Smart Grids and Smart Meters in Germany
On 9 May 2011, the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) reported on Germany's plans to further invest and expand upon smart grid technology and infrastructure. This requires smart demand management, or the roll-out of smart meters. Economist and Fellow at Ecologic Institute Berlin, Max Grünig was interviewed on the issue of smart grids and smart meters in Germany and comments on the problems of privacy smart metering brings about and the related social resistance to the rollout of smart meters.
In this article, Kate Galbraith analyzes the use of different terms for renewable energy in the US and the ideologies behind the language used. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute provides commentary from a German and European perspective.
Aftershocks from Fukushima continue to shake political confidence in nuclear energy around the world - while also providing a boost for renewables in many countries. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute is quoted on the energy transformation and nuclear phase-out in Germany in this arcticle by Peter Fairley in the MIT Technology Review.
Scientists and practitioners have rarely had the opportunity to exchange their ideas on climate adaptation in such an up-to-date and direct way as at the second RADOST annual conference on 18 and 19 May in Travemünde. What are the expected impacts of climate change at the regional and local level at the German Baltic Sea coast? How can local stakeholders adapt to these? What kind of scientific information do they need as a basis for implementing such measures? These questions were discussed by 75 scientists in the fields of climate and natural science research, political science and sociology, together with representatives from politics, administration, economy and civil society in several science-practice dialogues. This offered stakeholders willing to promote climate adaptation in their region another opportunity to get involved in the design of this development process.
How can the EU and the US work together to improve management of coastal and ocean affairs, not only within their own territories, but across the North Atlantic? What are the obstacles to establishing integrated and science-based frameworks formaritime governance in the EU and US, and how can they be overcome? How can management be improved through the involvement of key players from science, industry, civil society and government? These questions and more were debated at the Cooperation Across the Atlantic for Marine Governance Integration (CALAMAR) final conference that took place in Lisbon (Portugal). 
With its rapid economic growth and its rapidly growing need for energy, the People’s Republic of China plays a central role in international climate policy. The emerging economy is now the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. At least at the national level, the Chinese government has declared its intention to fight climate change. China implemented a series of measures on energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable energies and was able to reduce the energy intensity of its economy by 20% over the past five years (according to own data). This is in line with the last five-year plan. The Content and implementation of the new Five-Year Plan were the subject of the Climate Talk on 28 March 2011.
On 20-27 April 2009, the Ecologic Institute launches its newly established Washington DC office with a series of events focused on transatlantic environmental policies. Over the course of this week, Ecologic will partner with established civil society and educational institutions to address a range of timely issues, from new challenges for Arctic governance over comparative approaches to green recovery to transatlantic experiences with the promotion of renewable energy sources.