The EU is currently discussing two overlapping policy frameworks: The Climate and Energy Framework for 2020 to 2030 and the Energy Union strategy. As a key element of the reformed system, the EU intends to reduce administrative burden for member states by streamlining planning and reporting requirements. As a contribution to this debate, a new Ecologic Institute study assesses risks and opportunities of four concrete streamlining options. The study is available for download.
On 7 September 2015, Dr. Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers presented tentative project results from the ongoing project "A framework for Member States to support business in improving its resource efficiency", commissioned by DG Environment and running from January to October 2015, at the 4th Meeting of the Expert Group Greening the European Semester in Brussels. The presentation slides are available for download.
The pending transformation of the German and European electricity system resulting from rising shares of renewable energy is triggering new technical requirements for both electricity producers and consumers. These requirements include "network codes", bodies of technical rules for the operation of electricity grids, which are developed by the European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) in their umbrella organization ENTSO-E before being implemented on the national level in the EU Member States.
Srebotnjak, Tanja et al. 2015: Methodische Grundlagen des Environment Burden of Disease (EBD)-Ansatzes der WHO zur quantitativen Bewertung von umweltbedingten Krankheitslasten. Chancen, Risiken und Grenzen der Methodik aus naturwissenschaftlicher, rechtlicher und ethischer Perspektive (EBDreview), Dessau-Roßlau. ISSN 1862-4340.
Multiple international environmental agreements govern countries' treatment and protection of their natural resources and environment. The treaties have different requirements for the Parties to report on the implementation, e.g., regulations, policies, strategies, etc. However, to date there has been no comprehensive assessment regarding implementation of these agreements on the national level. The Global Environmental Governance Project, spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Maria Ivanova, Associate Professor of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at University of Massachusetts Boston, aims to fill this knowledge gap.
The state of Baden Württemberg developed a new climate policy in 2013. This changes the preconditions for the funding scheme Klimaschutz-Plus an important part of the state's climate policy. The Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg (IFEU) and the Ecologic Institute supported the Ministry of Environment Baden-Württemberg to update the support program Klimaschutz-Plus. Throughout the project, cooperation with the applicants and recipients of funding as well as with the program's coordinators was a major focus of this project.
Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317.
The Eurostat monitoring report examines how well the EU and its member states adapt the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. As part of a consortium with the Vienna University of Economics and Business, INFRAS and the Haymarket Media Group, Ecologic Institute played an integral role in compiling the 2015 Eurostat monitoring report. The report is available for download.
On 7 July 2015, the POLIMP Webinar Series officially kicked off with a discussion on the topic: "Paris 2015: Lessons from the Copenhagen Experience. The webinar featured guest speakers Prof. Dr. Sebastian Oberthür (IES) and Wytze van der Gaast, PhD (JIN).
Marius Hasenheit, Junior Researcher at Ecologic Institute, wrote an article for the German online magazine Wirtschaftswoche Green Economy about the interactive search engine für Green Economy Indicators "measuring-progress.eu". In his article, he also interviewed Katharina Stepping of the German Development Institute (DIE), who already tested the tool.
Altvater, Susanne; Elizabeth Dooley and Ennid Roberts 2015: Legal Instruments to Implement the Objective 'Land Degradation Neutral World' in International Law. Dessau-Roßlau: UBA.
Using a combination of web-based tools, the POLIMP project imparts expert knowledge on international climate negotiations and EU climate policy. Through the distribution of regular surveys to POLIMP's "Expert Response Group," opinions on key topics and recent developments in international climate negotiations are identified. The survey results are then shared in the POLIMP live webinar series.
We are excited to announce the third webinar in our POLIMP Webinar Series, which will feature a discussion on the topic: "EU climate policy for 2030: why are we talking about governance?". The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 28 October from 11:00-12:00 CET and will feature guest speakers Jonathan Gaventa (E3G) and Katharina Umpfenbach (Ecologic Institute).
The Arctic Summer College is proud to have recently completed its fifth successful year. From 25 June to 13 August 13, the 20 selected Arctic Summer College Fellows participated in eight webinars on various topics relevant to the Arctic, including Indigenous Actors and Arctic Decision-making, Arctic Energy and Climate Change Adaptation. Fellows became part of a network of emerging Arctic leaders from different disciplines and regions and were able to share and discuss ideas with expert speakers.