Emissions trading promises the achievement of a pre-defined environmental outcome at least cost. If the system works and key assumptions hold, it would seem to be an "optimal" climate policy instrument. On closer inspection, however, it is less clear what constitutes an "optimal" climate policy. This paper argues that optimality involves a range of criteria beyond short-term economic efficiency, but also has to consider the longer-term dynamic efficiency, as well as the political, administrative and legal feasibility of policy instruments.
Deliverable B of the two-part report on "Multilevel Governance of our Natural Capital" provides a set of recommendations targeting Member States and local and regional authorities. These aim to support the achievement of the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s targets for 2020 and the implementation of CBD Decision X/22. The recommendations are the result of an analysis that was based on the findings from an online survey and desk research. The document presents a set of headline recommendations and elaborates on each recommendation with a more detailed explanation and illustrative examples.
As a part of the UN climate change negotiations in Bonn, Ecologic Institute organized an official side event covering European Union climate and energy policy. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convenes at least twice each year, with the midpoint meeting taking place in the former German capital. The event offered an opportunity to discuss tradeoffs and synergies in current EU policy, in light of recent research and political debates.
At the 5th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), Dr. Grit Martinez, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute outlined the research approach of the BONUS-project "Soils2Sea" at the work stream session: "Successful cooperation: research, development and innovation".
In May 2014, the 10th ICAP Training Course on Emissions Trading brought together experts from emerging economies and developing countries to learn about emissions trading as a tool for climate protection and to discuss the options of implementing such systems in developing countries. The session in Santiago was the tenth of its kind and continues a series of past ICAP events held in other cities including Berlin, The Hague, Beijing, Madrid, Dublin, and Istanbul. It was attended by 29 mid-career professionals from eleven countries. Benjamin Görlach and Pedro Barata led the course.
On 3 June 2014, Max Grünig, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, contributed to an policy dialogue by the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels on the potential impacts of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) under a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US on the environment. Max Grünig presented evidence from past ISDS proceedings, focussing on cases with a direct link to the environment.
On 6 June 2014, Max Grünig, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, presented the analysis of the environment and development performacen of 21 European countries prepared based on the Commitment to Development Index 2013 by the Center for Global Development at The Centre in Brussels. The draft report is available for download. Comments and feedback are much appreciated.
The MILESECURE 2050 Energy Day in Brussels presented major findings from the research project. Members of the consortium, Giancarlo Cotella (POLITO) and Gabriele Quinti (LSC), presented position papers on energy security trends in Europe and sociological drivers in energy transitions. Ecologic Institute contributed key research to these reports. The presentations launched a discussion among policy makers, researchers, and other experts to consider new energy perspectives in policy making and long-term planning.
Energy subsidies come in many shapes and forms. Reducing them is a rare win-win. Both public budgets and the climate would profit. In this book chapter, Frans Oosterhuis and Katharina Umpfenbach are digging into the conundrum why energy subsidy reform remains slow across the world despite its obvious benefits.
On 7 May 2013, Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, took part in a discussion in Berlin on the energy transition in Germany (Energiewende) organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The other contributors were Herrmann-Otto Solms (FDP) and Georg Zachmann (Breughel Institut, Brussels). Steffen Hentrich (Liberal Institut) moderated the discussion. About 60 participants attended the event.
The report was prepared by Ecologic Institute and ICLEI. It was conducted for the Committee of the Regions (CoR) to inform the CoR's contribution to the review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and contribute to the monitoring of the implementation of CBD Decision X/22 within the Member States. The main task of the study was the collection and analysis of information from the 28 Member States and their regions and cities on the involvement of local and regional authorities in the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and CBD Decision X/22. The report is available for download.