On Earth Day 2013, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Ecologic Institute officially launched the 2013 Arctic Summer College. Following successful programs in 2011 and 2012, the Arctic Summer College 2013 again creates a network of emerging leaders and experts that are brought together for 8 weeks in web-based seminars (webinars) from 8 July to 26 August 2013 on Mondays from 18:00-20:00 Central European Time. The program aims to build a lasting, policy-oriented network of Arctic professionals to strengthen communication between peoples and nations, scientific disciplines, policy areas, and across the science-policy field to improve environmental governance in the Arctic region.

Dr. Wolfgang Urban, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, hold a presentation at the fourth expert dialogue "Gas Infrastructure for the Future", organized by the Technologiestiftung Berlin (TSB). He described the current state of the energy transition process in Germany – the so-called Energiewende - and explained the further steps of the German Federal Government. Additionally, he exemplified the challenges in the energy market namely flexibility options, wind and solar energy in the transformation process as well as the role of natural gas infrastructure and natural gas as energy source. The presentation is available for download.

In the light of shrinking public budgets – both at the state and at the federal level – new approaches to leveraging public funding for renewable energies need to be developed. Reed Hundt, CEO of the Coalition for Green Capital, REH Advisors, presented his approach: State Clean Energy Finance Banks.

As part of a VDI Conference dealing with demand-driven electricity generation from biogas and biomethane, Ecologic Institute's Dr. Wolfgang Urban gave a speech about the political expansion goals in the field of renewable energies and the prospect of biogas from the Federal Government's point of view. He especially presented the Energy Concept 2010 and related challenges, e.g. the demand for a flexible electricity supply. The presentation slides are available for download.

On 20 March 2013, Prof. Dr. Simonis and Michael Zschiesche were interviewed about East and West German identities in environmental policy consultancy at Ecologic Institute, Berlin. In the conversation, the differences between East and West Germany became clear, even though the beginning of the institutionalization of environmental politics seems similar. The discussion (in German) can be watched online.

During the International VDI Conference-Biomethane 2013, major issues for the biogas and biomethane markets in technical, political and business areas, drawing on leading experiences from all over Europe, Russia and China were discussed. Dr. Wolfgang Urban, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, presented German political targets and utilization priorities for biomethane. Furthermore he spoke on the current legal framework and incentive scheme as well as the challenges and future perspectives and conclusions from amendment of legal framework. The presentation slides are available for download.