The Ecologic Institute evaluated and supported the implementation of auctions in the EU's emissions trading scheme third trading period in the aviation sector and for stationary sources, focusing on economic aspects. In this context, Ecologic Institute assessed potential benchmarks and criteria for the auctioning of emissions certificates based on an assessment of the current markets for EUAs. Additionally, the terms for the direct and indirect access to auctions – e.g. via banks - and platforms were monitored and empirically evaluated.

Ecologic Institute and partner institutes helped the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) to strengthen the understanding of the economic and social impacts of the use of the marine environment. In doing so, the consortium supported the ongoing implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in the North-East Atlantic and provided input to OSPAR's 15 Contracting Governments for their respective socio-economic analyses. The project study is available for download.

The Adaptation Action Plan constitutes the central reference document for measures targeting adaptation to climate change in Germany. In connection with the 2015 update of this action plan, Ecologic Institute and INFRAS provided technical support to the German Federal Environment Agency. The project focused on the compilation and evaluation of potential adaptation measures and political instruments to further their implementation.

What are the expected impacts of climate change at the regional and local level at the German Baltic Sea coast? How can local stakeholders adapt to these? What kind of scientific information do they need as a basis for implementing such measures? These questions were discussed by 75 scientists in the fields of climate and natural science research, political science and sociology, together with representatives from politics, administration, economy and civil society in several science-practice dialogues.

On 13 January 2013 Ecologic Institute participated in a Healthy Communities Forum in Millbrae's Community Center (south of San Francisco, CA). Theme of this Healthy Communities Forum was the health of seniors – today and in the near-term future. Senior Fellow Tanja Srebotnjak presented a selection of the main findings as well as some surprising outcomes of the study on the status and trends in the health of seniors in San Mateo County. The presentation slides are available for download.

Kuikman, P.J., E. Andersen, B.S. Elbersen, A. Frelih Larsen, P.J. Jones, S. Naumann, J.J. Oñate, I. Staritsky (2013). EU wide Farm-level Carbon Calculator: data availability at farm level for farms across EU-27. A report on Deliverable 1 to the Institute of Environment and Sustainability (JRC/IES) by Alterra - WageningenUR, Wageningen, The Netherlands. 73 pp.

This video deals with the British family "Electron" who use Smart Home technologies for environmental protection reasons. The video illustrates the advantages of Smart Homes including among other features a detailed control over power consumption.

In his presentation, Dr. Wolfgang Urban, picked out the future expansion of renewable energies. He presented, from the perspective of the German federal government, the challenges and prospects for biogas. After the placement of bioenergy in the "orchestra of renewable energies" he examined the contribution of biogas and biomethane in order to achieve the policy objectives. He ended his remarks with a presentation of the latest developments and the conveyor frame. The presentation slides are available for download.

This video displays the experiences of British Jane. She moves into a flat with integrated Smart Home technology, which does not fit her lifestyle. The video illustrates potential challenges of Smart Homes.

It is difficult to deny the fact that Earth's climate is changing. Almost all scientists consider the emission of greenhouse gases, mainly through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to be one of the main reasons. The impacts of climate change include rising average and extreme temperatures, shifting patterns in snow- and rainfall, and rising sea levels. These changes threaten not only fragile ecological equilibria but also our economies and societies. Ecologic Institute's Senior Fellow Tanja Srebotnjak was involved in the indicator review for the report "Climate Change Indicators in the United States, 2012," published in December 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).