Inefficient use of fertilisers leads to the accumulation of nutrients in areas of intense agricultural activities and can cause serious environmental problems in these areas and beyond. Within the project "Resource Efficiency in Practice – Closing Mineral Cycles", the most promising and cost-effective measures at the regional and farm levels were identified to increase the resource efficiency and use of nutrients (N, P, K) and help close mineral cycles, particularly in saturated areas in Europe. The findings have been translated into relevant practical measures for the farming community in these areas.

How can Lebanon engage more effectively in the international climate negotiations? How do the negotiations work in practice and what tips and tricks can Lebanese negotiators avail themselves to influence the outcome? These questions become especially relevant in the run up towards a new climate agreement, expected to be adopted in 2015 in Paris. In September 2014, Dr. Camilla Bausch and Lena Donat conducted a 2-days training to enhance the negotiation skills of Lebanese negotiators.

In September 2014, the Ecologic Institute and the College of Liberal Arts and Science at the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) launch a new cooperation, the study program "Sustainability in Berlin". The program is unique as it combines actual coursework with an internship at relevant environmental institutions where students can experience first-hand what they have been learning. The two courses also combine academic reflections about global environmental challenges with field trips to local projects in and around Berlin.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing regulatory framework and its gaps, the authors of Ecologic Institute identify general options and specific recommended actions for the effective governance of geoengineering. A key consideration is that the recommendations can be implemented in practice.

The European Commission has tabled initial proposals for new targets and some changes to key instruments such as the Emissions Trading System (ETS) upon which the EU Heads of State and Government are to make decisions later in 2014. This study assesses the status quo of EU climate and energy policy and experience with the current set of targets and instruments – and distills from it concrete recommendations for a new package for the period until 2030. The study is available for download.

For the third time, Ecologic Institute conducted a study on the role of local and regional authorities (LRA) in the Europe 2020 National Reform Programmes (NRP) of the EU member states. The new results and their comparison with the 2011 and 2012 studies (for the core set of questions) permit a number of conclusions. While progress is made in many countries and areas, greater progress still needs to be made concerning the involvement of LRAs in the preparation of NRPs. The study is available for download.

Plieninger, Tobias; Kathrin Trommler; Claudia Bieling et al. 2013: "Ökosystemleistungen und Naturschutz", in: Werner Konold; Reinhard Böcker and Ulrich Hampicke (Hg.): Handbuch Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege. Supplement No. 28, 04/2013. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 1-12.

Ecologic Institute, Bio IS and the Institute for European Environmental Policy were commissioned by the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI Committee) to provide the members with the needed expertise to monitor the ongoing negotiations between the United States Administration and the European Commission for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement.

<p>Within this project Ecologic Institut contributed to the preliminary study "Blueprint for a Revised Europe 2020 strategy."</p>&#13;

Both the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Water Framework Directive require substantial further reductions of nutrient loads (N and P) to the Baltic Sea during the coming years. Achievements of these goals will only be possible by the implementation of fundamental changes in agricultural practices and land use. To this end, a team of researchers from eight institutions across the EU and Russia, will investigate the introduction of additional new and innovative measures to reduce nutrient loads.

<p>This project analysed the key legal, economic and environmental issues related to using specific trade-related measures as a means of supporting the EU&#39;s climate change objectives and policies. Three trade measures are examined: 1) carbon equalisation mechanisms; 2) export credits and investment guarantees; and 3) conditions on access to the EU carbon market. The primary focus of analysis is on the first measure: carbon equalisation measures.</p>