On 28 November 2007, an Ecologic Transatlantic Riverside Chat brought together Dr. J. Morgan Williams and Jay Benforado to share and discuss perspectives on European policies regarding renewable energy and innovative approaches towards sustainability. The speakers highlighted the strength of European and German positive attitudes towards renewable energy, while stressing the continuous challenge the transition towards a sustainable energy system still imposes. Opportunities and challenges for innovation and leadership were the recurring central themes of the discussion, which took place between policy makers and representatives from think tanks, business, NGOs and Academia.

In the light of liberalised energy markets, the project aims to assess the role of nuclear energy in a diversified EU energy mix. In this context, the project provides an overview and assessment of nuclear polices and strategies both at EU and Member State level.

When designing emissions trading schemes, the decision on allocation methods is a crucial element. After a long and controversial debate, the German government has now decided to introduce the auctioning of credits. Approximately nine percent of all allowances will be given out against payment in the second trading period (2008–2012). In 2008, rules for the German auctioning system are expected to be specified by a regulation. Environmental economists tend to support auctioning for reasons of efficiency while many politicians and the public mostly expect the reduction of unwanted distributional effects (“wind-fall-profits”).

The objective of this study is to identify, describe and evaluate the measures already taken by Member States under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Cross- Compliance (CC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to combat and mitigate the soil threats identified and their potential contribution to the soil conservation objectives as outlined in the EC Communication ‘Towards a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection’ (COM (2006) 231 and 232).

<p>&#13; Invited by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Ingo Bräuer, Senior Fellow with Ecologic Institute, gave a lecture on the cost-benefit ratio of strategies. The objective of the symposium was to identify the current scenarios of climate change as well as the expected impacts on the ecosystems of rivers and floodplains. Further focus lied on the adaptation strategies of different user groups – navigation, agriculture, forestry and water management - and on the potential contribution of nature conservation. The symposium addressed professionals from the sciences, authorities and associations.</p>&#13;

The international conference "Beyond GDP" brought together over 650 participants to discuss how measures of progress, true wealth, and well-being can be improved and integrated into decision-making. Ecologic Institute led the project team organising the conference, which took place in November 2007 within the main chamber of the European Parliament and featured several high-level speakers, including Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

Dworak, Thomas; Anna Leipprand 2007: Climate Change and the EU Water Policy. Including Climate Change in River Basin Planning. Support to the CIS working group on Climate change and Water. Ecologic Institute: Vienna, Berlin.

<p>The European Council approved the financial forecast 2007-2013 in December 2005. This approval does not only define the financial framework for this period, but also includes the decision to comprehensively review the EU budget in 2008 and 2009, for which the Commission launched a broad consultation process.  Within this framework, Ecologic Institute analysed the multi-annual EU financial framework from an environmental and sustainability perspective. On this basis, Ecologic Institute formulated a position paper which was submitted to the consultation procedure of the Commission.</p>&#13;

In the light of increasing prices for energy and raw materials, ecological soundness, technological advance and resource-efficiency are major factors for competitiveness. The Ecologic Institute has carried out a study on Environmental Innovation in Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa in the context of globalisation. This project contributes to and is part of the OECD project on Environmental Innovation and Globalisation.

The continuing loss of biological diversity will cost the global economy up to 14 trillion Euros by 2050, which is equivalent to 7% of the projected global GDP in 2050. This is the result of a study on the cost of policy inaction (COPI) with regard to the EU’s 2010 biodiversity target. Ecologic contributed to the assessment by establishing a comprehensive inventory of economic valuations of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The study was presented on 29 May 2008 at the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Bonn. It is part of a large-scale review on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB).

Human activities exert pressure on water. Overexploitation and water pollution, especially in Eastern European countries, threaten future availability of clean water. Willing to complement the EU’s efforts to halt this trend, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) promotes water policy cooperation between the EU and its Eastern and Southern neighbours. To support the effort, the European Commission has issued a guide to sustainable use and management of water for its European neighbours and Russia.

<p>The scientific evidence conveys the clear message that climate is changing and that this change will impact the water cycle and water resources in Europe and world-wide. European water managers are implementing the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the main instrument in EU water protection. Climate change impacts will affect and interact with WFD implementation activities at different states in the process. Climatic variables are the root of many of the parameters that influence water resources and therefore it is important to consider climate change when aiming to achieve the WFD objectives (good status of all waters). This project aimed to support WFD implementers by providing different options how to include the different challenges coming from climate change in the different planning cycles of the WFD.</p>&#13;