Climate
To avert the climate crisis, global greenhouse gas emissions must reach "net zero" within the space of a few decades. Ecologic Institute combines political, economic, and legal analysis to propose effective policy solutions for this challenge at all levels.
At the international level, our legal experts monitor and contribute to negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At EU, national, regional, and local levels, our research projects produce recommendations for concrete policy instruments as well as appropriate governance and institutions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The climate team covers most aspects of climate policy, especially at the European level. Our team has a particularly strong track record in a number of specific policy areas, such as carbon pricing (with a focus on the EU Emissions Trading System), climate laws, long-term planning, and evaluating policy effectiveness. Our team also includes experts in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, and the circular economy.
We engage with and work for a broad range of academic organizations and stakeholders from governments, business, and civil society, co-producing solutions to manage the climate crisis. Communicating results and insights in a targeted fashion is one of the team's priorities. We strive for innovation in fostering an ongoing dialogue among key public and private actors – both online and in person – to support effective and forward-thinking climate action.
The climate team also engages in teaching, in cooperation with a number of universities. Moreover, we design our own training courses, enhancing capacity and understanding of climate change and possible solutions to audiences that include journalists and UNFCCC negotiators. We also present on a regular basis to visitor groups from around the world, explaining our understanding of EU and German policy processes. Furthermore, we have been continuously teaching courses on emissions trading for over a decade.
Selected Projects for Climate
Intra-EU Exchange to Raise Awareness and Build Capacity on Long-term Climate Strategies (Climate Recon 2050)
- Duration
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Nov 2017 - Oct 2019
- Funding
Collection and Assessment of Information on Climate Policies in the Context of the European Semester
- Duration
-
Dec 2018 - Feb 2020
- Funding
-
European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Climate), International
The EU Long-term Strategy – the implications of striving for net-zero emissions
- Duration
-
Sep 2018 - Jul 2020
- Funding
-
Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Supporting the Climate Negotiations on Questions under the Paris Agreement
- Duration
-
May 2019 - Dec 2022
- Funding
ETS Summer Universities for Emerging Economies and Developing Countries
- Duration
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Jun 2012 - Mar 2018
- Funding
-
European Commission, Directorate-General Development and Cooperation (EuropeAid), International European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Climate), International
Future of the EU: What Role for Climate and Energy Policies?
- Duration
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Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
- Funding
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Stiftung Mercator, Germany
Selected Publications for Climate
Duwe, Matthias; Eike Karola Velten, Nick Evans, Mona Freundt, Julien Pestiaux, Benoît Martin, Pascal Vermeulen (2019): Planning for net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans. Berlin, Louvain-la-Neuve, Bruessels.
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.
Duwe, Matthias and Evans, Nicholas (2020): Climate Laws in Europe: Good Practices in Net-Zero Management. Berlin, Den Haag:
Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils 2019: A European Climate Law – What Should It Look Like?. Ecologic Institute: Berlin.
Matthias Duwe and Ewa Iwaszuk, Ecologic Institute. 2019. "LTS in Europe: Experience from National and EUwide 2050 Climate Planning."
Duwe, Matthias; Ostwald, Robert (2017): The Innovation Fund: how can it support low-carbon industry in Europe: Design recommendations for the successor instrument to the NER 300 in Phase 4 of the EU ETS. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.
Duwe, Matthias 2018: Result Oriented Spending for the Climate: Creating strong connections between the EU budget and National Energy and Climate Plans. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.
Bodle, Ralph, Lena Donat and Matthias Duwe (2016). The Paris Agreement: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook. German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Research Paper. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt.
Görlach, Benjamin and Elizabeth Zelljadt (2019): Carbon Leakage Risks in the Post-Paris World. UBA Climate Change 43/2019. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt
Ecologic Institute, the Istituto Affari Internazionali, the Institute of European Environment Policies, the Climate Strategy Institute 2050 2019: The Future of the EU – the Role of Climate and Energy Policies. Conclusions.
Selected Events for Climate
Webinar:The EU Climate Law: Holding the EU Accountable for Delivering on the Paris Agreement
- Date
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19 March 2020
- Location
- online
Conference:Business Mitigates Climate Change – Final Event of the Dialogue Forum
- Date
-
11 March 2020
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
Conference:Planning for 2050 – Conference
- Date
-
23 May 2019
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
Webinar:State of Play on the "Green Deals" in the EU and US
- Date
-
20 November 2019
- Location
- online
Workshop:Beyond COP21: What Does Paris Mean for Future Climate Policy?
- Date
-
28 January 2016
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
Webinar:Stakeholder Engagement in the EU: Preparing National Energy and Climate Plans
- Date
-
25 June 2019
- Location
- online
Selected Presentations for Climate
Speech:What Does the European Green Deal Mean for Cities and Metropolitan Areas?
- Date
-
10 March 2020
- Location
- Barcelona, Spain
Panel discussion:Climate Change on the Agenda at the European Think Tank Summit in Madrid
- Date
-
10 - 12 April 2019
- Location
- Madrid, Spain
Chairing:The International Governance of Geo-engineering
- Date
-
4 - 5 November 2019
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
Chairing:Think 2030: Science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe
- Date
-
17 - 18 October 2018
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
Panel discussion:Solving our Climate Crisis: Dr. Bausch at Senator Bernie Sanders’ National Town Hall Meeting in Washington DC
- Date
-
3 December 2018
- Location
- Washington, DC, United States
Speech:From Knowledge to Action: Global climate protection and local action
- Date
-
21 November 2018
- Location
- Stuttgart, Germany
Chairing:Climate Protection and Artificial Intelligence – How can AI help us reach the Paris Agreement?
- Date
-
25 September 2019
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
Chairing:Preparing the European Energy System for the Impacts of Climate Change
- Date
-
18 June 2019
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
Panel discussion:Key Outcomes of COP24 and Preparations for COP25
- Date
-
19 March 2019
- Location
- Cairo, Egypt
Panel discussion:Poetry Talk: World Climate Summit of Poetry
- Date
-
26 May 2018
- Location
- Berlin, Germany