Article | Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World

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Security Through Energy Policy

Germany at the Crossroads

The greatest concern in Germany regarding climate change is that developments around the world might harm political stability in other countries, result in a loss of trade, induce migration, and ultimately cause conflict. In this article, R. Andreas Kraemer from the Ecologic Institute describes how Germany deals with this issue by proactively developing new energy solutions, setting effective energy policies domestically, and promoting good climate policy abroad.Read more

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Article

Cities

Energy

Linking Carbon Markets: Concepts, Case Studies and Pathways

This article explores options for linking emissions trading systems. Combining markets could have many positive benefits (including reducing the costs of compliance), but there are drawbacks. In the short term, however, direct bilateral linkages will be difficult, and achieving the EU-objective of OECD-wide emissions trading by 2015 is therefore ambitious. International negotiations will overcome some of the barriers to linkages and expedite the integration of carbon markets. Michael Mehling of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC co-authored this article.Read more

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Linking Existing and Proposed GHG Emissions Trading Schemes in North America

Linking emissions trading schemes has currently attracted much interest as a means of reducing compliance costs, expanding market size and liquidity, and reducing price volatility. The US and Canada are developing federal emissions trading systems, and Mexico is developing an emissions cap for its cement and oil sectors. Strong economic ties imply that linking the systems could become desirable. Linking systems can have both positive and negative implications, but once the decision has been made, framework and policy harmonization is vital to establish and maintain a successful link. Michael Mehling of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC co-authored this article.Read more

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Greening the Mediterranean

Europe's Environmental Policy Toward Mediterranean Neighbors

Twenty-one countries share the Mediterranean's coastline with no single country responsible for its environmental deterioration or its protection. They are collectively responsible for both. Over four decades, the environmental dimension of Europe's policy toward its Mediterranean neighbours has become increasingly prominent. This article by Pamela Lesser, Fellow with Ecologic Institute, Washington DC, published in the Mediterranean Quarterly, Volume 20, Issue 2, deals with Europe's environmental policy toward its Mediterranean neighbours and the newly launched Union for the Mediterranean.Read more

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Bringt mehr Umweltschutz mehr Gerechtigkeit?

In the current political debate, justice seems equivalent with even income distribution. Other justice aspects appear absent: studies show that low-income groups suffer more from pollution than high-income groups. This includes noise, air pollution and lack of accessible green spaces. At the same time, higher-income groups consume more resources than the poor. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf discusses in brief these issues in the MigrantInnenUmweltZeitschrift (MUZ), Issue 2.Read more

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At a Tipping Point?

How the Debate on Biofuel Standards Sparks Innovative Ideas for the General Future of Standardisation and Certification Schemes

The expanding use of biomass as an energy source has been accompanied by a growing range of certification and standard-setting schemes in an attempt to ensure the sustainability of biofuel production. The result has added to the confusion in an already crowded certification market, but an opportunity to develop a streamlined global standard-setting system arises from this complexity. In this article, Timo Kaphengst, Mandy Ma and Stephanie Schlegel of Ecologic Institute outline how some of the innovative ideas coming from the biofuel certification and standardisation discussions can be applied to create a global generic standard-setting scheme for natural resources.Read more

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Article

Climate

Energy

Mechanisms for Linking Emissions Trading Schemes

Linking emissions trading schemes has attracted interest as a means of reducing costs and expanding market size and liquidity. A number of studies have explored the compatibility of schemes, although little attention has been devoted to the implementation of links. In an article published in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Policy, Michael Mehling, President of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC, and Erik Haites, former IPCC lead author, identify mechanisms required for the establishment and operation of a trading link over time.Read more

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Article

Arctic

Foreign Policy

Transatlantic Program

Learning from Europe's Mistakes

Can the US catch up in climate protection?

"A New Transatlantic Partnership" is the theme of the first issue in 2009 of the Global Edition of the journal "Internationale Politik" (IP Global Edition), published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). R. Andreas Kraemer contributed a preview of the possibilities for future cooperation between the US and Europe both on climate and energy policy for jointly meeting the transformational challenges ahead and on the Arctic, where the future of international relations may well be decided.Read more

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Article

Climate

Energy

Transatlantic Program

Von Europas Fehlern lernen

Beim Klimaschutz gerieten die USA ins Hintertreffen. Sie holen schnell auf.

"Europe's Bid – What we can offer Barack Obama" is the theme of the first issues in 2009 of the journal "Internationale Politik", published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). R. Andreas Kraemer contributed a preview of the possibilities for future cooperation between the US and Europe in climate and energy policy for jointly meeting the transformational challenges ahead, and in the Arctic, where the future of international relations may well be decided. Read more

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Article

EU Environment

The Policy Impacts of Environmental Valuations

Valuing both the environment and the changes in the level of environmental quality is of central importance to environmental policy formulation, as it puts the costs of obtaining certain environmental goals into perspective. In this article, which was published in the December 2008 issue of "Ökologisches Wirtschaften", Holger Gerdes and Anneke von Raggamby propose a methodology to assess the policy impacts of environmental valuations.Read more