This publication examines the development of independent environmental research and policy advisory institutes in Germany during the 1980s, a period marked by shifting political priorities and growing public concern about environmental issues. Economic stagnation and the oil price crisis had initially pushed environmental policy down the political agenda.

The Yearbook Ecology 2015 was published at the end of August 2014. This issue's focus is on re-naturation: society in harmony with nature, which is examined from economic, social, technical and ecological points of view. Ecologic Institute is one of the institutes supporting this yearbook and contributed three articles in the 2015 edition.

Martinez, Grit and Mike K. Orbach 2014: "Küstenschutz – Europa und USA im Vergleich", in: Heike Leitschuh et al. (eds.): Jahrbuch Ökologie 2015. Re-Naturierung. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, 214-222.

Wunder, Stephanie 2014: "Ökologische Tierhaltung und Naturschutz – Synergien und Konflikte", in: Lieske Voget-Kleschin; Leonie Bossert and Konrad Ott (eds.): Nachhaltige Lebensstile. Welchen Beitrag kann ein bewussterer Fleischkonsum zu mehr Naturschutz, Klimaschutz und Gesundheit leisten? Weimar bei Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie, Gesellschaft und Politik, 202-215.

Döhler, Felix; Grünig, Max; Langsdorf, Susanne, 2014. Ökostadt – Vision und Wirklichkeit. In: Heike Leitschuh et al. (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch Ökologie 2015. Re-Naturierung. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, 229-236.

This discussion paper examines how the first non-governmental environmental policy institutes came to be established, the role of environmental policy research and advice within this evolving landscape, and the factors that shaped the institutes’ establishment and subsequent development. The analysis shows that independent, science-based environmental policy advice only assumed a pivotal role during the second, more defensive phase of German environmental policy from the mid-1970s onwards.

This discussion paper examines the role played by the state in the changes that took place within Germany’s research landscape. It shows that this role changed considerably over time: while independent environmental research institutes were initially regarded more as adversaries than as allies, their relationship with the state has since evolved into one characterised by constructive cooperation.

This discussion paper examines how the growing role of the European Union in environmental and energy policy has affected independent environmental policy research and advice in Germany. Since the late 1980s, the European Union (EU) has played an increasingly important role in environmental policy. The Treaty of Lisbon also expanded the EU’s competences in the field of energy policy.

This discussion paper examines the relationship between civil society environmental movements and environmental research institutes and their role in the development of science-based environmental policy advice in Germany. The earliest independent environmental institutes were closely linked to the environmental movement, while later institutes often emerged in response to thematic gaps in environmental research.

As part of the project "Models, Potentials and Long-Term Scenarios for Resource Efficiency" (SimRess), Ecologic Institute developed a promotional flyer based on visual style and template of the Federal Environment Agency. Flyer contains relevant general information about the project – its theme, focus, aims, activities, list of partners and contact information, as well as a simple graph built also by Ecologic Institute.

At the heart of this paper are the following questions: In what context, and under what constraints, did the environmental movement in the GDR develop? Did the East German environmental movement have any advantages over its West German counterpart? To address these questions, the paper draws on a review of the literature and a series of interviews with contemporary witnesses conducted as part of the project ‘From Blue Skies over the Ruhr to the Energy Transition’.

Blobel, Daniel et al. 2014: "RADOST – Regionale Anpassungsstrategien für die deutsche Ostseeküste", in: Hendrik Bieberler et al. (eds.): Wege zur Anpassung an de Klimawandel. Regionale Netzwerke, Strategien und Maßnahmen. Köln: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln Medien GmbH, 21.

In this analysis for the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Camilla Bausch, Matthias Duwe and Benjamin Görlach discuss how the outlook for an ambitious climate and energy have shifted with the start of Angela Merkel's third term in office, and the new political constellation. The authors discuss both the challenges at the national level, Germany's possible role in the EU climate and energy policy, and the effect on international climate negotiations. The analysis is available for download.

On 7 July 2014, Christiane Gerstetter, Senior Fellow of the Ecologic Institute, presented the EU-funded project "Climate Change, Hydro-conflicts and Human Security (CLICO)" to a group of students, which are members of different German academic foundations. In CLICO, the Ecologic Institute was the leader of one work package conducting a policy analysis and giving policy recommendations. The presentation is available for download.