The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) organized the forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Fish Migration for three years as part of an R&D project of the Environmental Research Plan of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Ecologic Institute provided content and organizational support for the forum on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency. The forum included members from federal and regional water resource management authorities, NGOs, consultancies, water managers and hydropower.

Between June and August 2011, BioFresh Team members from Ecologic Institute and Oxford University School of Geography and the Environment undertook an online survey of stakeholders' opinions of the status and policy profile of freshwater biodiversity in policy-making and of various communication channels that link science and policy. The evaluation report is available for download.

The One Planet Economy Network: EU (OPEN:EU) project concluded at the end of 2011 with the launch of the EUREAPA tool. EUREAPA (EU Resource and Energy Analysis Programme Application) is a freely available online decision making support tool based on the integration of the Footprint Family of indicators with an economic model which enables users to demonstrate the impact of EU consumption and production on the environment.

In a literature review, Ecologic Institute examined the effects of environmental tax reforms on the distribution of wealth among different population groups. The review was a contribution to a project commissioned by the European Environment Agency that analysed the long-term perspectives of a substantial shift of taxation from labour and income towards resource use in Europe. Distributional impacts of such a tax reform are addressed in one project report, while another one focuses on the effects of environmental tax reform on innovation.

Ammermüller, Britta et. al. 2011: Cost-benefit assessment within the context of the EC Water Framework Directive. Method for justifying exemptions based on disproportionate costs. [Studies in Infrastructure and Resources Management, Bd. 3]. Berlin: Logos Verlag.

Ecologic Institute's lawyers Dr. Volker Hoppenbrock (Fellow) and Anke Rostankowski (Associate) have contributed to the latest commentary on the German Renewable-Energy-Law (EEG). The new issue of this practice-oriented legal standard work deals with the EEG which is one of the most important cornerstones of German environmental energy law.

To make the human impact on the environment more transparent for a non specialist audience, the European Commission develops a composite indicator on environmental pressures. The Ecologic institute supports the development process by drafting a methodological report, which summarizes the methodological choices and their consequences. Additionally papers for the communication of the index are supplied.

The Ecologic Institute evaluated and supported the implementation of auctions in the EU's emissions trading scheme third trading period in the aviation sector and for stationary sources, focusing on economic aspects. In this context, Ecologic Institute assessed potential benchmarks and criteria for the auctioning of emissions certificates based on an assessment of the current markets for EUAs. Additionally, the terms for the direct and indirect access to auctions – e.g. via banks - and platforms were monitored and empirically evaluated.

The German nuclear phase-out and shift to renewable energy is of great interest in other countries, including China. An article by Jane Feng 冯洁in the "Southern Weekly" 南方周末, Guangdong, cites R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute on grid expansion, reserve capacities, and future electricity prices.

This study supported the Joint Research Centre in a pilot project on the "certification of low carbon farming practices in the European Union". An EU-wide survey of data availability for a carbon calculator tool was carried out, along with the testing of the tool and assessment of policy options for promoting its use. The project documents are available for download.