Sustainable development is a fundamental and overarching objective of the European Union, enshrined in the Treaty. The EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) brings together the many strands of economic, social and environmental policy under one overarching objective – to continually improve the quality of life and well-being for present and future generations.

The Eurostat monitoring report examines how well the EU and its member states adapt the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. As part of a consortium with the Vienna University of Economics and Business, INFRAS and the Haymarket Media Group, Ecologic Institute played an integral role in compiling the 2015 Eurostat monitoring report. The report is available for download.

The Yearbook Ecology 2016 was published in August. Ecologic Institute is one of the institutes supporting this yearbook.

Lago, M., Mysiak, J., Gómez, C.M., Delacámara, G., Maziotis, A. (Eds.) 2015: Use of Economic Instruments in Water Policy. Insights from International Experience. Heidelberg: Springer International Publishing.

On 2 March 2015, Eurostat published its most recent Flagship Publication Smarter, greener, more inclusive?. The report, commissioned by Eurostat, assesses the EU's progress in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. Commissioned by Eurostat, Andreas Prahl, Katharina Umpfenbach and Eike Velten of Ecologic Institute edited the chapter on climate change and energy. It discusses progress towards the so-called 20-20-20 targets which aim at cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy supply, and improving energy efficiency.

In their book "Social Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Regions" Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute), Peter Fröhle, and Hans-Joachim Meier address often overlooked but key societal aspects that influence stakeholders to engage or not to engage in adapting to a changing climate. Therefore sociocultural and ecological dimensions of adaptation to a changing climate in coastal regions are the focus of the anthology.

The foreign companies come in numbers. They dispel the people from the rural areas which were used by them for centuries. They don't confer with the indigenous people. The deals are made in hidden chambers. The only things that the locals see are other people with big tractors invading their areas. The sample is available for download.

The Yearbook Ecology 2015 was published at the end of August 2014. This issue's focus is on re-naturation: society in harmony with nature, which is examined from economic, social, technical and ecological points of view. Ecologic Institute is one of the institutes supporting this yearbook and contributed three articles in the 2015 edition.

On-time adaptation can be achieved only when future climate change and its consequences are successfully communicated. With their book "Communicating Adaptation to Regional Climate Change. Concepts, Challenges, and Perspectives", Karin Beese (Ecologic Institute), Miriam Fekkak, Christine Katz, Claudia Körner, and Heike Molitor enter the new area of "Communicating Adaptation." Through a collection of articles by 50 authors, the book presents theoretical approaches and reports of practical implementation as well as hands-on mediation for art and cultural projects.

The Eurostat monitoring report, based on the EU set of sustainable development indicators and published every two years, provides an objective, statistical picture of progress towards the goals and objectives of the EU SDS. This 'lite' version of the 2013 monitoring report makes use of the universal language of visuals, offering a shortcut to the essence of the messages delivered through the full version of the monitoring report. It thus provides a snapshot of the key trends related to sustainable development in the European Union. Seven members of the Ecologic Institute contributed to this edition.

Is there a trend towards more sustainable consumption patterns in the European Union (EU)? Is there a reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions? Is the EU losing its natural capital? Answers to these and other questions are presented in the 2013 Eurostat monitoring report on Sustainable Development in the European Union. As partner in a consortium with the Vienna University of Economic and Business, INFRAS, and Haymarket Media Group, the Ecologic Institute played a substantial role in drafting the 2013 Eurostat monitoring report.The monitoring report is available for download.

On 29 October 2013, Eurostat published its most recent Flagship Publication 'Smarter, greener, more inclusive?'. The report assesses the EU's progress in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. Commissioned by Eurostat, Katharina Umpfenbach and Krista Timeus of Ecologic Institute edited the climate change and energy chapter. It discusses progress towards the so-called 20-20-20 targets which aim at cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy supply and improving energy efficiency. The report is available for download.

The Arctic region not only plays an important role in regulating the world's climate, but is also highly affected by climate change. A new book edited by Ecologic Institute's Elizabeth Tedsen, Sandra Cavalieri, and R. Andreas Kraemer addresses the significant changes and developments the Arctic has undergone in the recent years. "Arctic Marine Governance: Opportunities for Transatlantic Cooperation" looks at the current governance environment in the marine Arctic, considers how policy frameworks can adapt to address new challenges in the region, and examines opportunities for cooperation between the European Union and the United States.

20 years after the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international climate regime has evolved into a highly specialized area of legal expertise. This book explores the relation of climate and law, highlighting international climate law as an emerging discipline. Not only are cross-cutting and sectoral issues examined, but also comparative climate law plays an important role.

The Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognized that there remain significant gaps in the understanding of the impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity, while also noting the relevance of other treaties and organizations for filling such gaps. A highly authorative group of experts, among them Dr. Ralph Bodle, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, contributed to the publication's first part, entitled "Impacts of Climate-Related Geoengineering on Biological Diversity." A team of authors from Ecologic Institute, consisting of Dr. Ralph Bodle as leading author, Gesa Homan, Simone Schiele, and Elizabeth Tedsen wrote the publications second part entitled "The Regulatory Framework for Climate-Related Geoengineering Relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity." The publication is available for download.