circular Economy

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Project
 
Ecologic Institute is member of the European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC-BE) which works with the European Environment Agency (EEA) under a Framework Partnership Agreement for the period from 2023-2026. The ETC BE is a Consortium of 24 European organisations with expertise in the topic area of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity and ecosystems. Biodiversity and ecosystems is one of five strategic work areas in the EEA-Eionet Strategy 2021-2030.

European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC-BE) 2023-2026

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Presentation:Speech
 
From 15 to 17 May 2024, Barcelona hosted the CONEXUS Conference, a flagship event bringing together over 100 experts from Europe and Latin America to discuss nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate-resilient cities. This conference was a melting pot of ideas and innovations, fostering exchange on the economic, social, environmental, and political facets of NBS implementation. Among the key sessions were "Governance, Politics, and Planning" and "Economics, Values, and Work," where Ecologic experts Dr. Ulf Stein, McKenna Davis, and Jenny Tröltzsch shared their research and insights.

A Spotlight on Nature-Based Solutions

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Dr. Ulf Stein

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Event:Conference
 
At our launch event in Brussels, we will present our newest findings and engage with relevant high-profile stakeholders from the European Parliament and the economy. We will host two thematic panels on topics that move the EU at the moment: industrial transformation and just transition for the people of the EU. 

ECNO Launch Event: Annual Flagship Report 2024

Insights on progress to EU climate neutrality for the incoming EU cycle


Brussels, Belgium

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Event:Workshop
 
Image with the title of the event
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), in cooperation with BELSPO and the Belgian Climate Centre is organising an in-person C3S user workshop with a geographical focus on Belgium, on Thursday, 20th June 2024. The half-day workshop takes place in Brussels and is targeted at current and potential future C3S users in Belgium.

C3S User Engagement Workshop with the Belgian User Community


Brussels, Belgium

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Presentation:Speech
 
1st slide of sina's presentation on "Prosecution under the amended Environmental Crime Directive"
Dr Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, gave a presentation on prosecution under the amended Environmental Crime Directive at an information event organised by Green Legal Impact and Stop Ecocide Germany on the new EU environmental criminal law. He began by describing the special features of criminal prosecution in the environmental sector and the reason for the first-time inclusion of criminal prosecution provisions in the Directive. He then gave an overview of the regulations on resources and training, co-operation between authorities, the national strategy for combating environmental crime and statistical data. The presentation ended with examples of challenges and approaches to implementing the directive in Germany.

Prosecution Under the Amended Environmental Crime Directive


Dr. Stephan Sina

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