The expanding use of biomass as an energy source has been accompanied by a growing range of certification and standard-setting schemes in an attempt to ensure the sustainability of biofuel production. The result has added to the confusion in an already crowded certification market, but an opportunity to develop a streamlined global standard-setting system arises from this complexity. In this article, Timo Kaphengst, Mandy Ma and Stephanie Schlegel of Ecologic Institute outline how some of the innovative ideas coming from the biofuel certification and standardisation discussions can be applied to create a global generic standard-setting scheme for natural resources.

At the International Scientific Congress “Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges & Decisions”, experts presented a summary of scientific findings since the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment. The congress attracted broad international attention in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen in December 2009. In the session entitled “Integrating Climate Change into Global Sustainability”, Sandra Cavalieri presented transatlantic and international policy options to protect the Arctic marine environment that had emerged from the Arctic TRANSFORM project.

In this book chapter, Ecologic Senior Fellow Ingmar von Homeyer provides an analytical overview of EU environmental governance from the early 1970s up to the present. He argues that EU environmental governance can be described as an amalgam of four to five environmental governance regimes which have successively been layered on top of each other over the past 35 years.

Linking emissions trading schemes has attracted interest as a means of reducing costs and expanding market size and liquidity. A number of studies have explored the compatibility of schemes, although little attention has been devoted to the implementation of links. In an article published in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Policy, Michael Mehling, President of the Ecologic Institute in Washington DC, and Erik Haites, former IPCC lead author, identify mechanisms required for the establishment and operation of a trading link over time.

Sustainable energy and resource efficiency to be achieved through efficiency in energy use, renewable energy supplies, and technological innovation was the subject of a panel discussion presented by the German Federal Ministry for Environment on the occasion of the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in New York, NY, on 9 May 2007.  R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute moderated the event.

<p>&#13; In the wake of the financial and economic crises of 2008, the role of public policy in promoting a shift towards low-carbon technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energies is reassessed.  On 29 October 2008, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Sustainable Prosperity, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) hosted a Canadian-German Dialogue in Ottawa, Ontario, on "Business, Environment, and Energy" and invited Hans-Joachim Ziesing of Ecologic to address the question "Government Policy: Helping or Hindering Sustainable Growth in the New Energy Economy?"</p>&#13;

<p> During the Climate Negotiation Summit in Pozn&agrave;n, Poland, on 10 December 2008, R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic moderated a Side Event of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the French Presidency of the European Union on &quot;Delivering on the EU&#39;s Climate Commitments: State of Play of Europe&#39;s New Climate and Energy Legislation&quot;.</p>

<p> During the Climate Negotiation Summit in Pozn&agrave;n, Poland, on 10 December 2008, R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic moderated a side event of the European Commission on &quot;Aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS)&quot;. The event explored how aviation activities will be included in the EU&#39;s Emissions Trading Scheme from 1 January 2012 and provided details of the next steps for implementation.</p>

<p>&#13; Against a backdrop of increasing scarcity of and potential conflict over fossile energy resources, and a reassessment of the impact of climate change on national or collective security, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Washington DC, and the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (AIGS) convened a Roundtable on Transatlantic Energy Security in Washington DC on 2 December 2008.  Camilla Bausch of Ecologic and Neil Brown, Special Advisor on Energy and Environment to Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) provided the introduction and set the theme for the event.</p>&#13;

<p> On 14-15 June 2007, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) convened the international conference &quot;Europe and America: Managing the 21st Century&#39;s Agenda to look at an array of topical issues including global warming.&nbsp; Stefan Theil, Bureau Chief of Newsweek in Germany moderated, and Patrick S. Moon, Director at the US Department of State, and R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic addressed the question &quot;How to Tackle Climate Change?&quot;.</p>

<p>&#13; The United States  –  though the 2005 Energy Policy Act – and the European Union – through the European Energy Policy – created incentives for expanding biofuel production and use.  On 25 May 2007, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and DaimlerChrysler convened a conference in Berlin on "Transatlantic Approaches to Biofuels".  R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic spoke on Assessing European and U.S. Policies.</p>&#13;

<p>&#13; The United States – though the 2005 Energy Policy Act – and the European Union – through the European Energy Policy – created incentives for expanding biofuel production and use. On 25 May 2007, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and DaimlerChrysler convened a conference in Berlin on "Transatlantic Approaches to Biofuels". R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic moderated the discussion on assessing European and U.S. policies.</p>&#13;