This book, edited by Ecologic Institute's Brendan O'Donnell, Max Gruenig, and Arne Riedel, highlights both the diversity of perspectives and approaches to Arctic research and the inherent interdisciplinary nature of studying and understanding this incomparable region. The chapters are divided into four liberally-defined sections to provide space for dynamic interpretation and dialogue in search of sustainable solutions to the issues facing the Arctic. From governance to technology, scientific research to social systems, human health to economic development, the authors discuss fundamental questions while looking toward the Arctic’s future. Whether the reader is well-versed in the history and complexity of Arctic policy or looking for an insightful introduction to the vast world of Arctic research, everyone will find answers that lead to new questions and even more discoveries in these pages, laying the foundation for tomorrow’s discussion on the future of the Arctic.

Initiatives such as the Green Growth Platform (GGP) aim to positively influence political and economic decision-making. They can play an important role in shaping the ambition and structure of policy initiatives. In the absence of directly observable influences, it is often difficult to measure the actual impact of such initiatives. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear SafetyBMU, Ecologic Institute evaluated the Green Growth Platform through a survey of members, event participants and key stakeholders.

This infographic provides a brief overview of the effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients observed in studies on non-target organisms that have been submitted and evaluated in the context of veterinary drug approvals (status 2017). A detailed version of the table, which also includes effect concentrations and sources of literature, can be downloaded as a PDF file.

This checklist for veterinary medicine and animal husbandry recalls the most important environmental issues when using veterinary medicines.

This brochure is aimed at veterinarians. It provides information on how veterinary medicines enter the environment, explains their environmental impact and shows how environmental aspects can be taken into account in daily veterinary work. The advisory role of veterinary medicine in relation to preventive health management is of particular importance.

This illustration visualizes the processes of degradation, runoff, accumulation, uptake and infiltration of veterinary drugs in the environment. Active substances from veterinary medicines behave very differently depending on the substance and location properties. While sulfonamides, for example, can be transferred to groundwater, tetracyclines tend to accumulate in the topsoil.

Care and hygiene help to minimise the direct entry of veterinary medicines into the environment. Carry-over of veterinary medicines is an unnecessary waste, can endanger the health of operators and have no therapeutic benefits for animals. Carry-over antibiotics can contribute to the development of resistance in humans, animals and the environment. This infographic illustrates five ways to reduce the carry-over of veterinary medicines in the barn.

This brochure is aimed at farmers. It provides information on how veterinary medicines enter the environment and explains their environmental impact. It also identifies ways in which environmental aspects can be taken into account in the application of veterinary medicinal products and the use of fertilisers containing veterinary medicinal products. Precautionary health measures are of particular importance. Veterinary medicines that do not need to be administered in the first place cannot harm the environment.

The infographic illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of four different cleaning methods for nipple drinks in pigsties with drawings. Dirt, heat and moisture in pipes and on drinking troughs provide ideal conditions for the propagation of germs in the so-called biofilm. Pathogens that have reached the drinking trough with saliva or nasal secretions from animals can survive there and can be transmitted to new animal groups.

In January 2018 the European Commission adopted an Action Plan to improve compliance with EU environmental rules. Ecologic Institute and its partners support the European Commission in implementing the Action Plan. In particular, the project assists the European Commission in the development of good practice guidance documents on combating environmental crimes, on compliance assurance in rural areas and on handling environmental complaints of citizens as well as with the communication on the Action Plan.

Wunder, Stephanie; Timo Kaphengst; Ana Frelih-Larsen (2017): Implementing land degradation neutrality (SDG 15.3) at national level: general approach, indicator selection and experiences from Germany. In: Ginzky, H. et. al. (eds.): International Year Book of Soil Law and Policy, 191-219.

This paper presents an integrated assessment of how EU policies influence aquatic biodiversity in order to determine how EU policies and laws contribute to achieving and/or hindering EU and international biodiversity targets. The authors from Ecologic Institute, IUCN, and ACTeon also discuss whether European policy has a synergistic or conflicting mix of instruments to address the main problems facing aquatic biodiversity, and whether there are any gaps in the existing policy framework. The article is available for download.

This brief aims to highlight the benefits to business of engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the EU Horizon 2020 project Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS) can assist with the SDGs focused on managing aquatic ecosystems. The business brief is available for download.

The EU project "Implementation of the EU's Action Plan for nature, people and the economy" responds to the EU Nature Directives' Fitness Check and aims to contribute to the improvement of the Nature Directives implementation. It seeks to support the Commission in the delivery of specific sub-actions of the EU Action Plan for nature, people and the economy under the Priority B 'Building political ownership and strengthening compliance'. The project is led by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and is supported by Ecologic Institute and the N2K Group EEIG composed of five companies from different European regions.

As an output of the research project "European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime" (EFFACE), which was coordinated by Ecologic Institute, an edited volume entitled "Environmental Crime in Europe" was published by Hart Publishing. Dr. Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, contributed a chapter on environmental crime in Germany. In this chapter, he describes the legal framework on environmental crime in Germany and assesses its conformity with the EU's Environmental Crime Directive.