More green spaces and trees can help nature thrive in cities. But how much they actually contribute to biodiversity depends on their ecological quality, how well they are connected and how they are managed over the long term. This discussion paper identifies the conditions cities need to develop and maintain high-quality urban nature.

Published as a Comment in Nature Reviews Biodiversity in 2026, the article "Implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation requires a shift from restoration targets to restoration landscapes" explores the next phase of implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Daniel Hering, Benjamin Kupilas and Rafaela Schinegger argue that achieving the Regulation's ambitious objectives now requires a shift from setting restoration targets to developing spatially coordinated restoration landscapes, supported by effective governance, strategic spatial planning, sustainable financing and strong stakeholder engagement.

Researchers at Ecologic Institute have developed a new tool to help governments to produce socially just climate adaptation strategies. The Just2Adapt tool allows the user to analyse the justice dimensions of Heat Action Plans at the strategic level as well as at the level of individual measures. It is important that heat adaptation strategies integrate social justice considerations because of the unequal way in which the heat-health effects of climate change are distributed across the population.

Mangroves, coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems can play a crucial role in reducing climate-related risks while supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods. A new discussion paper reviews the current state of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in tropical coastal regions and explores financing instruments that can help scale up and sustain coastal resilience measures over the long term.

This paper reviews a secretive Joint Statement (JS) on Gas Supply Security to Central and Eastern Europe that was signed in Washington, D.C., on 24 February 2026 on the sidelines of meetings organised by the White House, its ‘National Energy Dominance Council’, and the ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’. Signatories comprise the US, eight EU Member States and four candidate countries.

The background paper sheds light on how authorities can enable and accelerate peatland rewetting projects with legal certainty under current law. It shows that, despite numerous legal hurdles, there is considerable scope for decision-making, particularly in the context of planning and nature conservation law.

A new paper by the Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut explores how to incentivise carbon removals. It discusses selected measures that could help incentivise carbon removals at larger scale.

A new paper by the Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut discusses how to design climate target for Member States. The paper explores seven options how to best design national climate targets for the time after 2030. This paper is available for download.

Stories have the unique potential to inspire change, shape perceptions, and foster understanding across diverse audiences. This collection of stories, developed as part of the INTERLACE project, aims to convey the profound emotional and cultural importance natural surroundings have for local communities and showcase the power of collective action.

Kemper, Melanie 2025: Verbreitung von Informations- und Lehrmaterialien für einen umweltbewussten Umgang mit Humanarzneimitteln - Konzept und Plan für eine Kampagne. Ecologic Institut, Berlin. Unpublished.

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a growing problem. The UBA Internet portal "Human Medicinal Products and the Environment" offers freely available, scientifically proven teaching materials for medical and pharmaceutical lecturers. With the basic set of slides and the accompanying texts, the topic can be taught comprehensively and practically despite tight curricula.

Dr Ralph Bodle, Arne Riedel and Dr Stephan Sina from Ecologic Institute's Legal Team are among the authors of the comprehensive legal commentary on climate change law (BeckOK Klimarecht), which was published by C. H. Beck on their online platform in December 2024. The commentary is edited by Prof Ekkehard Hofmann and Dr Franziska Heß and is the first to cover climate-related laws and treaties at international, European and national level.

Pharmacies can order this decorative wall calendar free of charge and give it as a promotional gift to their customers. The calendar is designed as a year-independent birthday calendar in DIN A4. Each month, attractive, large photo motifs and short texts focus on a different aspect of pharmaceuticals and the environment.

The analysis by Ariadne project partners examines Germany's climate foreign policy during the current legislative period. Beyond the international context, they also consider the organizational structure within the German government and the responsible ministries. The researchers conclude that Germany has been able to set the pace for international climate policy by transferring the responsibility for international climate policy to the Foreign Office and creating the role of Special Envoy for International Climate Policy. In contrast, the record of Germany's engagement in bilateral and plurilateral formats has yielded mixed results.

The environmental crises caused by humans do not stop at the oceans. To effectively tackle these complex challenges, new forms of scientific cooperation are needed. This impulse paper argues in favour of strategically strengthened cooperation between the natural, technical, social and cultural sciences. It presents five key areas of development that should pave the way for more socially relevant marine research in the future - from reforms in education to structural outreach to society. Dr Grit Martinez from the Ecologic Institute, who has been committed to combining social science and humanities perspectives and environmental research for many years, contributed to this impulse paper.