The first expert workshop of the discussion series "Improving climate protection – for Paris and beyond" dealt with the topic "Paris 2015 – Signals for non-state actors?" The event took place on 15 April 2015 in Berlin.

Climate change and its impacts are already tangible and necessitate swift and concrete adaptation and mitigation actions. This involves a dual approach, which combats the causes of climate change and also supports society in dealing with a changing climate and its effects. This comprehensive study synthesizes evidence from ecosystem-based projects from across the German-speaking regions of Europe and presents the goals and activities of such projects, their benefits, and the barriers they face. It also develops recommendations for policy makers. The study is available for download.

On 10 April 2015, Christiane Gerstetter, Senior Fellow in Ecologic Institute's legal team, gave a presentation on the relationship between international trade and environmental agreements at a conference of the Protestant Academy Hofgeismar. The conference centered on the topic: "Natural enemies – Environmental protection and free global trade as a legal and political problem." The presentation slides are available for download.

Investment protection and investment tribunals are among the most contentious subjects of TTIP and CETA. Could a permanent Court of Arbitration address the problems of ad hoc tribunals? In this comment (German only), Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf discusses the pro and cons of a permanent Court of Arbitration. The comment is available for download. <br /><br /><br /><br />

The infographic gives an overview of which characteristic causes of injury of fish is caused by which typical corridor components (e.g. barriers, turbines).

The infographic gives an examplary overview of the multitude and type of injury of fish at complex hydropower sites.

The infographic visualizes interactions across several ecological levels. The death of individual fish reduces the population size of its species. Because of multiple ecological interactions this can cause changes in the entire biocenosis.

The infographic visualizes the four spatial areas of investigation of the manual in an examplary fashion. The spatial levels are: site, corridor group, corridor and corridor component.

The infographic presents the process and criteria to be considered for the design development for an investigation of fish downstream migration.

The infographic presents the optimisation process during site-specific evaluations. Deficiencies can be identified at an early stage, during technical and hydraulic characterisation and during study of fish migration. Optimisation proposals can then be developed. Thus the efficacy of optimisation measures implemented can be tested during the course of the evaluation process.

The infographic visualises various risks of fish injury caused by technical water installations.

This infographic visualizes the cumulative impacts of all technical water installations in the migration area of fish that determine the effects on population biology.

The infographic presents the five-step process for deriving the final statement on function for the investigation of biological downstream migration by fish.

The infographic schematically shows vertical and horizontal oblique inflow of fish protection screens.

The manual helps to examine a wide range of sites, including complex spatial constellations. Sites with transverse structures as well as hydro power plants and tangential water withdrawal systems can be evaluated. This infographic shows site examples of different spatial complexity.