The complex interactions between nature, climate change, and mental health are being increasingly explored amid increasing environmental challenges facing society. This study explores these connections, focusing on (1) how mental health is affected by the effects of a changing climate in Europe, and (2) how green spaces and nature-based solutions can play a role in reducing and treating those negative effects. The research uncovers the transformative power of promoting a harmonious relationship with the natural world to nurture our collective ecological and social resilience.

This paper examines to what extent and how Member States have met the obligation to carry out multilevel climate and energy dialogues. It does so on the basis of national reporting on the mandatory implementation of multilevel climate and energy dialogues (MLCEDs) against the requirements set out in Article 11 of the Governance Regulation.

In this paper, the authors review recent EU-supported research, policy, and practices to identify critical dimensions that still need to be addressed for greater uptake of NBS. While recognising the multiple societal challenges NBS can target, the authors build on the key messages from the '5th European Climate Change Adaptation conference ECCA 2021' and focus their analysis on NBS for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The Ecologic Institute undertook comprehensive country studies for Germany and Austria focusing on the integration of species protection rules, specifically within the forestry sector, under the Birds and Habitats Directives. The country profiles are focusing on how thoroughly the regulations are transposed into national law, to reveal what efforts are being made to provide information about them to foresters and enforce them and to evaluate assessment and authorization procedures.

The Ecologic Institute undertook a comprehensive country study for Germany focusing on the integration of species protection rules, specifically within agricultural sectors, under the Birds and Habitats Directives. Engaging with over 20 national and regional experts, the study probed the implications of Article 12 and 13 of the Habitats Directive (HD) and Article 5 of the Birds Directive (BD), focusing on how thoroughly the regulations are transposed into national law, to reveal what efforts are being made to provide information about them to farmers and enforce them and to evaluate assessment and authorisation procedures.

In an exhaustive effort led by the Ecologic Institute, a detailed analysis was conducted to explore the availability and awareness of occurrence data for Annex IV species and wild birds across all 27 EU Member States. The outcome? A set of detailed country profiles alongside key aggregated findings that provide a comprehensive picture of the status quo.

This report investigates how public procurement can be used as a strategic policy instrument to accelerate the transformation to climate neutrality.

A coherent German foreign climate policy is essential for the success of the national and European energy transition, as well as for the effective support of ambitious climate policies outside the European Union. This Ariadne background paper provides cornerstones and discusses options for the elaboration and further development of Germany's foreign climate policy. To this end, it distinguishes four categories of relevant goals: traditional climate policy goals, industrial policy goals, security and trade policy goals, and broader foreign policy goals. For each goal, it is necessary to identify appropriate means by which it can be achieved and barriers that stand in its way and need to be considered accordingly.

The importance of indicator frameworks in monitoring and evaluation of local adaptation action is increasingly recognized, but there is still limited knowledge shared on them. The primary goal of this project is to gather essential information on the monitoring and evaluation of adaptation strategies at the local level, providing insights into how cities measure progress on the ground.

The EEA organised a foresight workshop on 12 October 2023 to discuss scenarios for EU environment and sustainability policy in the 2024-2029 policy cycle, with the aim of exploring possible future configurations of EU environment and climate policies and related implications. The results of the foresight workshop are also meant to inform the content and the characterisation of future policy scenarios in the 2024 edition of the EEA's Sustainability Transitions Outlook report. The Ecologic Instituted contributed to this process by supporting the concept development for the workshop, by facilitating two of four scenario groups at the foresight workshop, and by documenting outcomes.

How can water bodies become more resilient in the face of increasing droughts and heavy rainfall events? Which adaptation measures can be combined well and which are in conflict with each other? What is the potential of selected measures and how likely is their implementation in specific future scenarios?

The latest "Green Deal – Big Deal?" podcast episode, hosted by Ricarda Faber and Aaron Best of Ecologic Institute, features interview guests Professor Johan Lilliestam of the Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) and Dr. Andrzej Ancygier of Climate Analytics. During the discussion, they shed light on the past, present and future of renewables in the EU, describing the major market shifts, policy events and technological developments that have made renewable energy one of the most exciting facets of achieving sustainability in Europe.

The 3rd episode of the 4i-TRACTION podcast series uncovers the essential role of infrastructure in climate policy by examining the EU's role in rolling out the infrastructure for a resilient climate-neutral economy. The hosts, together with infrastructure and energy experts Bettina Kampman (CE Delft) and Katharina Umpfenbach (DENA, the German Energy Agency), discuss how recent EU policies are proving to be a good driver to speed up the energy transition and how more attention to infrastructure as a separate topic is needed.

This project identifies and develops EU policy opportunities to mitigate methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) emissions from the energy sector.

The 87th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course focuses on ecosystem restoration for the SDGs. Gregory Fuchs of Ecologic Institute was invited to deliver a lecture on marine and coastal ecosystem restoration. The course is specifically aimed at experts who prepare and implement political decisions and practical measures towards the goals of ecosystem restoration and sustainable development.