When and why were environmental think tanks founded in Germany? How is the system for environmental consulting organized in Germany today? What is the daily work of an environmental think tank?

Susanne Langsdorf, researcher at Ecologic Institute, presented the system in which environmental research and consultancy is organised in Germany and the daily work of an environmental think tank to students.

Science-based policy advice for environmental policy is organised in a complex system and by a multitude of actors in Germany. Independent environmental think tanks that have no state funding, have established themselves as one important actor to provide environmental policy advice. How can these institutes survive, whom do they work for and what kind of projects do they undertake?  Taking the Ecologic Institute as an example the daily work and "typical projects" of environmental think tanks were presented.

The visit was part of a course at New York University Berlin on "Environmental Social Movements".