International airspace and the high seas are global environmental goods with traditionally unrestricted access. The ensuing environmental impact can be addressed through user charges for air- and sea-traffic. This project assessed the legal conditions for the application of such charges in international, European Community and domestic law. A preliminary summary of the legal survey is now available in the internet. A strategy paper on a air ticket tax is also available for download.

The EFIEA network aims to improve the practice of Integrated Environmental Assessment in Europe, and to build bridges between science and policy. It involves institutions, individual researchers and policymakers representing a variety of disciplines and countries. Ecologic staff have contributed to several EFIEA workshops; in addition, Ecologic supports the organisation of the EFIEA final conference in Berlin.

The amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) provides for a register of installations for the purpose of increasing transparency and simplifying the nation-wide equalisation mechanism. Ecologic is supporting the German Federal Ministry for the Environment in answering the legal questions in this context. The observation and analysis of the revision of the German energy laws under the viewpoint of its impacts on the promotion of renewable energies ist another main focus of this project.

The Heinrich Boell Foundation and the National Wildlife Federation co-hosted a conference on "Water: A Key Issue for Sustainable Development – For Johannesburg and Beyond" in Washington, DC, on 16 April 2002. R. Andreas Kraemer spoke on the emerging water policy framework in Europe, its likely effect on water management, and lessons for other part of the world.

"Risk Management in a Complex World" was the theme of the 4th Transatlantic Dialogue on Precaution, held at Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, on 19-21 September 2004, and hosted by the Duke Center for Environmental Solutions. R. Andreas Kraemer, who attended also the previous dialogues in the series, contributed as discussant on ozone depletion and climate change.

In an Environmental Policy Lecture on European Environmental Governance and Policy Integration, R. Andreas Kraemer explained the policy process in the European Union, environmental governance, and the structures and procedures for integrating environmental protection requirements into other policies. Faculty and students attended this event at Duke University, Durham, NC, on 27 February 2003, and engaged in a lively debate.

In the ZUR – Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht, Peter Beyer analyses the new European Directive on environmental liability. The liability for damages caused to the environment by emissions as well as accidents in the field of industrial productions and transportation of dangerous goods belongs to the issues which have been controversially discussed in politics for years, regularly brought up by spectacular accidents as in Baia Mare or the sinking of the Prestige off the Spanish coast.

The article is based on a brochure the author wrote for the project "EcoFuturum – A Sustainable Constitution for Europe" which was co-funded by the European Commission. In the framework of this project, Ecologic published a number of policy papers and carried out a series of workshops throughout the enlarged European Union to discuss the impact of the future Constitution on European environmental policy.

The valuation of environmental and resource costs plays a central role for the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD). Benjamin Görlach and Eduard Interwies investigated many of the economic aspects – such as the cost recovery for water services, incentive pricing for water, or the selection of cost-effective measures. The study to the German Federal Environmental Agency was published.

Ecologic supported the preparation of the Lille IV conference "Europe of Water - Water of the Europeans" to take place on 5-6 February 2004. The conference formed part of a series of events on the economic aspects of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

On the occasion of a delegation visit of water experts and environmental activists from Korea to the Berlin Water Works on 26 October 2004, Ecologic Fellows Britta Pielen and Nicole Kranz spoke about the German water sector, current developments in EU water policy as well as public participation in water management.

Developing and implementing emissions trading and other measures in climate protection policy were discussed at a Lunch Discussion on 23 September 2004, in Washington, DC. The event focused on experiences and opportunities for transatlantic cooperation. It was co-hosted by the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Center for Transatlantic Relations of Johns Hopkins University; Ecologic director R. Andreas Kraemer spoke on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

The transition to a sustainable development is a strategic aim of the EU. To this end, the European Council adopted during the meeting in Gothenburg 2001 a European Sustainable Development Strategy. The midterm review of the strategy is scheduled for next year (2005). How has the European Sustainable Development Strategy performed so far? In this article, Ecologic analyses both the relation between the Sustainable Development Strategy and the Lisbon process as well as the weaknesses of the strategy, and suggests a way forward.

The Arctic has been described as an indicator region for global environmental health. Both in the case of persistent organic pollutants and in the case of global warming, detrimental effects on indigenous peoples are becoming visible throughout the region - impacts that will also be felt in other parts of the world. A Dinner Dialogue with John Crump discussed possible impacts and the actions taken by the Arctic Council in response to these threats. The Dinner Dialogue took place in Berlin on 13 October 2004.

In an Environmental Policy Lecture on Sustainable Consumption and Production – Public Policies for Changing the "European Way of Life", R. Andreas Kraemer presented the international framework and current activities in Europe and Germany. Faculty and students attended this event at Duke University, Durham, NC, on 21 September 2004 and engaged in a lively debate.