Local and regional institutions are essential for effectively tackling local environmental problems and for implementing policies that address global environmental challenges. In recent years, a number of transatlantic partnerships between regional and local institutions have evolved in order to change information and best practices in the environmental policy area. The Heinrich Boell Foundation organised an informal dinner on 12 July 2005 during which Ecologic Fellow Markus Knigge gave a speech on the role, the functioning and the effectiveness of transatlantic environmental partnerships, and discussed his findings with the participants present.

The international workshop "Implementing the Economic Aspects of the WFD – Future Challenges in the Elbe River Basin" took place in Leipzig on 7 and 8 July 2005 and was mainly organised by Ecologic Associate Britta Pielen. In the course of the workshop, Benjamin Görlach gave an overview of the Member States' current approaches to assessing disproportionate costs in implementing the European Water Framework Directive.

Public acceptance of renewable energies is fundamental to further increasing their share in the overall energy supply. Ecologic organised a series of five future labs to investigate public acceptance at the regional level and to elaborate policy recommendations on how to generate further support for renewables.

Ecologic acts as a consultant to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment for the legal implementation of the tasks resulting from the amended Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG). The project focuses on answering the judicial questions related to the creation of a register of installations. In addition, questions related to the Renewable Energy Sources Act shall be analysed in the context of the revision of the German energy laws. Furthermore a legal analysis and evaluation of the current "mix of instruments" in the field of climate protection and energy supply will be carried out - involving the developments at european and international level. The different renewable energy support schemes will be studied and compared with the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

Knigge, Markus and Caroline Nuffort 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and Trade in Services (CAT-E). Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

The concept of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which is based on a cross-sectoral and sustainable management of water resources, is considered as comprehensive approach for addressing current water challenges world-wide. In the context of a publication by the German Institute for Development Policy, various strategies for IWRM are analysed. The contribution of Ecologic discusses the relevance of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for achieving IWRM in Europe.

Thomas Bosecke critically evaluates coastal protection measures of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea according to an extensive analysis of the biogeographic conditions. He proposes a cautious approach and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The proposed solutions are then reviewed for their legal enforceability with regard to land use planning, nature conservation, property rights and different questions concerning regulatory approval.

Richard Tarasofsky 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and Intellectual Property Rights (CAT-E). Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

Tarasofsky, Richard 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism (CAT-E). Chatham House, Ecologic Institute, London, Berlin.

Hamada, Ana-Mari und Markus Knigge 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and Transparency and Participation (CAT-E). Earth University, Ecologic, Berlin.

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive is one of the main items in the field of environmental protection. As a main novelty, the Directive foresees the integration of economic aspects into water-related decision making. However, current practice in Germany does not always match the definitions and approaches for economic evaluation developed at EU level, as Benjamin Görlach and Eduard Interwies note in this article "What is the Value of Water? Assessing Environmental and Resource Costs in the Water Framework Directive."

Blobel, Daniel; Markus Knigge and Benjamin Görlach 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and Sustainability Impact Assessment. Concerted Action on Trade and Environment (CAT&E). Ecologic, Berlin.

Klasing, Anneke und Markus Knigge 2005: Report on Trade, Environment, and European Trade Policy Development (CAT-E). Ecologic, Berlin.

Knigge, Markus 2005: Report on Trade and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (CAT-E). Ecologic Institute, Berlin.