Döhler, Felix; Grünig, Max; Langsdorf, Susanne, 2014. Ökostadt – Vision und Wirklichkeit. In: Heike Leitschuh et al. (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch Ökologie 2015. Re-Naturierung. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, 229-236.

The relationship between biodiversity and human wellbeing is multifaceted and assumes diverse forms across and within populations. In developing countries, for example, biodiversity and natural resources often constitute the basis of people’s livelihoods and thus their material wellbeing. Many individuals also feel a cultural, spiritual, or religious relationship with nature and assign it an inherent value. This study explores these diverse perceptions of biodiversity and its value. The findings serve to advance discussions on how development cooperation can more effectively integrate these views and therewith improve biodiversity and nature conservation. The study is available for download.

On 11 and 12 November 2014, stakeholders and decision-makers, including municipalities, businesses, and scientists, met at the congress "100% Renewable Energy Regions" in Kassel to exchange best practices for the energy transition. In a forum on the "Masterplan 100% Climate Protection" chaired by Arne Riedel (Ecologic Institute), three participants from counties Osnabrück and Steinfurt as well as the municipality Neumarkt discussed their approaches providing insights into the ongoing process of implementation.

<p>Within this project Ecologic Institute wrote a think piece, that draws together evidence on the state of the economy, society and the environment to show that the EU's multiple challenges may be tackled simultaneously by the use of policy changes to change the direction of market demand.</p>&#13;

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) required Member States to report their River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) by March 2010. In November 2012, the European Commission published a report which included among other things a review of progress in the implementation of the Directive and a survey of the River Basin Management Plans, including suggestions for the improvement of future plans. In addition, in November 2012 the European Commission published a Blueprint for Water which identified the future direction for EU Water Policy. The Blueprint built upon the results of a Fitness Check of EU Water Policy, an in-depth analysis of certain aspects of the RBMPs, and other technical studies. As part of a pan-European consortium of 14 institutions in a core team led by WRc, Ecologic Institute supports the European Commission in the development and implementation of EU freshwater policies.

On 28 October 2014, Ulf Stein (Fellow at Ecologic Institute) presented his key insights on fish migration and protection as a speaker at the 6th Edition of the European River Restoration Conference held in Vienna from 27 until 29 October 2014. Entitled "Connecting River Restoration Thinking to Innovative River Management," the conference was organized jointly by the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR) and the SEE River project. The presentation slides are available for download.

This public lecture on the energy crisis in Ukraine was the major event during Adam Pearson's (Transatlantic Fellow at Ecologic Institute) five-week-stay at Dartmouth College. Over the extended visit, he also participated in and led discussions on related climate, energy, and arctic topics with academic groups and research initiatives on campus. The visit at Dartmouth College's John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding in Hanover, New Hampshire was supported by a grant from the Konrad von Moltke Fund.

In this "Trend Report for a Forward-Looking Resource Policy" Ecologic Institute's Susanne Langsdorf and Dr. Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers analyze more than 300 individual trends, allocated to 12 trend themes. They discuss the potential developments and relevance for German resource policy. The report was released during the European Resources Forum on 10 November 2014 and is available for download.

Wunder, Stephanie 2014: "Ökologische Tierhaltung und Naturschutz – Synergien und Konflikte", in: Lieske Voget-Kleschin; Leonie Bossert and Konrad Ott (eds.): Nachhaltige Lebensstile. Welchen Beitrag kann ein bewussterer Fleischkonsum zu mehr Naturschutz, Klimaschutz und Gesundheit leisten? Weimar bei Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie, Gesellschaft und Politik, 202-215.

Riedel, Arne (2013): "Regulation of Fisheries in the Arctic High Seas - Going Forward with a Sidestep?", in: Timo Koivurova, Waliul Hasanat (Eds.): Current Developments in Arctic Law, 42-44.

Riedel, Arne and Dominic Marcellino 2013: "Emissions Trading in the US: Work in Progress on the Federal Level?". Carbon and Climate Law Review, Vol. 2013, No. 3, 213-215.

As part of the European Semester and the monitoring of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Member States (MS) submit their annual National Reform Programmes (NRP), which specify the progress made and action to be undertaken in areas such as employment, research, innovation, energy or social inclusion in order to meet the goals and targets set out in the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Ecologic Institute as part of a Framework Contract with the Committee of the Regions developed regional and national progress indicators for assessing progress towards the Europe 2020 targets. The aggregate regional indicator uses the available data at regional level (NUTS 2) to help identify and assess the development each region has taken with respect to the eight Europe 2020 indicators and their national targets (to the extent that they are available). The calculations reflect the diversity of European regions and Member States as well as the significant economic and social impacts of the economic and financial crises. The EU27 as a whole averages just over 60% of the distance to the EU-wide targets. In contrast, five countries – the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Slovenia – have on average achieved at least 80% of the path to the 2020 targets while five other countries – Luxembourg, Spain, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta – are less than 50% along the way.

Tedsen, Elizabeth et al. 2014: "Marine resource management and coastal livelihoods: an Atlantic perspective". ATLANTIC FUTURE scientific paper, Vol. 15, 66.

Stefes, Christoph; Andrew Reid; Lucy Smith and Elizabeth Tedsen 2014: "Climate change impacts in the Atlantic Basin and coordinated adaptation responses". ATLANTIC FUTURE scientific paper, Vol. 16, 56.