The Eurostat monitoring report examines how well the EU and its member states adapt the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. As part of a consortium with the Vienna University of Economics and Business, INFRAS and the Haymarket Media Group, Ecologic Institute played an integral role in compiling the 2015 Eurostat monitoring report. The report is available for download.

Between 1 and 3 September 2015, experts from eleven countries in Europe, North and South America met at São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in São Paulo (Brazil) to discuss how the interactions between social science and humanities (SSH) and environmental science (ES) researchers are opening new pathways to transformative research in the environment, providing innovative solutions to global problems. As research initiatives are taking an increasingly interdisciplinary perspective, involving studies that require analysis of the world at multiple space- and timescales, these new visions of research are affecting the way theories are formulated, analyses are per-formed, and research is conducted. Consequently, strengthening these research interactions is essential. Dr. Grit Martinez participated in the event by invitation from the German Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF).

The article "Land degradation neutrality under the SDGs: National and international implementation of the land degradation neutral world target" by Elizabeth Dooley, Ennid Roberts and Stephanie Wunder explores how the current momentum in international soil policy can be used to promote sustainable land use and reduce land degradation, particularly through the SDG process and using UN Conventions. It puts a special emphasis on the opportunities and challenges of the concept of "land degradation neutrality."

Within the European water research project "Demonstrate Ecosystem Services Enabling Innovation in the Water Sector (DESSIN)," a policy brief on governance factors conducive to innovation in the urban water sector was published. Josselin Rouillard and Rodrigo Vidaurre from Ecologic Institute, provide five key recommendations on policy frameworks, incentives and stakeholder management strategies that can be employed to encourage innovation uptake in urban water management. The policy brief is targeted to water managers and policy makers and is available for download.

Tedsen, Elizabeth; R. Andreas Kraemer 2015: Regional Environmental Challenges and Solutions in the Pan-Atlantic Space. ATLANTIC FUTURE scientific paper no. 32, Berlin.

This report takes stock of adaptation planning and measures to date in Europe and globally. Case studies for assessment were selected based on criteria developed in line with the key principles and objectives of BASE. The report provides a general assessment of 136 selected case studies focusing on aspects including types of measure, stakeholder groups involved, sectors, decision support tools (participatory and economic), and funding sources. A further nine case studies are then explored in more detail in regard to measure selection and methods.

The Canadian province of Alberta is well-known for being the home of the country’s current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and the infamous tar sands. The traditionally conservative province has been criticized for its contribution to climate change. Binnu Jeyakumar, Consulting Advisor at Pembina Institute, led a discussion on this topic at Ecologic Institute. The seminar focused on the current political change in Alberta and its implications for the province’s involvement in the fight against climate change.

Porsch, Porsch; Terri Kafyeke; Jiayi Yuan 2015: How to measure the Sustainable Development Goals in Central Europe? NETGREEN Policy Brief No. 2 / 4 August 2015 Deliverable D4.2

ECONADPT (2015). The Costs and Benefits of Adaptation: Results from the ECONADAPT Project. Editor Watkiss, P. Published by the ECONADAPT consortium.

It is widely recognized that national or regional efforts to restrict the damage of climate change are insufficient and hence that environmental and climate protection needs a global concept. Paradoxically, the way environmental and climate change is perceived and damage is handled is linked to local and regional patterns of perceptions. Dr. Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute and Prof. Michael Paolisso from the University of Maryland investigate the ways local knowledge and the values of major cultural groups shape understanding and perceptions of climate change risks, and in turn the consequences of that cultural knowledge in terms of vulnerability, adaptation and resilience.

Stefes, Christoph H. 2015: Atlantic Perspectives Interviews Report. Perspectives from Germany, Berlin.

Following 13 successful ICAP summer and training courses on emissions trading, the first ICAP Advanced Training Course (Masterclass) took place in July 2015. Taking place over a week, the course brought together experts from emerging economies and developing countries to deepen their knowledge of emissions trading as a tool for climate protection and to discuss the experiences with / options of implementing such schemes in developing countries. The course in London was the fourteenth of its kind and continues the tradition of previous ICAP Summer Schools and Training Courses, the most recent of which were held in Seoul, Mexico City and Paris. 31 mid-career professionals from 14 countries at-tended the course, which was led by Benjamin Görlach and Matthias Duwe.

The European Council agreed that flexibility within the non-ETS sectors will be "significantly enhanced" after 2020. A new paper by the Ecologic Institute analyses options to enhance flexibility. The paper focusses on project-based mechanisms and is available for download.

In July 2015, the POLIMP Webinar Series kicked off with a discussion on the topic "Paris 2015: Lessons from the Copenhagen Experience" moderated by Matthias Duwe (Head, Climate Ecologic Institute). The audio recording is available for download.

The published OECD-report "Climate Change Risks and Adaptation: Linking Policy and Economics" sets out how the latest economic evidence and tools can enable better policy making for adaptation. Scientists from Ecologic Institute con-tributed to the chapter on the costs and benefits of adaptation on the national and regional scale.