Linda Mederake

Linda Mederake

MA (International Relations)
BA (Political Management)

Co-Coordinator Plastics
Fellow

Team
Topics

Linda Mederake joined Ecologic Institute in August 2017 and works as Fellow and Co-Coordinator Plastics for the institute. Her work focuses on issues related to the governance of plastics as well as climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity in the urban context and with regard to the local and regional level. Her native language is German; she is fluent in English and has a good knowledge of French and Spanish.

Linda Mederake is currently working on the topic of plastics in the citizen science project Plastic Pirates – German Coast. Municipal climate protection is the focus of the project Ready4NetZero – Capacity Development for Long-term Climate Neutrality Strategies in Towns and Cities while Climate Adaptation Naturally! aims to support cities and municipalities in the implementation of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation with the help of practice-oriented applications. In a smaller project for the environmental ministry in Baden-Wurttemberg, Linda develops the content for a travelling exhibition on links between the biodiversity and climate crises.

Before starting at Ecologic Institute, Linda Mederake supported work at the Oeko-Institut within the context of the project Rural Urban Nexus – Global Sustainable Land Use and Urbanisation.

Linda Mederake graduated with a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Universität Potsdam (Germany) in 2017. Her master thesis was written in connection with the project Behind the Scenes: Mapping the Role of Treaty Secretariats in International Environmental Policy-Making and explored the role of the UNFCCC secretariat as a knowledge broker. Linda Mederake holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Political Management from Hochschule Bremen – University of Applied Sciences (Germany). During her studies, she spent an internship semester in Brussels and an exchange semester at Greenwich University in 2012 as well as another semester abroad at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2015.

In 2020, she started a dissertation at University of Osnabrück on policy change in plastics policies at EU level.

Aside from her professional career, Linda Mederake is an active member of Friends of the Earth Germany. Currently, she is deputy spokesperson of the Working Group on Waste and Raw Materials.

Linda Mederake is on parental leave until spring 2026.

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Selected projects by Linda Mederake
ProjectPlastic Pirates – German coast
 

© BMBF/Gesine Born

Since 2016, young people have been successfully researching and mapping plastic pollution in and around rivers in Germany. As part of the citizen research project Plastic Pirates, they take on the role of scientists and investigate the state of our rivers. More than 1... Read more

Plastic Pirates – German coast

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectCapacity Development for Long-term Climate Neutrality Strategies in Towns and Cities (Ready4NetZero)
 

© Sandra Naumann

Ready4NetZero aims to support small- and medium-sized cities in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Croatia in the development and implementation of local strategies to reach climate neutrality. To do so, the project creates knowledge resources (written guidance) and provides... Read more

Capacity Development for Long-term Climate Neutrality Strategies in Towns and Cities (Ready4NetZero)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectConcept for an Exhibition on the Links Between the Climate and Biodiversity Crises
 

© Getty Images 2024

The links between the biodiversity and climate crises are little known among the general public, or only partial knowledge exists. This applies to the effects of climate change on the biosphere, but also to knowledge about ecosystem services and nature-based solutions. ... Read more

Concept for an Exhibition on the Links Between the Climate and Biodiversity Crises

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectScientific Coordination of Research Projects on "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" (PlastikNet)
 
| Fotolia © Christian Schulz
In the framework of the scientific accompanying research (PlastikNet) of the research focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" (Plastik in der Umwelt – Quellen • Senken • Lösungsansätze) Ecologic Institute coordinated 20 joint research projects,... Read more

Scientific Coordination of Research Projects on "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" (PlastikNet)

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectPolicy Instruments to Increase the Use of Recycled Materials
 
Recycling and giving back

Photo by Jack Church on Unsplash

In view of a strong waste management sector with good separate waste collection rates and high recycling rates of over 80 %, Germany is generally well positioned to increase the use of recyclates. So far, however, this potential has only been partially exploited.... Read more

Policy Instruments to Increase the Use of Recycled Materials

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectAsia's Opportunity to End Single-use Plastic Pollution
 

© PhotoDreamWorldArt | pixabay.com

No other plastic usage represents the problem of plastic pollution as much as single-use plastics (SUPs) do. They are the most common type of plastics produced, and, at the same time, the most littered in the environment. SUP consumption is booming worldwide, with Asia... Read more

Asia's Opportunity to End Single-use Plastic Pollution

Duration
-
Funding
ProjectAdvising the EU's International Outreach on the Content of the Mandate for an International Negotiating Committee for a Potential Global Plastics Agreement
 

Plastic Litter at Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia

|

CC0

At the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), planned for the end of February 2022, one or more Resolutions will be tabled calling for the creation of an International Negotiating Committee to discuss content of a potential Global Plastics Agreement. Discussions of... Read more

Advising the EU's International Outreach on the Content of the Mandate for an International Negotiating Committee for a Potential Global Plastics Agreement

Duration
-
Funding
Selected publications by Linda Mederake
PublicationArticleWhat Potential Does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Have for Reducing Plastic Pollution at Coastlines and Riversides?
 
Hinzmann Mederake EU single use plastics directive article

© 2023 Elsevier

To address plastic pollution, the European Union adopted the so called "Single-Use Plastics Directive" (SUPD), which bans several single-use plastic products and introduces measures such as extended producer responsibility and obligatory requirements for product... Read more

Kiessling, Tim et al. 2023: What potential does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive have for reducing plastic pollution at coastlines and riversides? An evaluation based on citizen science data. Waste Management 164 (2023).106-118.

PublicationArticleWithout a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion
 
Cover Journal Circular Economy and Sustainability

Springer Nature

To tackle the "plastic crisis", the concept of circular economy has attracted considerable attention over the past years, both by practitioners and scholars alike. Against this background, Linda Mederake, Ecologic Institute, reflects in this opinion paper from a... Read more

Mederake, Linda (2022): Without a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion. Circ.Econ.Sust. doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00240-3

PublicationReportGlobal Rules in a New Global Treaty: Asia's opportunity to end single-use plastic pollution
 
Report Cover "Global Rules in a New Global Treaty"

© WWF Philippines

In March 2022, at the resumed fifth meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UN Member States adopted the historic decision to start negotiating a global treaty to combat plastic pollution. As national delegations and relevant stakeholders in Asia start... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Knoblauch, Doris (2022): Global rules in a new global treaty: Asia's opportunity to end single-use plastic pollution. Published in July 2022 by WWF Philippines.

PublicationBrochureKey Messages of the BMBF-Research Focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources· Sinks · Solutions"
 
Cover Key Messages

© Ecologic Institute

The publication summarizes the key messages from all 20 joint research projects and the seven cross-cutting topics of the research focus. Structured along the following ten main topics, the central results are presented in order to derive recommendations for various... Read more

Hinzmann, Mandy; Knoblauch, Doris; Mederake, Linda; Schritt, Hannes; Stein, Ulf (eds.) (2022): Key messages of the research focus "Plastics in the Environment".

PublicationArticleWege zum nachhaltigen Umgang mit Kunststoffen
 
article's first page

© oekom verlag

The emission of plastics into the environment is growing worldwide. Since existing regulations are not sufficient to curb the problem, the ever-increasing plastic production and use must be reduced overall. A systemic approach is needed that holds all actors responsible... Read more

Beyerl, Katharina; Bogner, Franz; Daskalakis, Maria; Decker, Thomas; Hentschel, Anja; Hinzmann, Mandy; Loges, Bastian; Knoblauch, Doris; Mederake, Linda; Müller,, Ruth; Rubik, Frieder; Schweiger, Stefan; Stieß, Immanuel (2022): Wege zum nachhaltigen Umgang mit Kunststoffen: Kernbotschaften sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschung. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 31(1), 51-53.

Plastics regulation

PublicationArticleWhat Potential Does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Have for Reducing Plastic Pollution at Coastlines and Riversides?
 
Hinzmann Mederake EU single use plastics directive article

© 2023 Elsevier

To address plastic pollution, the European Union adopted the so called "Single-Use Plastics Directive" (SUPD), which bans several single-use plastic products and introduces measures such as extended producer responsibility and obligatory requirements for product... Read more

Kiessling, Tim et al. 2023: What potential does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive have for reducing plastic pollution at coastlines and riversides? An evaluation based on citizen science data. Waste Management 164 (2023).106-118.

PublicationArticleWithout a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion
 
Cover Journal Circular Economy and Sustainability

Springer Nature

To tackle the "plastic crisis", the concept of circular economy has attracted considerable attention over the past years, both by practitioners and scholars alike. Against this background, Linda Mederake, Ecologic Institute, reflects in this opinion paper from a... Read more

Mederake, Linda (2022): Without a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion. Circ.Econ.Sust. doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00240-3

PublicationReportGlobal Rules in a New Global Treaty: Asia's opportunity to end single-use plastic pollution
 
Report Cover "Global Rules in a New Global Treaty"

© WWF Philippines

In March 2022, at the resumed fifth meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UN Member States adopted the historic decision to start negotiating a global treaty to combat plastic pollution. As national delegations and relevant stakeholders in Asia start... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Knoblauch, Doris (2022): Global rules in a new global treaty: Asia's opportunity to end single-use plastic pollution. Published in July 2022 by WWF Philippines.

PublicationArticleWege zum nachhaltigen Umgang mit Kunststoffen
 
article's first page

© oekom verlag

The emission of plastics into the environment is growing worldwide. Since existing regulations are not sufficient to curb the problem, the ever-increasing plastic production and use must be reduced overall. A systemic approach is needed that holds all actors responsible... Read more

Beyerl, Katharina; Bogner, Franz; Daskalakis, Maria; Decker, Thomas; Hentschel, Anja; Hinzmann, Mandy; Loges, Bastian; Knoblauch, Doris; Mederake, Linda; Müller,, Ruth; Rubik, Frieder; Schweiger, Stefan; Stieß, Immanuel (2022): Wege zum nachhaltigen Umgang mit Kunststoffen: Kernbotschaften sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschung. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 31(1), 51-53.

PublicationArticleEine Kreislaufwirtschaft für Kunststoffe – Aktuelle Diskussionen, Trends und politische Herausforderungen
 

© DECHEMA

The article reflects on the 59th Tutzing Symposion entitled "Polymers for a better life and circular economy" that took place as an online event in October 2021. Based on the presentations at the symposium, the contribution provides an overview of current debates on the... Read more

Mederake, Linda (2022): Eine Kreislaufwirtschaft für Kunststoffe – Aktuelle Diskussionen, Trends und politische Herausforderungen. Eine Reflexion des Tutzing Symposions 2021 "Polymers for a better life and circular economy". In: Müll und Abfall, 54 (2), 77-83.

PublicationArticleGovernment Policies Combatting Plastic Pollution
 
graphic government policies combatting plastic pollution

© Ecologic Institute

In this review, Ecologic Institute's Doris Knoblauch and Linda Mederake analyse the subject focus of 45 articles (published 2019–2021), dealing with government action to regulate plastic pollution. Policies described in the articles and introduced between 2016 and 2021... Read more

Knoblauch, D.; Mederake, L. (2021): Government policies combatting plastic pollution, Current Opinion in Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2021.10.003.

PublicationBook SectionPlastikvermeidung auf kommunaler Ebene
 
Publiction's cover "Einfach weglassen"

oekom Verlag

The discussion about plastic waste is anything but new for German municipalities. In fact, as early as the 1980s, numerous German municipalities were experimenting with plastic waste prevention regulations and waste prevention in general. A further impetus for plastic... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Seeger, Dorothea (2020): Plastikvermeidung auf kommunaler Ebene. In: Kröger, Melanie; Pape, Jens; Wittwer, Alexandra (Hrsg.) (2020): Einfach weglassen? Ein wissenschaftliches Lesebuch zur Reduktion von Plastikverpackungen im Lebensmittelhandel. ISBN: 978-3-96238-243-8. Oekom Verlag, München.

PublicationArticleMehr Kohärenz bitte!
 
This article (written in German) examines various policies and approaches that are currently being implemented or planned as solutions to the plastics crisis. It becomes clear that in national and international policies plastics are mainly described as a problem of... Read more

Mederake, L., Araujo Sosa, A. und Hirschnitz-Garbers, M. (2020): Mehr Kohärenz bitte! Plastikpolitik in Deutschland, Europa und weltweit. Politische Ökologie, Band 161, 76-82.

PublicationReportHintergrundpapier: Plastikpolitik in Deutschland und der EU
 
Plastic pollution – especially the dramatic littering of the oceans – and the public concerns about it have powerfully brought the issue on the European and German political agenda. Since then, there have been a whole series of new initiatives to regulate plastics -... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Hinzmann, Mandy; Langsdorf, Susanne (2020): Hintergrundpapier: Plastikpolitik in Deutschland und der EU. Ecologic Institut: Berlin.

PublicationArticleShaping EU Plastic Policies
 
Anzahl von Pro-Argumenten für die Plastikregulierung nach Sub-Kategorien
This article by Ecologic Institute's Linda Mederake and Doris Knoblauch uses a structuring qualitative content analysis to investigate the parliamentary debates of two recently adopted plastic policies in the EU – namely the EU Plastics Strategy and the Single-Use... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): Shaping EU Plastic Policies: The Role of Public Health vs. Environmental Arguments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 3928.

PublicationArticleRegulation: Solutions at the Wrong End.
 
Cover Plastic Atlas 2019

Heinrich Boell Foundation

There are numerous regulatory approaches at international, regional and national level regarding the handling of plastic products and plastic waste. What they all have in common is their limited effectiveness. In their contribution, Linda Mederake, Stephan Gürtler and... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Gürtler, Stephan; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): Regulation: Solutions at the Wrong End. In: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung und BUND – Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (Eds.): Plastic Atlas 2019. Facts and figures about the world of synthetic polymers. Berlin.

PublicationArticleDeveloping Countries in the Lead – What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies?
 
Plastiktütenpolitiken im Globalen Norden und Globalen Süden
While diffusion patterns are quite well understood in the context of the Global North, diffusion research has only been applied to a limited extent to investigate how policies spread across developing countries. In this article, Ecologic Institute's Doris Knoblauch,... Read more

Knoblauch, D.; Mederake, L.; Stein, U. Developing Countries in the Lead—What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies? Sustainability 2018, 10, 1994.

PublicationReportNo More Plastics in the Ocean
 
Marine plastic pollution is a fast growing problem and it is not yet possible to estimate how severe the impacts currently are. Between 4.8 and 12.7 Mt of plastics ends up in the ocean each year, adding to the uncontrolled plastic waste already floating around the world... Read more

Simon, Nils et al. (2018): No More Plastics in the Ocean. Gaps in Global Plastic Governance and Options for a Legally Binding Agreement to Eliminate Marine Plastic Pollution. Draft report for WWF to support discussions at the Ad Hoc Open-ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics. Berlin: adelphi.

Nature-based solutions/Green Infrastructure

PublicationReportAddressing Climate Change in Cities – Policy Instruments to Promote Urban Nature-based Solutions
 
Publication's cover

© Ecologic Institute & the Sendzimir Foundation Berlin – Kraków 2020

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are solutions that are inspired and supported by nature. They can be used in urban settings to complement or replace "traditional" or "grey" solutions to social and environmental challenges, such as air pollution, the heat island effect,... Read more

Naumann, S., Davis, M., Iwaszuk, E., Freundt, M., Mederake, L., 2020: Addressing climate change in cities – Policy instruments to promote urban nature-based solutions. Ecologic Institute, the Sendzimir Foundation: Berlin, Krakow.

Naumann, S., Davis, M., Iwaszuk, E., Freundt, M., Mederake, L., 2020: Błękitno-zielona infrastruktura dla łagodzenia zmian klimatu w miastach. Narzędzia strategiczne. Ecologic Institute, Fundacja Sendzimira: Berlin, Krakow.

PublicationPolicy BriefGaps and Opportunities to Sustainable Urban Development through Nature-based Solutions
 
The multifunctional character of nature-based solutions (NBS) enables them to provide responses to both social and environmental challenges. Analysis has shown that there is significant potential for NBS to help achieve sustainable urban development objectives.... Read more

Knoblauch, D., Naumann, S., Mederake, L., Araujo Sosa, A. C. 2020: CLEVER Cities Policy Brief. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationBookAddressing Climate Change in Cities – Catalogue of urban nature-based solutions
 
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are solutions that are inspired and supported by nature. They can be used in urban settings to complement or replace "traditional" or "grey" solutions to perform functions, such as thermal insulation and stormwater retention and filtration.... Read more

English version: Iwaszuk, E., Rudik, G., Duin, L., Mederake, L., Davis, M., Naumann, S., Wagner, I., 2019: Addressing Climate Change in Cities. Catalogue of Urban Nature-Based Solutions. Ecologic Institute, the Sendzimir Foundation: Berlin, Krakow.

Polish version: Iwaszuk, E., Rudik, G., Duin, L., Mederake, L., Davis, M., Naumann, S., Wagner, I., 2019: Błękitno-zielona
infrastruktura dla łagodzenia zmian klimatu w miastach. Katalog techniczny. Ecologic Institute, Fundacja Sendzimira: Berlin, Krakow.

PublicationReportMulti-level Policy Framework for Sustainable Urban Development and Nature-based Solutions – Status quo, gaps and opportunities
 
In this report, Doris Knoblauch, Sandra Naumann, Linda Mederake and Ariel Carlos Araujo Sosa (all Ecologic Institute) explore the extent to which current policy frameworks support sustainable urban development and nature-based solutions (NBS). To this end, policies... Read more

Knoblauch et al. (2019). Multi-level policy framework for sustainable urban development and nature-based solutions -- Status quo, gaps and oppor-tunities. Deliverable 1.2, CLEVER Cities, H2020 grant no. 776604.

PublicationDocumentNature-based Solutions in European and National Policy Frameworks
 
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly being adopted as an effective tool to address urban challenges, as they provide a range of ecological, social and economic benefits. But, to what extent do current policy frameworks support or hinder their implementation?... Read more

Davis, M.; Abhold, K.; Mederake, L.; Knoblauch, D. (2018): Nature-based solutions in European and national policy frameworks. Deliverable 1.5, NATURVATION. Horizon 2020 Grant Agreement No 730243, European Commission, 50 pp.

PublicationReportÖkosystembasierte Ansätze zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel und zum Klimaschutz im deutschsprachigen Raum
 
Climate change and its impacts are already tangible and necessitate swift and concrete adaptation and mitigation actions. This involves a dual approach, which combats the causes of climate change and also supports society in dealing with a changing climate and its... Read more

Naumann, S., M. Davis, B. Goeller, A. Gradmann, L. Mederake, J. Stadler und K. Bockmühl (2015): Ökosystembasierte Ansätze zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel und zum Klimaschutz im deutschsprachigen Raum. BfN-Skripten 395. Bundesamt für Naturschutz.

Local Climate Policies

PublicationArticleClimate Pioneership and Leadership in Structurally Disadvantaged Maritime Port Cities
 
Cover Environmental Politics

© Taylor and Francis

In this article, the authors, among them Ecologic Institute's Linda Mederake, assess innovative climate governance in small-to-medium-sized structurally disadvantaged cities (SDCs). Considering their deeply ingrained severe economic and social problems, it would be... Read more

Wurzel, Rüdiger; Moulton, Jeremy; Osthorst, Winfried; Mederake, Linda; Deutz, Pauline; Jonas, Andrew (2019): Climate pioneership and leadership in structurally disadvantaged maritime port cities. Environmental Politics 28(1): 146-166.

PublicationBook SectionThe Evolving Role of Cities as Non-state Actors in the International Climate Regime
 
"While nations talk, cities act." This quote from Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, reflects the frequent portrayal of the role of cities and local governments in global climate governance: in light of concerns about the inability of national governments to... Read more

Mederake, Linda; Iwaszuk, Ewa; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): The evolving role of cities as non-state actors in the international climate regime. In: Abdullah, Hannah (Ed.) Cities in World Politics. Local responses to global challenges. Monografías CIDOB 75. Barcelona: CIDOB.

PublicationBook SectionThe Transformative Potential of Local Climate Change Strategies
 
With both the impact of climate change on cities and the role cities play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions becoming increasingly apparent, many cities around the world are adopting long-term climate policy strategies or vision documents outlining how they... Read more

Iwaszuk, Ewa; Mederake, Linda; Knoblauch, Doris (2019): The Transformative Potential of Local Climate Change Strategies. In: Zevi, Tobia (Ed.) The Century of Global Cities. How Urbanisation is Changing the World and Shaping our Future. Milan: Italian Institute for International Political Studies.

PublicationReport"Paris Compatible" Governance: long-term policy frameworks to drive transformational change
 
Governments around the world have already adopted long-term climate frameworks, many in legal form. Many others are in the process of developing similar laws or strategies. These overarching long-term frameworks are critical to effectively implementing the Paris... Read more

Duwe et al. (2017) "Paris compatible" governance: long-term policy frameworks to drive transformational change. Ecologic Institute. Berlin.

Selected events by Linda Mederake
EventDigital EventNavigating Challenges in Citizen Participation for Climate Neutrality
 
Social media event card with the webinar's titel "Citizen Participation for Climate Neutrality", the project name " Ready4NetZero" and the logos of the involved institutions.

Ready4NetZero project

On the way to climate neutrality, the role of citizen involvement and participatory planning is crucial for a variety of reasons such as ensuring transparency in decision-making, governance openness and ownership over the decisions given to the public. Engaging the... Read more

Digital Event:Navigating Challenges in Citizen Participation for Climate Neutrality

Date
Location
online
EventDigital EventReusable Transport Packaging
 

© Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg/WBG-Pooling

For the transport of goods from the factory or a warehouse to retailers or wholesalers, disposable packaging is the norm, which becomes waste after one single use. Reusable systems provide an alternative to this waste of resources. While reusable transport packaging is... Read more

Digital Event:Reusable Transport Packaging

Date
Location
online via Zoom
EventConferenceTheme Day: Plastic in the Environment
 
Theme day: Plastics in the environment

Ecologic Institute

Can microplastics get into the water, when I wash a fleece jacket made of polyester? How many climate-damaging greenhouse gases are emitted by the production of plastic? What is chemical recycling? Together with numerous researchers from all over Germany, we got to the... Read more

Conference:Theme Day: Plastic in the Environment

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
Selected presentations by Linda Mederake
PresentationInterviewWe Use Citizen Science to Contribute to Planetary Health
 

Foto: BMBF / Gesine Born

In the citizen science project Plastic Pirates, children and teenagers become citizen scientists. In an interview with "Bürger schaffen Wissen", the central platform for citizen science in Germany, Linda Mederake (Ecologic Institute) and Tim Kiessling (Kiel Science... Read more

Interview:We Use Citizen Science to Contribute to Planetary Health

Date
Location
Berlin/Kiel, Germany
PresentationLecturePlastics Crisis? – Advantages of plastics and the problems of plastic consumption
 
On 29 May 2019, Doris Knoblauch and Linda Mederake, both scientific researchers at Ecologic Institute, were guest "professors" at the Nürti Üni, the schoolchildren's university of the Nürtingen Primary School in Berlin-Kreuzberg. They held a lecture on "Plastics Crisis ... Read more

Lecture:Plastics Crisis? – Advantages of plastics and the problems of plastic consumption

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
PresentationSpeechThe Plastic Pirates – Investigating Waste Pollution in and at German Rivers with Young People
 

Präsentation Plastikpiraten

|

© Plastikpiraten

At the dialogue event "The River, the Waste and Me" by the Berlin initiative "Alles im Fluss" in cooperation with "Stadtgespräch Wasser bewegt Berlin" on water pollution control and waste on the banks, Linda Mederake, scientific researcher at Ecologic Institute,... Read more

Speech:The Plastic Pirates – Investigating Waste Pollution in and at German Rivers with Young People

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany
PresentationLectureTowards a Global Plastics Convention
 
Präsentation "Towards a Global Plastics Convention"
At Scotland's International Marine Conference 2019, Ecologic Institute's Linda Mederake presented results from the study "No more Plastics in the Ocean – Gaps in Global Plastic Governance and Options for a Legally Binding Agreement to Eliminate Marine Plastic Pollution"... Read more

Lecture:Towards a Global Plastics Convention

Date
Location
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Recent content by Linda Mederake

Publication:Website
 
The image shows a webpage from the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) on 'Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung in Kommunen' (Nature-based Climate Adaptation in Municipalities). The page features a header with a photo of a serene river landscape with trees, accompanied by an overview of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. It includes navigation links and sections such as 'Einbettung in die kommunale Praxis' (Integration into local practice) and 'Finanzierung und Förderung' (Funding and Support).
Nature-based solutions, such as green spaces or river restoration, can make a valuable contribution to municipal climate adaptation. The new topic page 'Nature-based climate adaptation' on the Federal Environment Agency's website highlights different aspects of such approaches and offers municipalities targeted support in their planning and implementation. In addition to information on the legal framework and funding issues, it also contains practical examples and helpful publications. Ecologic Institute designed and implemented the content of the website on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency.

Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung in Kommunen

UBA topic page

Year

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Publication:Infographic
 
Illustration of a future scenario titled "If We Finally Take Action…" depicting a sustainable landscape in 20 to 30 years. The negative scenario shows the consequences of inadequate climate protection. Plus symbols highlight different aspects of sustainable development. The graphic is created by NABU/Ecologic Institute.
This interactive infographic shows what the future could look like in 20 to 30 years - in two scenarios: one with resolute climate protection and another scenario that leaves everything as it is. The intention is to make the consequences of climate change more tangible and to illustrate the urgency of climate protection measures.

Wie sehen die Folgen der Klimakrise aus?

Year

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Publication:Article
 
Cover of a publication from 'Cambridge Prisms' titled 'Plastics.' The cover features a gradient background transitioning from deep red to blue, with white lines cutting across the lower half. The title 'Plastics' is displayed in simple white text.
In this article, we delve into the first zero draft of the treaty, offering a critical examination of its approach and potential shortcomings. Our analysis not only identifies key gaps in the draft's problem definition and scope but also underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive and holistic strategy that addresses both upstream and downstream solutions, i.e. the whole life-cycle. For policymakers, environmental advocates, and stakeholders eager for a robust global response to plastic pollution, this open access article offers essential insights into the path forward.

The Missing Consensus: An analysis of problem definitions and key motivations in the first zero draft for a global plastics treaty

Year

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Presentation:Speech
 
At the occasion of the 16th NESS – Nordic Environmental Social Science Conference in Turku (Finland), from 4 to 6 June 2024, Ecologic Institute's Doris Knoblauch presented the findings of two projects in a workshop dealing with "Governing urban climate transformations: Towards climate neutrality and resilience".

Navigating Urban Climate Transformations: Unravelling the Mechanisms of Successful Long-term Climate Neutrality Strategies in Cities

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Doris Knoblauch

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the guidance "Developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies', part of the Ready4NetZero initiative. The graphic depicts a stylized green landscape transitioning from rural areas with wind turbines and solar panels to an urban setting with green buildings. A car emits a green cloud, symbolizing eco-friendly transportation. The lower part of the poster includes logos of supporting organizations like Energie Cities, Eco Logic, and EnergiaKlub.
The guidance document "Developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies", developed as part of the Ready4NetZero project serves as a comprehensive roadmap for administrative staff in small- and medium-sized municipalities as they navigate the complexities of becoming climate neutral. It is structured to facilitate a clear understanding of the necessary cross-cutting measures for developing effective local long-term climate strategies, including realizing a long-term vision, establishing baselines, fostering participation, planning action, financing, monitoring, evaluation, and ensuring a just transition. 

Developing Ambitious Local Long-term Climate Neutrality Strategies

Charting the course: crafting forward-thinking local climate neutrality strategies

Year

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News
 
The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, was held in Ottawa (Canada), from 23 to 29 April 2024. This session marked a crucial step in the global effort to address plastic pollution, with over 2500 participants from governments, academia, civil society organizations, private sector entities, UN entities, and international organizations. Linda Mederake attended the INC-4 negotiations in Ottawa on behalf of the Ecologic Institute, supported by the Konrad von Moltke Fund.
 

Negotiating an International Plastics Treaty

Progress and Challenges at the Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) in Ottawa

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Document page titled 'Towards an Effective Science-Policy Interface for the Global Plastics Treaty'. The page discusses the complexity of plastic pollution and the necessity for a dedicated Science Policy Interface (SPI) to complement and inform the Global Plastics Treaty, stressing the importance of independent scientific input and a focus on interventions across the entire life cycle of plastics.
The Policy Brief discusses how a dedicated SPI should be established as a subsidiary body that works effectively with existing science-policy panels of other Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Such an interface would not only promote synergy between different environmental initiatives, but also ensure that scientific findings are accurately translated into actionable policy recommendations. The main tasks of the SPI include the evaluation and monitoring of intervention strategies, the setting of science-based reduction targets and the continuous updating of safety and sustainability-related criteria for plastics and chemicals.

Towards an Effective Science-Policy Interface for a Global Plastics Treaty

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