The Plastic Pirates start a new small project in the autumn of 2024. The new focus this time: the river system of the Danube! The second-longest river of Europe, stretching over 2.850 kilometers, starts in the Black Forrest, and flows through a total of 10 countries before emptying in the Black Sea. The river system includes many important tributaries, for example the Isar, Inn and Lech. The new project focused on the Danube is an addition to the ongoing analysis of the Elbe River System and the German coasts. Gaining further insights in plastic pollution of these water bodies will be the aim of the Plastic Pirates’ 2024 autumn campaign period.

This project aims to deepen understanding of CBAM, identify potential circumvention loopholes, and develop practical recommendations to close the remaining gaps.

Ecologic Institute acts as partner in a consortium led by COWI on a framework agreement (FWA) to support the European Investment Bank's (EIB) Advisory Services on Lot 6: Bioeconomy. Ecologic Institute will provide a range of services within the framework contract, including for example thematic expertise on sector "Natural resources & natural capital management" and horizontal sub-sectors "Capacity building, knowledge creation and dissemination", "Provision of advice on regulatory matters" and "Climate action – adaptation".

The guidance document "Developing ambitious local long-term climate neutrality strategies", developed as part of the Ready4NetZero project serves as a comprehensive roadmap for administrative staff in small- and medium-sized municipalities as they navigate the complexities of becoming climate neutral. It is structured to facilitate a clear understanding of the necessary cross-cutting measures for developing effective local long-term climate strategies, including realizing a long-term vision, establishing baselines, fostering participation, planning action, financing, monitoring, evaluation, and ensuring a just transition. 

This poster provides a detailed insight into the new project "Water Stewardship" on behalf of WWF, which focuses on promoting water retention, water quality and biodiversity in German agriculture. The aim of this project is to strengthen resilience to climate change and improve ecosystem services through sustainable practices. The poster also refers to the conceptual background of the study as well as the future goals of the project, including the extension of the measures to other regions and political scales.

The Policy Brief discusses how a dedicated SPI should be established as a subsidiary body that works effectively with existing science-policy panels of other Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Such an interface would not only promote synergy between different environmental initiatives, but also ensure that scientific findings are accurately translated into actionable policy recommendations. The main tasks of the SPI include the evaluation and monitoring of intervention strategies, the setting of science-based reduction targets and the continuous updating of safety and sustainability-related criteria for plastics and chemicals.

Amidst intense global efforts to tackle plastic pollution, the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty highlights the critical role of reducing primary plastic polymers. The Scientists' Coalition, consisting of leading scientists worldwide, argues in its latest policy brief that without a significant reduction in the production of these polymers, the effective fight against plastic pollution is not possible. The urgent call aims to draw attention to the need to break the plastic cycle at its source - the production of primary plastic polymers. This approach is crucial as it directly reduces the amount of plastics that end up in our environment.

This report assesses the implementation status and quality of a selection of 11 provisions from 4 EU laws in 6 EU countries (Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Poland and Spain). These 4 EU laws are Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity (DIR), Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity (REG), Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable resources (RED) and Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 laying down a framework to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy (ACC).

The MoorNet conference in Bonn will focus on synergies and conflicting objectives in connection with the rewetting of degraded and near-natural peatlands. Peatlands are unique habitats for highly specialised animal and plant species, and their protection plays a decisive role in climate protection and other environmental goals. The event will take place on 19 and 20 November 2024 at the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in Bonn. The aim is to gain an overview of current and future synergies and conflict solutions in the field of nature conservation. The event is aimed in particular at stakeholders who are specifically concerned with synergies and conflicting goals in the practical implementation of peatland protection.

Niepołomice, a Polish city with almost 30,000 inhabitants, has received customised training on how to tackle challenges in their community with nature-based solutions. Marcela Gutierrez (University of Costa Rica), Natalia Burgos Cuevas and Doris Knoblauch (both Ecologic Institute) presented concrete options for the municipality to representatives of the city of Niepołomice in March 2024, after the city representatives had presented the urban challenges in December 2023.

As part of the Polish Climate Congress from 19 to 20 March 2024 in Warsaw, Ewa Iwaszuk, a Fellow at Ecologic Institute, took part in a panel discussion on implementing nature-based solutions in urban areas. She was joined on the panel by Joanna Kiernicka-Allavena (Climate-KIC), Anna Banaszczyk (World Bank), Marcin Sadura (Warsaw Municipal Sewage Company) and Robert Skowroński (Szczecin Marshal’s Office). The discussion was moderated by Mateusz Kowali (Polish Green Network).

On 4 April 2024, Mandy Hinzmann presented communication insights and best practices of the citizen science program "Plastic Pirates" at the European Citizen Science Conference in Vienna. The presentation highlighted that effective communication strategies are crucial for the success of citizen science initiatives.

This report analyzes documents and formats focusing on resource efficiency, resource conservation and the circular economy at the German, European and international level. It outlines significant developments and expected trends in resource policy and identifies research needs. Given the rapid increase in global resource use, driven by population growth and economic expansion, the transition to a resource-efficient and circular economy is a key challenge. This need is reinforced by various global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and increasing resource dependency. The report emphasizes that innovative and effective policies are needed at both national and international levels to promote and implement this transition.

The book and e-book "Climate Change in Germany" was republished in March 2024 by the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS). The open access book is a comprehensive presentation of climate change and the consequences of climate change in Germany. The interdisciplinary work brings together specialist areas and topics from 165 experts from the climate, natural, environmental, social and human sciences. The work highlights various options for action for adaptation and climate protection activities in individual regions in Germany and across different sectors. Dr. Grit Martinez from Ecologic Institute is co-author of the article "Further development of climate change adaptation strategies".

This article emphasizes the significant role of culture in shaping and utilizing climate services, which are crucial for achieving climate resilience and sustainable development in various regions. By incorporating cultural perspectives, the development of climate services can be tailored to meet the specific needs and values of local communities, enhancing their effectiveness and relevance.