The world's natural resources face increasing pressure due to rapid population and economic growth. Ensuring sustainable use of natural resources will require on the one hand a reduction in resource use, as well as strong, efficient and internationally valid standards. The current discussion on certification schemes for biofuels serves as a starting-point for the discussion regarding the possibilities and ways to extend a global sustainability standard with a broad coverage of natural resources. This article by Stephanie Schlegel and Timo Kaphengst outlines how a global sustainability standard for natural resources (NRS) can be designed.

The article analyses current European climate policy at three different levels: efforts undertaken by European actors at the international level (G8 summit), the domestic climate protection targets agreed at European level (Council Conclusions), and the challenges their implementation is faced with.

2007: Auswirkungen der Klimaänderung auf die Schweizer Volkswirtschaft (internationale Einflüsse). INFRAS/Ecologic/Rütter + Partner. Berlin/Rüschlikon/Bern.

When designing emissions trading schemes, the decision on allocation methods is a crucial element. After a long and controversial debate, the German government has now decided to introduce the auctioning of credits. Approximately nine percent of all allowances will be given out against payment in the second trading period (2008–2012). In 2008, rules for the German auctioning system are expected to be specified by a regulation. Environmental economists tend to support auctioning for reasons of efficiency while many politicians and the public mostly expect the reduction of unwanted distributional effects (“wind-fall-profits”).

Biomass constitutes an important but limited renewable energy source for the future. In this article, Timo Kaphengst discusses sustainability aspects of biomass use for bioenergy in the European context. The article is available for download.

Schlegel, Stephanie; Camilla Bausch 2007: Akzeptanz und Strategien für den Ausbau Erneuerbarer Energien auf kommunaler und regionaler Ebene. Berlin.

In their recent article, Dr. Camilla Bausch and Michael Mehling, analyse the main negotiation and discussion tracks under the United Nations for the further evolution of the international climate regime beyond 2012.

To contribute to a wider dissemination of information relevant to renewable energy and energy efficiency especially in the EU’s southern and eastern neighbouring countries, this  international Ministerial Conference under the German EU Presidency 2007 was organised by Ecologic.

Since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, climate protection and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are binding targets for many countries. However, total global emissions have not reached intended targets, indicated by the continued increase in CO2, which is the most significant greenhouse gas. In 2006 total global CO2 emissions reached 29 Billion tonnes, representing a 2.6% increase over the preceding year and an increase of nearly a third from 1990. In his report, Dr. Hans-Joachim Ziesing, Senior Policy Advisor at Ecologic, presents the development of emissions in the EU and proposes a common implementation of climate protection targets to insure the EU's leading role in climate protection.

The role of renewable energy is increasing globally. Renewable energy sources are supposed to meet half of Germany's energy demand by 2050. In this article, the authors provide an overview on current developments in the law for renewable energy.

The transport sector has significant environmental impacts and subsidies are a significant piece of the policy framework that influences public and private decisions about transport. This report, which was published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and co-authored by Ecologic, provides a comprehensive picture of transport subsidies, classifying them by subsidy type and transport mode.

2007: Verhältnismäßigkeit der Maßnahmenkosten im Sinne der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie – komplementäre Kriterien zur Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung – UFZ/Ecologic, Institut für Internationale und Europäische Umweltpolitik/ Universität Leipzig, Institut für Infrastruktur und Ressourcenmanagement, Stiftungsprofessur für Umwelttechnik/Umweltmanagement. Leipzig/Berlin.

The Yearbook Ecology 2007 has been published at the end of September 2006. Ecologic is one of the institutes supporting this yearbook. This year's focus is on resource productivity, stakeholder dialogues as well as on energy policy.

The European Emissions Trading System is a central pillar of German climate policy. After its introduction in 2005, some weak points, however, became obvious so that great hopes were pinned on the National Allocation Plan for the second trading period (NAP II). In their article for DowJones TradeNews Emissions, Helen Lückge and Camilla Bausch discuss if the German NAP II fulfills its economic objectives.