Environmental Law

Susanne Altvater, Ass.iur.

Möglichkeiten der völkerrechtlichen Umsetzung einer Klimapolitik der unterschiedlichen Geschwindigkeiten (KluG)

Does international law allow implementing climate policies of different speeds? Can countries form pioneer alliances for ambitious climate protection or are the UN Framework Convention and the Kyoto Protocol a straight jacket? A new Ecologic paper answers these questions. It discusses whether and in what form legally binding measures outside the Convention are lawful and meaningful. The paper is available for download.

Presentation

Marine Strategy 2012: A Review of Current Practices in Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

TimeLoc

13 May 2012

Copenhagen

Denmark

From 13 to 15 May 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Aarhus University, supported by DHI and ICES, hosted "Marine Strategy 2012", the first European conference on research and ecosystem-based management strategies in support of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Susanne Altvater was invited to present the findings of a review of international approaches to the integrated assessment of aquatic ecosystems conducted by Ecologic Institute for the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA). The presentation is available for download.

The overarching aim of the conference was to takeRead more

Project

Global Environment

Convention on Migratory Species: Manual and e-community

May 2012 to February 2013

The international Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention) aims to conserve terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their migration routes. All contracting Parties designate National Focal Points (NFP) as liaison officers between relevant government offices and the CMS Secretariats. Ecologic Institute has developed a manual for the NFPs as well as a concept for an NFP e-community platform.Read more

Project

Procedural Aspects in the Context of the Adoption of a New Climate Agreement – International Analysis of a Pioneering Strategy

April 2012 to June 2012

Presentation

Ecoscholars Event: Global Climate Policy After Durban

TimeLoc

16 February 2012

Berlin

Germany

Dr. Susanne Dröge

Karsten Neuhoff, Ph.D.

Andrew Reid

Elizabeth Tedsen JD

On 16 February 2012, Ecoscholars held an evening discussion in conjunction with the Hertie School of Governance. The event focused on the state of global climate after the latest round of UN negotiations, held in Durban, South Africa in November - December 2011. Opening talks were given by two expert speakers examining differing aspects of the negotiations and future scenarios for climate policy. These opening talks were followed by a question and answer session from the Ecoscholars participants, as well as informal discussion over food and drinks.

Dr. Susanne Dröge, Head of theRead more

Presentation

Speech

Trade

Dr. Christiane Gerstetter

Intellectual Property Rights and Fighting Poverty

TimeLoc

24 January 2012

Brussels

Belgium

Sebastian Oberthür

Developing countries are the main providers of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Conversely, most intellectual property rights (IPRs) on seeds and medicines are concentrated in developed countries. The study concludes that this has some disadvantages for developing countries. Thus, patents on seed or pharmaceutical products sometimes make the access to such products for the poor more difficult and expensive; there are hardly any positive effects of IPRs on fighting poverty by contrast. This is the result of a study, presented by Christiane Gerstetter (Ecologic Institute) andRead more

Publication

Report

Food

Intellectual Property Rights on Genetic Resources and the Fight Against Poverty

Developing countries are the main providers of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Conversely, most intellectual property rights (IPRs) on seeds and medicines are concentrated in developed countries. This has some disadvantages for developing countries. Thus, patents on seed or pharmaceutical products sometimes make the access to such products for the poor more difficult and expensive; there are hardly any positive effects of IPRs on fighting poverty by contrast. This is the result of a study for the European Parliament that Ecologic Institute helped to write. The study, which was written by Ecologic Institute (Christiane Gerstetter, Christine Lucha, Katriona McGlade and Elizabeth Tedsen) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel is available for download.Read more

Project

Study on the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in the EU

August 2011 to February 2012

In 2010, the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. The Protocol sets forth rules on access to genetic resources. Among other purposes, research is a main driver of demand for genetic resources. Moreover, the protocol contains an obligation for Parties to ensure that the countries where the genetic resources are found and relevant indigenous communities in these countries are compensated for the use of genetic resources and related knowledge. Ecologic Institute is contributing to a study investigating the options for implementation of the Protocol at the EU level. The study is available for download.Read more

Project

Trade