The EEA organised a foresight workshop on 12 October 2023 to discuss scenarios for EU environment and sustainability policy in the 2024-2029 policy cycle, with the aim of exploring possible future configurations of EU environment and climate policies and related implications. The results of the foresight workshop are also meant to inform the content and the characterisation of future policy scenarios in the 2024 edition of the EEA's Sustainability Transitions Outlook report. The Ecologic Instituted contributed to this process by supporting the concept development for the workshop, by facilitating two of four scenario groups at the foresight workshop, and by documenting outcomes.

This article illustrates the communication strategies that were successfully applied in the citizen science program Plastic Pirates in Germany. The program engages schoolchildren, teachers and youth groups in plastic pollution research. A variety of communication strategies have been implemented and continuously revised and adapted since the start of the program in 2016.

In this interview with klimafakten.de, Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf from Ecologic Institute talks about the results of two recent surveys about polarization on the topic of climate change in the German society, and discusses their significance for the climate movement.

How can water bodies become more resilient in the face of increasing droughts and heavy rainfall events? Which adaptation measures can be combined well and which are in conflict with each other? What is the potential of selected measures and how likely is their implementation in specific future scenarios?

The issue of fish protection and downstream fish migration is discussed intensively - even controversially - between and within the individual disciplines and areas of competence, both from a technical and an environmental policy perspective. The German Participatory Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Migration has been dedicated to this discussion since 2012. This report, which concludes the German Participatory Forum on Fish Protection and Downstream Migration summarizes a selection of key issues from the forum's workshops across six central topics.

This policy brief examines the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach, considering global (e.g., the Bonn Challenge) and regional (e.g., AFR100) initiatives for restoring (forest) ecosystems, among others, and assesses their contribution to the UN multilateral goals.

The 3rd episode of the 4i-TRACTION podcast series uncovers the essential role of infrastructure in climate policy by examining the EU's role in rolling out the infrastructure for a resilient climate-neutral economy. The hosts, together with infrastructure and energy experts Bettina Kampman (CE Delft) and Katharina Umpfenbach (DENA, the German Energy Agency), discuss how recent EU policies are proving to be a good driver to speed up the energy transition and how more attention to infrastructure as a separate topic is needed.

A coherent German foreign climate policy is essential for the success of the national and European energy transition, as well as for the effective support of ambitious climate policies outside the European Union. This Ariadne background paper provides cornerstones and discusses options for the elaboration and further development of Germany's foreign climate policy. To this end, it distinguishes four categories of relevant goals: traditional climate policy goals, industrial policy goals, security and trade policy goals, and broader foreign policy goals. For each goal, it is necessary to identify appropriate means by which it can be achieved and barriers that stand in its way and need to be considered accordingly.

In this article, some of the several economic benefits entailed by digital solutions are estimated with a focus on leakage reduction in water distribution networks, reduction of combined sewer overflows and on the improvement of hydropower generation and operation. The benefits are calculated for each EU Member State and the UK, and then aggregated at the EU scale. Benefits were quantified in EUR 5.0, 0.14 and 1.7 billion per year (EUR 13.2 per person per year, on average), respectively, excluding environmental and social benefits, which may play a non-negligible role.

This project identifies and develops EU policy opportunities to mitigate methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) emissions from the energy sector.

This report presents an approach to studying the EU’s procedural climate governance, namely the frameworks, instruments and institutions that shape and support the climate-related decision-making process of the EU.

Due to changing climatic conditions, the state government of Baden-Württemberg committed to update its adaptation strategy in 2023. This compact information highlights the measures from the state strategy in which municipalities have an important role to play. It is intended to help them define and implement, or work towards implementing, the measures necessary for their local conditions and risks. It provides a compact overview for municipalities on their way to adapt to the consequences of climate change.

Ecologic Institute provided editorial and graphical support for the update of the adaptation strategy in Baden-Württemberg. Using graphical elements and a well-designed reader guidance, the reading orientation was improved and the visual quality of the document was increased. In addition to the graphic design, Ecologic Institute provided support for the drafting of several chapters, e.g. on climate change impacts, summarized sectoral adaptation challenges and developed an abridged version of the update of the adaptation strategy.

The adaptation strategy provides the framework for the adaptation activities of the state of Baden-Württemberg and serves as a basis for implementation, especially for administration, municipalities and the economy. Due to changing climatic conditions, the state government of Baden-Württemberg committed to update its adaptation strategy in 2023. This short version summarizes the contents of the adaptation strategy.

This report investigates how public procurement can be used as a strategic policy instrument to accelerate the transformation to climate neutrality.