Consumer Policy

Consumer Policy

Project:Horizon Europe
 
project logo green label with two leaves as wings
In order to make informed decisions, consumers need information on the sustainability performance of BBPs that is evidence-based, trustworthy, transparent and clear. The Horizon Europe funded project "3-CO" responds to this need by designing a supportive framework for Labels and Certification Schemes (LCS) for industrial BBPs that are sustainable in terms of resources, processes and materials used.

Concise Consumer Communication through Robust Labels for Bio-based Systems (3-CO)

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Project
 
Ecomodulation of fees can play a crucial role in incentivizing upstream design changes by reducing the fees for products or packaging designed for circular economy. Products or packaging with circular design (e.g., a minimum percentage of recycled content, high reparability index, reduction in weight of material, shift from low to easily recyclable material(s)) could benefit from reduced fees, while those with design barriers, which are also often exported to developing countries for end-of-life treatment, could incur higher fees. Thus, ecomodulation of fees can play a vital role in prioritizing design as waste prevention, reusability, reparability and recyclability. Against this background, this project run by Ecologic Institute focused on the product streams batteries, plastic/packaging, textiles and waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Extended Producer Responsibility and Ecomodulation of Fees

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Project
 
In this project, three sufficiency projects are to be implemented, which the contractors had developed together with UBA employees in the previous project.

More Quality of Life, Less Environmental Usage

Development of user-oriented sufficiency policy project drafts in the Environment Department (sub-project 2)

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Project
 
This project as part of the National Food Waste Reduction Strategy aims to reduce food waste in private households. A core area of the project is the identification of promising approaches and interventions. These will be implemented in cooperation with practitioners and evaluated for their effectiveness using a standardized method developed within the project.

Reduction of Food Waste in Private Households in Germany

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Project
 
The overall aim of this project is to support the Committee of the Regions (CoR) by outlining the role cities and local and regional authorities (LRAs) can have in the planning, implementation and financing of more efficient district and renewable heating and cooling systems, usage of local heat, cold and fuel sources, insulation of buildings, the use of biomass in heating and cooling as well as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generation.

Local and Regional State of Play and Policy Recommendations Concerning Sustainable Heating and Cooling: Focusing on EU Policy Level

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Project
 
The circular economy is rapidly rising up political and business agendas. In contrast to today’s largely linear, 'take-make-use-dispose' economy, a circular economy represents a development strategy that enables economic growth while aiming to optimise the chain of consumption of biological and technical materials. A deep transformation of production chains and consumption patterns is envisaged to keep materials circulating in the economy for longer, re-designing industrial systems and encouraging cascading use of materials and waste.

Potential Circular Economy Actions, Priority Sectors, Material Flows, and Value Chains

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Project:FP 7
 
The three-year research project "InContext" identified framework conditions enabling societal transition towards an ecologically sound, economically successful and culturally diverse future. Action at local and individual levels is vital to bring the concept of sustainable development to life. However, policies aimed at initiating such local and individual transitions towards sustainability can often not achieve the desired change. Thus, the EU research project InContext has set out to investigate the conditions for creating sustainability transitions at the local and individual levels.

Individuals in Context: Supportive Environments for Sustainable Living (InContext)

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Project
 
Labour unions have a significant impact on consumption and production patterns. By means of case studies from Germany, Great Britain, the USA, South Africa and Indonesia, Ecologic examines the current attitude of unions towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. The final report identifies labour unions' potential future contribution to advancing sustainable development and ways to further strengthen their involvement in the respective national and international governance processes.

The Role of Labour Unions in Sustainable Consumption and Production

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Project
 
Sustainable Consumption is one of the key factors on the way to Sustainable Development. So far, the implementation of sustainable consumption lacks legally binding international obligations. This study therefore identifies whether and to what extent existing international agreements or organisations could serve as a tool to implement aspects of sustainable development. In addition, the study offers recommendations how further policy integration in the field of sustainable consumption can be achieved. Particular emphasis is placed on international trade law.

Consumer Interests and Sustainable Development in International Law

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Project
 
The debate over possible health effects caused by electromagnetic fields (EMF) like e.g. mobile phones has increased in the last years. Ecologic produced a study about the "analysis of the scientific discourse on possible health effects and ecological risks by mobile telecommunication and transmitters" for the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag.

UMTS: Health Risks of Mobile Telecommunication

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Publication:Report
 
Pay as you eat meat Report Aaron Scheid CE Delft
Animal products are an essential part of today's German diet, but they are associated with a variety of environmental problems, such as global warming, eutrophication of soils and waters, etc.. These cause external costs. The study, co-authored by Aaron Scheid and Benjamin Görlach of Ecologic Institute, estimates these external costs for animal products and examines policy measures to address them.

Pay as You Eat Dairy, Eggs and Meat

External Cost Estimates and Policy Options to Internalise Them in Germany

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Publication:Case Study
 
Cover of the InContext case study analysis
This report presents a document analysis on the four case studies that build on the InContext project’s WP3. The general purpose is to provide a better understanding on how niches of alternative more sustainable consumption and production practices are created, and how they can later be diffused or mainstreamed.

InContext Case Study Analysis

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Publication:Report
 
Cover page of a deliverable titled "Literature Review & Research Survey" under the INCONTEXT project, funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme.
This research survey aimed to provide an expansive overview of past and current research related to the study of various contexts of individual behaviour. It assessed their relevance for the work of InContext, and helped situate the work of InContext in the broader research landscape for sustainable behavioural and social change.

InContext Literature Review & Research Survey

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Publication:Article
 
Hinzmann Mederake EU single use plastics directive article
This article, co-authored by Mandy Hinzmann and Linda Mederake from Ecologic Institute, assesses the potential of the EU "Single-Use Plastics Directive" (SUPD) to reduce litter pollution in the environment with three scenarios. The scenario analysis revealed that the success the current SUPD can be an important first step, yet further legislative actions are needed to effectively prevent plastic waste pollution - bans alone are not sufficient. The success of the Directive is therefore highly dependent on implementation and enforcement.

What Potential Does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Have for Reducing Plastic Pollution at Coastlines and Riversides?

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Publication:Article
 
Cover Journal Circular Economy and Sustainability
To tackle the "plastic crisis", the concept of circular economy has attracted considerable attention over the past years, both by practitioners and scholars alike. Against this background, Linda Mederake, Ecologic Institute, reflects in this opinion paper from a political scientist's point of view on key issues currently under discussion regarding the implementation of a circular plastics economy.

Without a Debate on Sufficiency, a Circular Plastics Economy will Remain an Illusion

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Publication:Report
 
Publication's cover: Extended Producer Responsibility and Ecomodulation of Fees
In this analysis, Ecologic Institute focused on four product streams: plastic/packaging, waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and textiles to investigate the four cross-sectional aspects: modulation criteria, size of the fees, cost coverage and revenue use. The analysis suggests a systemic change in EPR and ecomodulation of fees is required which is more focused on waste prevention measures.

Extended Producer Responsibility and Ecomodulation of Fees

Opportunity: Ecomodulation of Fees as a Way Forward for Waste Prevention

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Publication:Video
 
Plastic waste, plastic parts and microplastics can be found everywhere in the environment. Plastic particles are also detected in living organisms. But what exactly is the situation? To find out, the German Ministry of Research is funding the research priority "Plastics in the Environment" with around 40 million euros. Some of the results of the 20 funded research projects are presented in this video. Further results of the research projects as well as information on the activities of the research focus are available on the website.

Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions

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Publication:Book
 
Cover Plastic, Waste & Me
The Heinrich Böll Foundation, the book designer Gesine Grotrian and the Ecologic Institute as expert support have worked closely with young people to develop a book for people aged 12 and over that describes the history, production and risks of our plastic consumption in a straightforward, colourful and clearly understandable way. It also shows alternatives and ways out of dealing with plastic and its dangers. The book is available online.

Unpacked! Plastic, Waste & Me

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Publication:Article
 
Cover
Bioeconomy currently enjoys a high political priority; at the same time, the concept, which last received a boost in 2018 in the form of the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, is not without controversy and contains many conflicting goals. This is where the article by Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute), Franziska Wolff and Martin Möller (both Öko-Institut e.V.) comes in. The authors argue that bioeconomy can only contribute to the achievement of sustainability goals if the political framework is appropriate. Whether or not strategies will have an impact depends on each individual case. Bioeconomy pathways should be designed and tested accordingly.

Handlungsoptionen einer nachhaltigen Bioökonomiepolitik

Wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg

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Publication:Brochure
 
Cover of the publication with a girl biting into a bun topped with meat substitutes and vegetables.
In July 2020, the Federal Environment Agency published the trend report "Meat of the Future", which analyzes the environmental impacts of plant-based meat substitutes, edible insects and in-vitro meat. Ecologic Institute developed policy options on how the market development of meat alternatives can be better aligned with the goal of sustainability.

Focus on the Future: Meat of the future

Trend report for assessing the environmental impacts of plant-based meat substitutes, edible insects and in vitro meat

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Publication:Video
 
This video summarises the main activities and findings of the five national platforms. In order to adapt actions and responses to food waste challenges nationally, REFRESH established national networking platforms in the following five countries: Germany, Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands and China. The national platforms set up voluntary agreements and started different pilot activities against food waste, which are presented in this video.

National Platforms to Fight Food Waste

Results of the EU Research Project REFRESH

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Publication:Video
 
This video shows options studied within REFRESH of how to use food side flows in a more sustainable way than it is done today. One example is feeding treated surplus food to omnivorous livestock.

Valorising Unavoidable Food Waste

Results of the EU Research Project REFRESH

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Publication:Video
 
This video summarises the REFRESH project’s activities and findings in the field of consumer behavior. Households account for more than half of the food waste generated in the EU. A large survey conducted by REFRESH in four European countries revealed relevant information on consumer food waste behavior that was used to draw conclusions for policy makers.

Reducing Consumer Food Waste

Results of the EU Research Project REFRESH

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Publication:Video
 
In 2019, the European research project REFRESH has come to an end. Since 2015, the 26 project partners from across Europe and China have made considerable progress in tackling food losses and food waste along production and supply chains with an integrated approach towards a more sustainable and responsible food system. This video summarises the main activities and findings within the project's three focus areas.

Research Against Food Waste

Results of the EU Research Project REFRESH

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Event:Discussion
 
Veranstaltungsankündigung für das Zukunftsforum des Ecornet – Ecological Research Network. Titel: "Vom Hof bis auf den Tisch: Impulse für eine zeitgemäße Ernährung". Datum und Uhrzeit: Dienstag, 21. Januar 2025, 18:00 Uhr. Ort: Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte, Greifswalder Straße 4, 10405 Berlin. Weitere Informationen unter www.ecornet.eu/zukunftsforum. Der Hintergrund ist orange, und rechts unten ist ein Bild von jungen Pflanzensprossen auf einem Acker zu sehen.
On 21 January 2025, Ecornet experts will meet in Berlin to discuss how a sustainable food transformation can succeed. Register and bring your perspectives into the discussion!

From Farm to Fork

Impulses for contemporary nutrition


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
Image with the title of the event
The BMUV recently hosted a stakeholder dialogue to explore and develop digital solutions that support sustainable and circular consumption decisions in everyday life. The kick-off event took place in Berlin on 13 November 2024, bringing together experts from research and practice.

Digital Solutions for Sustainable Consume

Kick-off event of the stakeholder dialogue


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Discussion
 
On behalf of the MLUK, we thank all participants for joining the market information talks on 29 October 2024, focusing on "Value chains for organic niche crops from Brandenburg."

Value Chains for Organic Niche Crops from Brandenburg

Market Information Talk – Focus: Buckwheat, amaranth, flax, millet & co. and nuts


Seddiner See, Germany

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Event:Discussion
 
On behalf of the MLUK, we thank all participants for joining the market information event 'Value chains for organic grain from Brandenburg' on 22 October 2024.

Value Chains for Organic Grain from Brandenburg

Market Information Talk


Seddiner See, Germany

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Event:Discussion
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg (MLUK), the market information meeting "Organic Value Chains for Community Catering" took place on 19 November 2024.

Organic Value Chains for Community Catering

Market Information Talk


Seddiner See, Germany

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Event:Discussion
 
The third organic market information talk on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg (MLUK) took place on 18 November 2024 at Gut Hesterberg. The topic was 'Value chains for organic meat', with a focus on processing and marketing opportunities.

Value Chains for Organic Meat from Brandenburg

Market Information Talk


Gut Hesterberg, Germany

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Event:Digital Event
 
Bringing together food waste experts from across Europe, the REFRESH Community of Experts (CoE) launched a series of four webinars on 'Tackling Food Waste Across the Supply Chain'. The series demonstrates how policy makers, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, municipalities and many more organisations involved in the food supply chain can effectively address food waste. This month-long webinar series, hosted from 9 April to 2 May 2019, included expert speakers from ten institutions. The webinars offered an opportunity to gain insights from case studies, ask questions of the speakers and get signposts to further information.

Tackling Food Waste Across the Supply Chain – Webinar Series

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online

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Event:Conference
 
On 9 June 2015, the results of the project "Strategic Development of the National Climate Initiative (NKI)" were discussed at the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in Berlin. The half-day conference focused on the presentation of the results of the development of the National Climate Initiative as well as on the exchange and networking of high-ranking stakeholders from policy, business, scientific institutions, and civil society.

Strategic Development of the National Climate Initiative (NKI)


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
Public campaigns and other policy instruments can significantly influence consumer behavior and contribute to a reduction of consumer food waste. The REFRESH Policy Workshop "Public campaigns and other policy options for behaviour change" discussed the findings of REFRESH work on consumer behaviour and policy recommendations with regard to reducing consumer food waste. Based on a detailed report and policy brief developed by the Ecologic Institute, the workshop provided ideas and inspirations for EU and national policy makers in designing appropriate interventions against consumer food waste. The workshop took place on 19 November 2018 in the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Berlin. The background report, policy brief, workshop minutes, agenda and presentation are available for download.

EU Policy Workshop to Reduce Consumer Food Waste


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Conference
 
On 5 June 2014, the one-day conference "Climate Mitigation Requires Initiative – Conference on the Strategic Development of the NKI" took place in Berlin under the scope of the project "Strategic Development of the National Climate Initiative (NKI)". 150 participants from policy, business, scientific institutions, and civil society discussed and exchanged their views on the main focal points for the further development of the NKI. The presentation slides are available for download.

Climate Mitigation Requires Initiative – Strategic Development of the National Climate Initiative (NKI)


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
On 21 October 2019, the event "Re-Use Berlin – neue Perspektiven für Gebrauchtwaren" (new perspectives for used goods) took place from 6 to 9 PM in Berlin's Urania. Ambassadors of reusing from Berlin presented their "stories" and visions, while business, administration and civil society representatives discussed existing approaches and sustainable ideas. 100 people participated in the event.

Re-Use Berlin – New Perspectives for Used Goods


Berlin, Germany

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Event:Workshop
 
There are numerous regulatory approaches for handling plastic products and plastic waste in various areas such as waste and recycling policy, marine protection or chemicals policy. During the workshop, Linda Mederake gave an insight into existing plastic regulations and initiatives at the international, European and national levels to reduce the amount of plastics entering the environment. She critically discussed what stages in the life cycle of plastics are targeted by political solutions and she also highlighted regulatory gaps.

Plastic Regulation – Who is responsible?


Berlin, Germany

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Presentation:Speech
 
On 13 March 2024, Doris Knoblauch (Ecologic Institute) gave a lecture on "Plastics and the Environment" highlighting the need for a global plastics treaty at a postgraduate course, where 21 experts from ministries, authorities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and industry from low-income countries and emerging economies were represented and exchanged. The focus was on why plastic pollution is a problem and why we urgently need an international, legally binding plastics treaty.

Plastics & the Environment – Why We Need a Plastics Treaty


Doris Knoblauch

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Presentation:Lecture
 
Title Slide Presentation
On 29 March 2023, Doris Knoblauch and Mandy Hinzmann gave a lecture on "Plastics and the Environment" in a postgraduate course, where 19 experts from ministries, authorities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and industry from low-income countries and emerging economies were represented and exchanged. The focus was on reducing plastics in the environment, on different responsibilities and concerns from a global perspective on the one hand, and on the textile sector on the other hand.

Plastics & The Environment – Responsibilities and Implications Between North and South


Doris Knoblauch

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Presentation:Speech
 
Drawing on results from several interdisciplinary research projects funded under the German research focus "Plastics in the Environment", Linda Mederake (Ecologic Institute) shared insights regarding the patterns of societal perception and behavior in dealing with (micro)plastics as well as the scope for action of different actors to reduce (micro)plastic emissions into the environment.

The Challenge of Reducing (Micro)Plastic Emissions


Linda Mederake

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Presentation:Panel discussion
 
screenshot of the press briefing
The question of the limits to growth is more relevant than ever. Historically, economic growth has almost always been accompanied by increasing environmental damage. The policies of European countries now want to break this historical link through "green growth". The economy should continue to grow, but without negative consequences for the environment. From a scientific perspective, however, it is disputed whether such a decoupling is realistic. Dr. Michael Jakob from Ecologic Institute discussed this apparent contradiction between politics and science with Prof. Dr. Doris Fuchs and Dr. Steffen Lange during a press briefing on 25 February 2022.

Is Green Growth Possible?


Dr. Michael Jakob

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Presentation:Speech
 
On October 12th and 13th the 2020 European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) Annual Conference took place. Together with prominent speakers like Angela Merkel and Achim Steiner participants discussed the transformative potential of the EU Green Deal. Stephanie Wunder, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute presented what steps are needed next to implement the Green Deals’ Farm to Fork Strategy. The presentation is available for download.

The EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy


Stephanie Wunder

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Presentation:Speech
 
On 22 September 2020 the 10th Day of the Food Industry in Brandenburg took place. For the first time through an online format, the food industry of the Berlin/Brandenburg metropolitan area discussed future paths for the development of the food industry in 2030. Stephanie Wunder from Ecologic Institute held the keynote speech. The video recording of the event is available online.

Conference of the Food Industry in Berlin/Brandenburg – Keynote


Stephanie Wunder

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Presentation:Panel discussion
 
How to increase regional food production and consumption for and in cities? That was the guiding question for the panel discussion with Stephanie Wunder, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, Wolfram Günther, Saxon Minister of Agriculture, Valentin Thurn, film director and chairman of the Cologne Food Policy Council and Jörg Naumann, farmer and representative of the alliance "Land schafft Verbindung" on 9 September 2020 at the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden.

How to Feed the City with Regional Production?


Stephanie Wunder

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Presentation:Speech
 
In order to overcome the negative effects of conventional meat consumption, many alternatives are emerging that could offer solutions. But is that really the case? In the webinar "The future of meat: from trend analysis to policy action" Stephanie Wunder, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute and Sylvia Veenhoff from the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) presented and discussed the results of a trend study commissioned by the UBA describing three core trends: artificial meat, plant-based meat and insect food.

The Future of Meat: From Trend Analysis to Policy Action


Stephanie Wunder

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Presentation:Speech
 
Under the title "Wellbeing and Equity within planetary boundaries" the biannual conference of the International Society of Ecological Economics (ISEE) took place in Reykjavik (Iceland) from 13 to 15 August 2014. Timo Kaphengst from Ecologic Institute presented a report on "Energy transition and behavioural change in rural areas." In total, Ecologic Institute contributed three official inputs to the ISEE conference. The presentation slides and the report are available for download.

Energy Transition and Behavioural Change in Rural Areas


Timo Kaphengst

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Presentation:Lecture
 
In an Environmental Policy Lecture on Sustainable Consumption and Production – Public Policies for Changing the "European Way of Life", R. Andreas Kraemer presented the international framework and current activities in Europe and Germany. Faculty and students attended this event at Duke University, Durham, NC, on 21 September 2004 and engaged in a lively debate.

Public Policies for Changing the 'European Way of Life'


R. Andreas Kraemer

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Presentation:Chairing
 
On 9 April 2019, Doris Knoblauch, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, moderated a panel discussion on the political and social dimensions of plastics in the environment. Participants presented the first social science results of their collaborative projects and discussed possible courses of action

Political and Social Dimensions of Plastics in the Environment


Doris Knoblauch

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Presentation:Speech
 
How is the Paris Agreement relevant for people active in the building sector? What can and should architects, energy consultants, or installers contribute to achieving the goals of this international climate agreement? Dr. Camilla Bausch of Ecologic Institute tried to bridge the gap between the international and the local level before 500 experts in her Keynote Address at the 20th annual conference "Herbstforum Altbau" in Stuttgart (Germany).

From Knowledge to Action: Global climate protection and local action


Dr. Camilla Bausch

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