On 8 July 2013, Ecologic Institute began the 2013 Arctic Summer College. Ecologic Institute's Arctic Program hosts the program alongside a number of institutional partners: the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); the Embassy of Canada, Germany; the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and the WWF Global Arctic Programme.
A high-level UK delegation led by Caroline Flint MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited Berlin and Hamburg as part of a three-day study tour to discuss various aspects of Germany’s energy transition (Energiewende). A particular focus was placed on decentralised energy systems and the financing of community energy projects. The programme was opened by R. Andreas Kraemer, Director of Ecologic Institute, who provided an introduction to Germany’s decision to pursue the Energiewende, placing it in both national and international contexts and examining its economic, environmental, and societal dimensions.
On 27 June 2013, a parliamentary breakfast was held in Berlin to discuss key questions of German resource policy in the next legislative period. In order to allow for an exchange between policy, academia and business, the Resource Policy research project (PolRess) invited members of the German parliament.
From 17 until 22 June 2013, Ecologic Institute implemented a program on the German Energy Transition for 20 international experts and journalists. Participants were able to speak with representatives from ministries, parliament, think tanks, and NGOs in Berlin and Hamburg. Both national policies and examples of local and regional implementation of the German energy policy were highlighted during the tour.
Dr. Wolfgang Urban, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, spoke at the 7th VDI conference "Biogas 2013." He informed about the objectives and guidelines as well as the current status of discussions on the funding framework for renewable energies. He also discussed the possible contribution of bioenergies to future energy supply and future challenges. The presentation slides are available for download.