As one of its key features, the Kyoto Protocol introduced market mechanisms in order to achieve climate targets at lowest cost. Instruments like emission trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation have established markets for emission reductions worldwide. These instruments owe their existence to the Kyoto Protocol. However, the current commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and the prospects for an immediate successor agreement remain bleak. The 16th edition of Climate Talk discussed what this situation entails for the market mechanisms, and what measures the affected firms can take to deal with the uncertain outlook.

<p>&#13; Electric vehicles can potentially make significant contributions towards achieving the EU’s climate protection goals in the transport sector. In the context of the Dresden university days on ecological-social market economy and sustainability, Max Grünig, Fellow at Ecologic Institute Berlin, presented a summary of the potential and limitations of electric vehicles.</p>&#13;

<p>&#13; The European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) convened a workshop on "Reforms for Measuring Welfare and Wealth in the Context of Sustainable Development" in Berlin on 2 and 3 December 2010. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute moderated the event discussing "Beyond GDP", which was hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) and the German Bank for Reconstruction (KfW).</p>&#13;

<p>Climate change, energy security and peak oil are challenges that may lead to an increased use of Arctic resources and water ways. Professor Suzanne Lalonde of the University of Montreal discussed legal aspects of Arctic sovereignty and the emerging security issues.</p>&#13;

Climate change brings significant changes to the Arctic, resulting in a new geopolitical dynamics and challenges in the relations between Arctic and non-Arctic nations. On 23 November 2010, the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation convened an expert meeting in Berlin to discuss the strategic, military and political challenges, the role of the EU, and implications for resource, energy and climate policy. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute was invited as keynote speaker on EU Arctic Policy in the context of regional environmental governance.

<p> Deutsche Bank holds a series of Stakeholder Dialogues on &quot;Sustainable Products at Deutsche Bank&quot; designed to help Deutsche to understand expectations of external stakeholders and key challenges, and focus product development in response.&nbsp; R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute spoke on &quot;The Future of Sustainable Products in the Financial Industry&quot; at the event on 8 November 2010 in Berlin.</p>

<p>&#13; Leading German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the Hypo Verein Bank convened their 9th Expert Forum Mittelstand in Munich (Germany) on 28 October 2010.  The Forum discussed green growth, innovation and competiveness, and the role of small and mid-sized businesses – the German "Mittelstand" – in the wider context.  R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute and Klaus Töpfer of IASS Potsdam provided perspectives on science and globalisation.</p>&#13;

<p>&#13;&#13; Do the National Renewable Energy Action Plans concerning Member States’ goals for 2020 address the long-term restructuring of electricity generation? Do they consider possibilities for European cooperation? The Ecologic Institute examined these questions in its analysis of the German Renewable Energy Action Plan commissioned by the European Green Foundation. Ecologic Institute Senior Fellow Stephan Sina presented the results of this study as a panelist at a discussion hosted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation on 27 October 2010.</p>&#13;&#13;

Climate change requires adaptation measures in multiple areas, including, among others, the energy sector. At a stakeholder workshop, Max Grünig, Fellow at Ecologic Institute Berlin, presented a methodology for assessing costs and benefits of such measures.