Within industrialised countries, oil is a crucial resource for economic success and social well-being. However, the exploitation of the last reserves of the "black gold" is increasingly leading to wars. At the same time, climate change is making energy efficiency essential. Though people have relied on crude oil since the beginning of the 20th century, this reliance will not be possible in the future.

In the future, increases in motorization and traffic capacity will no longer be synonymous with mobility. In particular, inhabitants in rural areas need to consider that short distance public transportation (ÖPNV) will be strongly reduced. The state now anticipates the problem of guaranteeing the public’s general interest in the principle of equal living conditions.

The United Nations (UN) are in a crisis, not least because of their lack of democratic legitimacy: too many of the member countries are non-democratic, and internal procedures in the UN are unnecessarily closed to public debate and scrutiny. A panel of eminent experts led by Fernando Enrique Cardoso made proposals for reform. In a contribution to a book on the rule of international law in a globalised world, R. Andreas Kraemer assesses the panel's proposals.

In this chapter of "Smit and Herzog on The Law of the European Union", founded by Hans Smit and Peter Herzog, Michael Mehling and Gitte Warnick of Ecologic Institute describe and analyze Title XIX of the Treaty establishing the European Community. First, the authors provide an in-depth review of the evolution of the corresponding paragraphs and articles, as well as a review of European environmental policy in general. The second part analyzes significant related measures of secondary legislation.

In this chapter of "Smit & Herzog on The Law of the European Union", founded by Hans Smit and Peter Herzog, Michael Mehling and Gitte Warnick of Ecologic Institute describe and analyze Article 176 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. First, the authors provide a review of the evolution of the article. The second part is an exhaustive analysis of significant judgments and decisions.

The concept of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which is based on a cross-sectoral and sustainable management of water resources, is considered as comprehensive approach for addressing current water challenges world-wide. In the context of a publication by the German Institute for Development Policy, various strategies for IWRM are analysed. The contribution of Ecologic discusses the relevance of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for achieving IWRM in Europe.

This book chapter gives an introduction into the environmental policy instruments for the protection of water bodies and reports on a practical case study regarding groundwater management in Hessisches Ried. Starting off with this instrumental approach, the chapter introduces the objectives of the German Working Group of the Federal States on water issues (LAWA) with regard to surface water. It continues with the strategic approach as it was embodied in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and finally presents the actors in the area of water policy.

Simon Marr, in collaboration with Arne Schwemer, contributed a chapter on the Precautionary Principle in German Environmental Law to the Yearbook of European Environmental Law, which, in its third volume, focuses on the implementation of legal principles in EC environmental law.

Ecologic experts on private sector participation and regulatory oversight in the water sector contribute to an OECD publication on "Social Issues in the Provision and Pricing of Water Services". This book explores the interface between environmental and social elements of water pricing policies in OECD countries. It focuses on the affordability of water services, as well as on the social measures aimed at resolving these affordability problems.

On 21 May, the Kyiv report "Europe's environment: The third assessment" was released in the run-up to the meeting of Environment ministers from the wider European continent in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE). Chapter 13 dealing with progress in managing the environment was drawn up with the joint help of Ecologic and IEEP London.

A river at the heart of Europe, the Rhine has a length of 1320 km and a catchment area of 185,000 sq km. The population density and the degree of urbanisation and industrialisation in its basin have presented a particular water management and river development challenges in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Simon Marr and Sebastian Oberthür have together with Christoph Bail co-authored a chapter which has been published in one of the leading German handbooks on European and German environmental law. The chapter, entitled "Climate protection and law", appears in the Handbuch zum europäischen und deutschen Umweltrecht, which is edited by Hans-Werner Rengeling.

Kraemer, R. Andreas; Eduard Interwies and Eleftheria Kampa 2002: "Tradeable Permits in Waterresource Protection and Management - A Review of Experience and Lessons Learned", in: OECD (ed.): Implementing Domestic Tradable Permits: Recent Developments and Future Challenges. Paris: OECD, 227-268.

Bär, Stefani, Ingmar von Homeyer and Anneke Klasing 2002: Overcoming Deadlock? Enhanced Cooperation and European Environmental Policy After Nice, in: H. Somsen, H. Sevenster, J.Scott et. al. (eds.): Yearbook of European Environmental Law 2, Oxford, University Press, 241-270.

Kraemer, R. Andreas and Wenke Hansen 2001: "Kennzahlenvergleiche und Benchmarkingsysteme", in: Nachhaltige Wasserversorgung in Deutschland. Analyse und Vorschläge für eine zukunftsfähige Entwicklung. Berlin: Umweltbundesamt, 141-157.