The Austrian government is currently in the process of developing a strategy for research, technology and innovation to support the emerging bioeconomy. Following this process, the development of a broader strategy is envisaged that comprises further policy domains and sectors. Against this background, the questions arise regarding what role civil society organisations should play in this process and how they can contribute to shaping the further development of the Austrian bioeconomy.

On 17 January 2017, Ecologic Institute hosted a Dinner Dialoge on the German G20 Presidency featuring guest speakers Simon Marr (Federal Chancellary) and Christian Schubert (BASF). Franzjosef Schafhausen moderated the discussion. The 22 participants discussed how the German G20 Presidency could advance international climate policy.

Bach, Inga; Nick Evans; Zbigniew M. Karaczun et. al. 2016: Bau einer emissionsarmen Wirtschaft. Praxis auf lokaler Ebene in Polen und Deutschland. Warschau.

In the United States, there are no explicit goals at the federal level to limit or even reduce final energy consumption or the use of fossil fuels in the future. Nevertheless, many measures have been taken in recent years to increase energy efficiency. Some U.S. states, such as California or Massachusetts, are considered pioneers in energy efficiency policy by global standards. Read this report to learn more about the U.S.' energy efficiency policies.

The multEE flyer illustrates the main project outline, objectives and modules. An overview of the project cycle is illustrated, together with details of the partner countries and the Consortium implementing the project.

The Federal Environment Agency was hosting the 3rd National Resources Forum with support of Ecologic Institute on 11 November 2016. The conference took place in the "Ludwig Erhard Haus" in Berlin. The aim of the National Resources Forum (NRF) is to provide a national platform for discussion of the issue of sustainable resource use by focusing on the political and scientific debate on this subject.

Ecologic Institute coordinated the organisation of the National Resources Forum 2016. For these the programme brochure was developed and designed, to hand it over to participants. It contained information about the event agenda and schedule, speakers and a space for notes. The design of the brochure and the color scheme were based on the visual style of UBA. The NRF brochure is set on 32 pages. The A5 brochure was printed on recycled paper.

Kemper, Melanie et al. 2016: Konzept für die Website der Wangeliner Workcamps – www.wangeliner-workcamp.de, Berlin, November 2016, unpublished.

This November, the latest climate report for Germany, titled "Climate Change in Germany: Development, Consequences, Risks and Perspectives", was published. For the first time, climate change in Germany has been assessed from an interdisciplinary and comprehensive perspective, taking all societal issues and sectors into account. The 126 authors covered issues such as already-observed and prospective changes, weather calamities and their consequences, risks for the future and options for the advancement of adaptation strategies. Dr. Grit Martinez of Ecologic Institute is co-author of the report's chapter on story line options for a transformative climate adaptive society in Germany. The climate report is available for download.

<p>On 31 October 2016, Ecologic Institute hosted a Dinner Dialoge on the German Climate Action Programme 2020 and the Climate Plan 2050 featuring guest speakers&nbsp; Dr. Karsten Sach, BMUB, Dr. Hermann Hüwels, DIHK, and Regine Günther, WWF.&nbsp; Franzjosef Schafhausen moderated the discussion. The 21 participants discussed which criteria a 2050 climate strategy would need to fulfil, and how this strategy could foster the required transformation towards a low-carbon economy.</p>

The issue of closing mineral cycles was analyzed in eight European regions and the results are presented in the report "Resource Efficiency in Practice – Closing Mineral Cycles". The authors of BIO IS, Ecologic Institute, AMEC, Danish Technical University, University of Milano and LEI, identified measures that support the closing of mineral cycles within the study regions. For each region, practical and strategic options to reduce the nutrient surplus further were derived.

Dooley, Elizabeth (Hg.) 2016: Closing the Mineral Cycles at Farm Level. Good Practices to Reduce Nutrient Loss in the Weser-Ems Region (Germany).

<p>The sixth workshop of the Forum was marked by the beginning of the 2nd management cycle of the Water Framework Directive. At the event, the results of the first management cycle with regard to the status of the fish fauna and the envisaged measures to improve this quality element were reflected. In this context, the assessment methods for the fish fauna in surface water bodies and the passability of barriers and the resulting measures were considered.</p>&#13;&#13;

Did you know that ladybirds, green lacewings, ichneumon wasps and other beneficial insects can be purchased in small packets to fight pests in your garden? Information on this and lots of other eco-friendly measures to apply in private gardens can now be found on the UBA internet portal "Pflanzenschutz im Garten". Alternative and preventative measures are the main focus, although environmentally-relevant side effects caused by chemical pesticides are also considered. Ecologic Institute led the conceptualisation and portal content management sections of the project, as well as the production of a comprehensive brochure.

The project &bdquo;Wangeliner Workcamps&ldquo; presents green jobs for the future to young people. During the school holidays of 2016-2018 young people can participate for free in the one-week work camps in the city Wangelin in Mecklenburg, Germany. Workshops are offered in seven areas: organic gardening, renewable energies, clay ovens, mudbrick buildings, straw bale construction, upcycling and ecologically-oriented architecture. The Ecologic Institute supports the public relations work of the Wangeliner Workcamps and developed their webpage.