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
Collection and Assessment of Information on Climate Policies in the Context of the European Semester
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European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Climate), International
The EU Long-term Strategy – the implications of striving for net-zero emissions
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Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
ETS Summer Universities for Emerging Economies and Developing Countries
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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?
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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
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- online
Conference:Business Mitigates Climate Change – Final Event of the Dialogue Forum
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- Berlin, Germany
Conference:Planning for 2050 – Conference
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- Brussels, Belgium
Webinar:State of Play on the "Green Deals" in the EU and US
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- online
Workshop:Beyond COP21: What Does Paris Mean for Future Climate Policy?
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- Berlin, Germany
Webinar:Stakeholder Engagement in the EU: Preparing National Energy and Climate Plans
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- online
Selected Presentations for Climate
Speech:What Does the European Green Deal Mean for Cities and Metropolitan Areas?
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- Barcelona, Spain
Panel discussion:Climate Change on the Agenda at the European Think Tank Summit in Madrid
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- Madrid, Spain
Chairing:The International Governance of Geo-engineering
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- Brussels, Belgium
Chairing:Think 2030: Science-policy solutions for a more sustainable Europe
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- Brussels, Belgium
Panel discussion:Solving our Climate Crisis: Dr. Bausch at Senator Bernie Sanders’ National Town Hall Meeting in Washington DC
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- Washington, DC, United States
Speech:From Knowledge to Action: Global climate protection and local action
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- Stuttgart, Germany
Chairing:Climate Protection and Artificial Intelligence – How can AI help us reach the Paris Agreement?
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- Berlin, Germany
Chairing:Preparing the European Energy System for the Impacts of Climate Change
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- Brussels, Belgium
Panel discussion:Key Outcomes of COP24 and Preparations for COP25
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- Cairo, Egypt
Panel discussion:Poetry Talk: World Climate Summit of Poetry
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- Berlin, Germany