<p>On 6 March 2013, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Embassy of Canada, Ecologic Institute and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research hosted a lecture by David Hik, University of Alberta, Canada and IASC President. The session focused on possible future trajectories of national and international research in the Arctic region, drawing on Prof. Hik’s observations of the recent past and International Polar Year initiatives. Following the lecture, Prof. Hik fielded questions from the 35 participants, who represented German research institutes and ministries, foreign embassies and foundations and think tanks.</p>&#13;

The 24th edition of the Climate Talk, held on 25 February 2013, discussed the future of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The event, jointly organised by the Ecologic Institute and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), featured as discussants Dr. Jochen Diekmann (DIW Berlin), Dr. Uwe Neuser (Ministry of the Environment) und Dr. Joachim Hein (Federation of German Industries).

Jenny Tröltzsch and Max Grünig presented the project results together with the project partner Hamburgische WeltWirtschaftsInstitut (HWWI) in Hamburg.The final presentation showed that still large knowledge gaps on the costs of climate change and the costs and benefits of adaptation measures exist. The cost-benefit analyses of adaptation measures in Hamburg show a large bandwidths for local case studies. But nevertheless the results suggest that higher benefits than costs exist for several adaptation measures, for example a green roof program. Furthermore, it is important to initiate adaptation activities of private actors, to reduce damages, e.g. from heavy rain events.

In his presentation, Dr. Wolfgang Urban, picked out the future expansion of renewable energies. He presented, from the perspective of the German federal government, the challenges and prospects for biogas. After the placement of bioenergy in the "orchestra of renewable energies" he examined the contribution of biogas and biomethane in order to achieve the policy objectives. He ended his remarks with a presentation of the latest developments and the conveyor frame. The presentation slides are available for download.

The workshop "Fish Protection &amp; Downstream Migration at Hydraulic Engineering Sites - What is Needed?" collectively addressed all aspects of fish protection and downstream fish migration that are relevant for dams and water extraction structures. The focal points of the workshop were the foundations of fish behavioral ecology, the technical installations used to achieve fish protection and downstream migration, and the functional evaluations of these systems. A results paper is now available for download.