EU | Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World

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Publication

Getting into the Water with the Ecosystem Services Approach

The DESSIN ESS evaluation framework

Ecologic Institute contributed to a practical guide for local-level evaluations of changes in ecosystem services. The approach helps to associate such changes to specific water management measures and enables both monetization and qualitative appraisal of impacts. Possible links between WFD State parameters and specific ESS classes are proposed. The article is available for download.Read more

Project

Capacity Building in Emissions Trading to Support Bilateral Cooperation

January 2018 to December 2020

The aim of this project is to promote the international dissemination of knowledge about emissions trading systems, to provide practical experience from Europe and Germany and to support countries in setting up a national emissions trading system. Hence, existing teaching materials on emissions trading will be updated and expanded, new teaching modules on other topics will be developed, and network meetings, workshops and information events (e.g. side events, trade fairs) with experts will be held. In addition, foreign governments and government-related institutions will be supported on special topics by practical assignments of experts at home and abroad. The experience gained in Germany and the EU, relevant knowledge and "good practice" can thus be passed on to interested countries.Read more

Project

Climate

Energy

Future of the EU: What Role for Climate and Energy Policies?

January 2018 to June 2019

The EU has been going through a series of crises – from the Eurozone crisis and Brexit to controversies about the rule of law, democracy and migration. In response to Brexit, the EU has embarked on a process of reflection and possibly reform. As a contribution to this process, Ecologic Institute explores EU climate and energy policies as part of the block’s future. Two background papers are available for download.Read more

Project

Biodiversity

Governance

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Ecologic Legal

Implementation of the European Union's Action Plan on Environmental Compliance Assurance and Governance

December 2017 to March 2019

In January 2018 the European Commission adopted an Action Plan to improve compliance with EU environmental rules. Ecologic Institute and its partners support the European Commission in implementing the Action Plan. In particular, the project assists the European Commission in the development of good practice guidance documents on combating environmental crimes, on compliance assurance in rural areas and on handling environmental complaints of citizens as well as with the communication on the Action Plan.Read more

Publication

Article

Biodiversity

Water

Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity Across the Freshwater, Coastal and Marine Realms

Is the existing EU policy framework fit for purpose?

This paper presents an integrated assessment of how EU policies influence aquatic biodiversity in order to determine how EU policies and laws contribute to achieving and/or hindering EU and international biodiversity targets. The authors from Ecologic Institute, IUCN, and ACTeon also discuss whether European policy has a synergistic or conflicting mix of instruments to address the main problems facing aquatic biodiversity, and whether there are any gaps in the existing policy framework. The article is available for download.Read more

Publication

The Business Benefits of Engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals

Aquacross Business Brief

This brief aims to highlight the benefits to business of engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the EU Horizon 2020 project Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS) can assist with the SDGs focused on managing aquatic ecosystems. The business brief is available for download.Read more

Publication

Book Section

Ecologic Legal

Environmental Criminal Law in Germany

As an output of the research project "European Union Action to Fight Environmental Crime" (EFFACE), which was coordinated by Ecologic Institute, an edited volume entitled "Environmental Crime in Europe" was published by Hart Publishing. Dr. Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, contributed a chapter on environmental crime in Germany. In this chapter, he describes the legal framework on environmental crime in Germany and assesses its conformity with the EU's Environmental Crime Directive. Read more

Event

Conference

Energy

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Emissions Trading in China and Europe: Taking Stock, Thinking Ahead, Looking Beyond

TimeLoc

13 December 2017

Shenzhen

China

On 13 December 2017 the China Emissions Exchange and the European Commission hosted a conference in Shenzhen on emissions trading in China and the EU. The conference was organized by Ecologic Institute. The event brought together experts from the world's largest emissions trading scheme, the EU ETS, and China's future major emissions trading scheme. The conference took stock of what emissions trading in the EU and China have achieved so far and what lessons can be drawn from it. Moreover, the event dealt with how emissions trading can contribute to mastering future climate policy challenges. The presentation slides are available online.Read more

Publication

Happy Birthday, Paris Agreement! Here is how the EU will be celebrating

State of play on the negotiations on the Energy Union Governance Regulation on three core elements of the Paris Agreement – ahead of decisions in the European Parliament and Council

Ecologic Institute analysed how three key elements of the Paris Agreement are being taken up in the EU: the long-term objectives, the 5-year pledge & review process and the planning instrument "long-term strategies".Read more

Event

Reforming the EU: What Role for Climate and Energy Policies? – Tallinn

TimeLoc

4 December 2017

Tallinn

Estonia

On 4 December 2017, at the end of Estonia's EU presidency, a high-level workshop discussed Estonian views on the EU reform process, and the role of climate and energy policies in it. This event is part of a series of workshops on EU reform and its links to climate and energy policies. A summary of the workshop is available.Read more