The World Bank's 2023 "State and Trends of Carbon Pricing" flagship report summarizes that ETSs and carbon taxes proved resilient in 2022, despite the energy crisis and high inflation rates. Key topics covered in the 2023 report include governments' response to the global energy crisis, the uptake of ETSs and carbon taxes in emerging economies, along with progress in carbon markets and supporting frameworks, including implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. A consortium of adelphi and Ecologic Institute supported the World Bank in developing the 2023 edition of the report.

Over the five-year period assessed, the EU has made significant progress towards ensuring decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reducing poverty (SDG 1), as well as towards improving gender equality (SDG 5). These are the findings of Eurostat's seventh monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in the EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors contributed the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

An ETC CE report examining the profound impact of the circular economy on biodiversity conservation has just been published. The study highlights that, while circular economy measures play a significant role in meeting biodiversity and climate goals, the key lies in integrating biodiversity-friendly sourcing practices. This vital combination is key to effectively combatting biodiversity loss.

Carbon removals should not substitute fossil fuel emissions reductions. Removals are an inherently weaker form of climate action than emission reductions. This approach has been a core principle of EU climate legislation, but it is now in jeopardy. A new report by the Ecologic Institute discusses the design elements of a robust EU carbon removal framework.

The discussion on the certification of carbon removals may appear rather technical, but it is one of the central debates in EU climate policy. It is primarily intended to pave the way for the integration of CO₂ removals into emissions trading. In doing so, the EU risks building its most important climate policy instrument on sand, writes Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf of Ecologic Institute in the Tagesspiegel Background Energie & Klima. He makes suggestions on how to mitigate this risk.

In cooperation with the Oeko-Institut, the Ecologic Institute assessed whether the Commission's proposal on a Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) is compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. It argues that the CRCF violates Article 290 of the Treaty, as it would delegate essential elements of the Regulation to the Commission. This issue can be resolved through legislative procedure.

A newly published study by the SPRINT project explores the extent to which public consultations likely contribute to democratic decision-making surrounding agricultural pesticide use. Through a critical discourse analysis of submissions to the public consultation concerning the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy, the authors, including Ecologic Institute's Dr. Ana Frelih-Larsen, examine the role of public consultations as a democratic process and the extent to which their non-deliberative nature advances solutions to contentious and complex challenges.

The persistence and negative impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment are currently poorly understood by many healthcare professionals. Improved knowledge of this topic can empower pharmacists and physicians, as well as patients, to be more ecologically conscious in their behavior when prescribing, consuming, and disposing of medications. This report presents a work plan on how to incorporate the issue of pharmaceuticals in the environment into the education of the medical and pharmaceutical professions in Germany. It provides concrete recommendations for the integration of the topic into teaching (studies and vocational training), continuing education and training.

Is the European real economy on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050? The European Climate Neutrality Observatory – ECNO – is set to present its first annual flagship report on the EU's progress to net zero on 26 June 2023 at the official launch of the initiative in Brussels. The report is based on a vision of a climate-neutral future composed of 13 essential sectoral and horizontal net-zero "building blocks". Join the discussion, learn from a stellar panel and be one of the first to see the findings of the first ECNO report! Participation is possible either in person in Brussels or online.

What can be done to restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity in the EU, where more than 80% of habitats are now classified as having a bad or poor conservation status? If you are a student or a young person in Europe, interested in environmental issues or European policy, and want to learn more about the proposal to reverse nature's decline in the EU, this is your chance! In our upcoming webinar on 28 June 2023, we will discuss the Nature Restoration Law, its goals, and the current policy debate – topics we also covered in a recent podcast episode. Registration is possible until 23 June 2023.

A study commissioned by the TAPP Coalition (True Animal Protein Price Coalition) and co-authored by Ecologic Institute shows that the "true cost" for animal products, which takes all societal costs into account, has a positive impact on society. On 23 May 2023, Aaron Scheid presented the key findings of the study and, along with the panel, discussed German consumers' key motivations for paying the "real" price for food.

In addition to ecological reasons, social and economic aspects also speak in favor of more repair. It creates skilled jobs and can have positive effects on social recognition and relationships. Although interest in repair is growing and many initiatives and networks are working to strengthen it, there is a shortage of skilled workers and young people, closures of long-standing repair businesses and a persistently high demand for short-lived products. The Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment (SenMVKU) organized an online expert dialogue on 6 June 2023. Good practice examples were presented and potentials, challenges and measures to promote repair were discussed. The presentations, slides and a summary in German are available online.

Does your municipality have over 20,000 inhabitants and would like to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030? Geisenheim University and Ecologic Institute are looking for committed German municipalities interested in finding out how their open space concepts, biodiversity strategies and climate adaptation concepts can be considered as Urban Greening Plan or how they can develop such a plan. We offer comprehensive advice and guidance to gain valuable experience for other municipalities. Contact us and get in touch by the end of July 2023.

What are the policy options for a separate emissions trading system for greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture? What might policy models look like that link an emissions trading system with carbon removals in the LULUCF sector? We aim to gather both evidence and the views of relevant stakeholders for an exploratory study. We especially seek contributions from farmers, business and trade organizations' representatives along the agricultural value chain, foresters, national/regional/local authorities in the Member States, civil society organizations, academia and researchers in relevant fields.

After the initial sense of euphoria had been dampened at the beginning of the negotiation week in Paris, a favorable outcome was achieved in the end: The Chair H.E. Mr. Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez and the INC Secretariat were given a mandate to present a first draft ("zero draft") in the run-up to the next negotiations. This is a crucial step. Doris Knoblauch accompanied the INC-2 negotiations in Paris on behalf of Ecologic Institute.

The Plastic Pirates are embarking on new expeditions! In the project "Plastic Pirates - German Coast", young people will investigate and map the occurrence of plastic waste on the German coasts and riverbanks of the Elbe River. In doing so, they will make an important contribution to researching the occurrence of plastic waste. The new citizen science project follows up on its successful predecessor "Plastic Pirates" and is funded by the BMBF from June 2023 to May 2026. The Kiel Research Workshop and the Ecologic Institute will jointly carry out the project. In addition to coordinating and supervising the participants, the Ecologic Institute team is responsible for the social science research part of the project. It will lead focus groups with selected school classes to discuss and reflect on the results of the sampling. The next campaign period starts in autumn 2023.

The Resource Conservation and Circular Economy Team of the Ecologic Institute is looking forward to your application as a scientist with expertise in research and counselling!

For the next training year starting in September 2023, we are looking for a motivated and communicative trainee to become an Office Management Assistant (Educational focus: Commercial management and control, assistance management and coordination).