In this article, Kate Galbraith addresses the corrosive effect of partisan wrangling and budget cuts on policy effectiveness and the global standing of the United States, particularly with respect to environmental diplomacy to address climate change. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute is quoted providing a European perspective.
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.
As of November 2004, Peter Beyer contributes to the German legal journal ZUR - Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht as responsible editor for the field of climate change policy. The ZUR offers specific articles from academia and practice on current problems of environmental law. The magazine appears regularly and each edition focuses on one specific topic and critically discusses environmental legislation. It offers approaches to solve problems and puts contentious views forward for discussion to encourage further legislative education. 
Climate Talk is a platform for experts to discuss the current political, legal and economic issues surrounding climate protection on a regular basis. Selected climate protection experts from min-istries and agencies, businesses, associations, unions, NGOs, law firms, consultancies, and aca-demia are invited.
