Matthias Duwe

Matthias Duwe

MSc (Development Studies)

Director, Climate Programme

Team
Topics

Matthias Duwe is Director of the Climate Programme at Ecologic Institute, which he leads jointly with Eike Karola Velten. The programme brings together the institute’s work on climate mitigation and adaptation, energy, economics and law.

His work focuses primarily on EU climate policy architecture and its implementation at the national level in Member States, as well interactions with the international climate policy regime. He has more than 25 years of experience in EU climate policy, working in Brussels and in Berlin for more than a decade each, and has developed a broad network of experts, policy-makers and civil society actors.

At Ecologic Institute, Matthias serves as senior project leader and expert contributor on EU and national climate governance, incl. national energy and climate plans and long-term strategies, framework climate laws, scientific advisory bodies, stakeholder dialogues and progress monitoring systems. He regularly presents the team’s analyses to decision-makers and stakeholders across Europe.

Matthias is lead coordinator of the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which provides independent, indicator-based assessments of the EU’s progress towards climate neutrality. His recent work also addresses the implementation of the European Clean Industrial Deal, the revision of the Governance Regulation and priorities for the EU’s post-2030 climate policy architecture.

Beyond his research and policy work, Matthias is an accomplished speaker, moderator and facilitator – and enjoys designing interactive workshops. He works in both German and English and regularly teaches on EU climate policy and climate governance, including through Ecologic Institute’s educational programmes and tailored training courses (incl. on carbon pricing under the auspices of ICAP).

Prior to joining Ecologic Institute, Matthias worked with Climate Action Network Europe from 2001 to 2011, first as a policy researcher and later as a director, leading the Brussels secretariat. During this period, he participated in key EU climate policy processes, including the European Climate Change Programme (for 2010) and the development of the EU Climate and Energy Package (for 2020), with a focus on the EU Emissions Trading System. He also served on the Board of Directors of Climate Action Network International.

Matthias is a social scientist by training. He studied Environmental Politics and Planning at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg and holds an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

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Selected projects by Matthias Duwe
ProjectHorizon 2020Transformative Policies for a Climate-neutral European Union (4i-TRACTION)
 

© Ecologic Institute

To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, EU policy will have to be reoriented – from incremental towards structural change. As expressed in the European Green Deal, the challenge is to initiate the necessary transformation to climate neutrality in the coming years, while... Read more

Transformative Policies for a Climate-neutral European Union (4i-TRACTION)

Duration
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Funding
ProjectDialogue on Pathways and Policies for a Climate-neutral EU (Climate Recon 2050)
 

© Ecologic Institute

The EU has agreed to become climate neutral by 2050. Achieving climate neutrality in the next 30 years is a great societal, economic and political undertaking, presenting many challenges and opportunities. The Climate Recon 2050 project addresses the central process of... Read more

Dialogue on Pathways and Policies for a Climate-neutral EU (Climate Recon 2050)

Duration
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Funding
ProjectThe EU Long-term Strategy – the implications of striving for net-zero emissions
 
| Fotolia © bluedesign
A Climate Neutral Europe by 2050 – a possible vision for the future? On 28 November 2018, the European Commission published analysis to underpin a new long-term strategy (LTS) on climate policy for the EU, laying out a vision of how to decarbonize the European... Read more

The EU Long-term Strategy – the implications of striving for net-zero emissions

Duration
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Funding
Selected publications by Matthias Duwe
PublicationReportState of EU Progress to Climate Neutrality
 
Cover of the ECNO flagship report "State of EU progress to climate neutrality. An indicator-based assessment across 13 building blocks for a climate neutral future"

© European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) 2023

The EU Climate Law legally binds EU countries as a whole to become climate neutral by 2050. Achieving this goal requires transforming the way we produce, consume, travel, and eat. EU institutions have already put in place many measures to guide and support governments,... Read more

Velten, Eike Karola et al. 2023: Flagship Report: State of EU progress to climate neutrality. An indicator-based assessment across 13 building blocks for a climate neutral future. European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO).

PublicationPolicy BriefPolicy Consistency: What it means, how to measure it, and links with other processes
 
Ecologic Report - Policy consistency: What it means, how to measure it, and links with other processes

© 2023 Ecologic Institute

The EU Climate Law, adopted in summer 2021, represents a significant advancement in EU climate governance. It offers guidance for future policymaking across the entire economy and introduces new progress and policy monitoring mechanisms to ensure EU climate neutrality... Read more

Evans, Nick, Matthias Duwe, Eike Karola Velten (2023): Policy consistency: What it means, how to measure it, and links with other processes. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationDocumentMaking EU Climate Governance Fit for Net Zero
 
Cover of the scientific opinion paper "Making EU climate governance fit for net zero"

© Federal Environment Agency (UBA)

The paper "Making EU Governance Fit for Net Zero" analyses the current landscape of climate policy governance against eight core parameters at EU level and for Member States, and identifies a number of remaining weaknesses.  Improvements should address several key... Read more

Duwe, Matthias 2022: Making EU climate governance fit for net zero. An analysis of the current landscape of relevant EU climate policy processes and recommendations for alignment with the climate neutrality objective. Scientific opinion paper. Dessau-Roßlau: Federal Environment Agency.

PublicationDocumentCharting a Path to Net Zero – Summary
 
first page of the summary "CHARTING A PATH TO NET ZERO: AN ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL LONG-TERM STRATEGIES IN THE EU"

© Ecologic Institute

This summary distills the insights from the technical report "Charting a Path to Net Zero: An assessment of national long-term strategies in the EU" commissioned by the European Climate Foundation and written by Ecologic Institute. It summarizes the key findings and... Read more

Velten, Eike Karola, Duwe, Matthias, Evans, Nick (2022): Charting a path to net zero: An assessment of national long-term strategies in the EU. Summary. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefLong-term Strategies: state of play, challenges and possible support through the G20
 
Cover of policy brief

@Climate Recon 2050

The G20 summit 2022 under Indonesia's presidency is a central moment for geopolitics, as representatives of the most powerful economies convene to discuss important worldwide developments. One central topic is the advancement of climate action. As the G20 countries are... Read more

Haase, Isabel; Duwe, Matthias (2022): Long-term strategies in a G20 context. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationReportMeasuring Progress towards Climate Neutrality
 
1st page of the summary report "Measuring progress towards climate neutrality" with logos, text and infographic

© Ecologic Institute

Achieving climate neutrality requires structural changes to our economic system, with solutions that work across sectors. Correspondingly, measuring progress and designing policy towards the EU's net zero ambition requires a framework that captures the complexity of the... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Eike Karola Velten, Isabel Haase, Nicolas Berghmans, Nick Evans and Deyana Spasova (2021): Measuring progress towards climate neutrality. Ecologic Institute, Berlin / IDDRI, Paris

PublicationReportClimate Laws in Europe
 
No two climate laws are the same, but an analysis of nine existing laws in Europe finds that most draw on a set of common design elements to streamline action, align policy goals, establish expert and public review mechanisms and monitor progress towards national... Read more

Duwe, Matthias and Evans, Nicholas (2020): Climate Laws in Europe: Good Practices in Net-Zero Management. Berlin, Den Haag.

PublicationReportClimate Governance Systems in Europe: the role of national advisory bodies
 
Climate governance systems in Europe: the role of national advisory bodies

© Ecologic Institute 2021

The number of scientific climate advisory bodies is growing rapidly across European countries, including the establishment of one at the EU-level. Under the right conditions, such expert councils can help governments not only make the right climate policy decisions but... Read more

Evans, Nick; Matthias Duwe (2021): 'Climate governance systems in Europe: the role of national advisory bodies'. Ecologic Institute, Berlin; IDDRI, Paris.

PublicationCase StudyLong-term Climate Strategies in Europe: Experience from National and EU-wide 2050 Climate Planning
 
This case study, prepared by Ecologic Institute and published by World Resources Institute (WRI) describes the status quo and relevant recent developments at the EU and national levels on long-term climate strategies, detailing relevant insights on legal obligations,... Read more

Matthias Duwe and Ewa Iwaszuk, Ecologic Institute. 2019. "LTS in Europe: Experience from National and EUwide 2050 Climate Planning."

PublicationDocumentResult Oriented Spending for the Climate
 
There are many promising ways in which the next EU budget could help EU Member States achieve their climate and energy targets. Explicitly targeting EU public spending towards climate could send a signal to other investors, creating a shift in financial flows. Existing... Read more

Duwe, Matthias 2018: Result Oriented Spending for the Climate: Creating strong connections between the EU budget and National Energy and Climate Plans. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

PublicationReportTurning Points for the Ambition of European Climate Targets
 
A new paper by Öko-Institute and Ecologic Institute contributes to the upcoming discussion on the EU climate target for 2030 and the accompanying review of central policy instruments and governance structure. A successful implementation of a climate-neutrality... Read more

Gores, S., Fallasch, F., Siemons, A., Duwe, M., Evans, N. 2020: Turning Points for the Ambition of European Climate Targets. Getting granular on the process and identifiying cornerstones for discussion, Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit, Berlin: Öko Institut and Ecologic Institute.

PublicationReportBringing Paris into the Future EU Budget
 
UNFCCC – Paris Agreement Cycle
The European Union is currently pursuing two important processes that can mutually support one another: implementing its 2030 climate and energy targets and defining the EU budget for the years 2021-2027. An Ecologic Institute analysis points out several ways to... Read more

Duwe, Matthias 2018: Bringing Paris into the future MFF: how to maximise the benefits of EU funding for the achievement of EU climate objectives. Integrating the 2021-2027 MFF and the new 2030 energy and climate target governance. Ecologic Institute: Berlin.

PublicationPolicy BriefPlanning for Net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans
 
A report by Ecologic Institute and Climact shows that the draft National Energy and Climate Plans presented by governments at the start of 2019 are in acute need of improvement. They suffer from inadequate targets and insufficient details on the policies and financing... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Eike Karola Velten, Nick Evans, Mona Freundt, Julien Pestiaux, Benoît Martin, Pascal Vermeulen (2019): Planning for net-zero: Assessing the Draft National Energy and Climate Plans. Berlin, Louvain-la-Neuve, Bruessels.

PublicationReportThe Innovation Fund: How can it support low-carbon industry in Europe?
 
| iStock_© TommL_M
The long-term transformation to a low-carbon economy requires innovation in technology and existing practices in all sectors of the economy. The Innovation Fund under the EU Emissions Trading System is meant to support such innovation projects in industry and energy.... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Ostwald, Robert (2017): The Innovation Fund: how can it support low-carbon industry in Europe: Design recommendations for the successor instrument to the NER 300 in Phase 4 of the EU ETS. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationFact SheetEU 2050 Strategic Vision "A Clean Planet for All"
 
In late November 2018, the European Commission published a "strategic vision" for a European economy with net-zero emissions by 2050 – this factsheet provides an overview of those documents. It explains, summarises, and evaluates the scenarios, proposals, and... Read more

Federal Environment Agency (2018). Fact Sheet: EU 2050 strategic vision "A Clean Planet for All". Brief Summary of the European Commission proposal. Berlin: 10 December 2018.

PublicationConference PaperThe Paris Agreement: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook
 
Ecologic Institute's new research paper provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the Paris Agreement, including the agreed next steps, an outlook on implementation and key political messages. It is now available for download. Key messages are: The... Read more

Bodle, Ralph, Lena Donat and Matthias Duwe (2016). The Paris Agreement: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook. German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) Research Paper. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt.

Selected events by Matthias Duwe
EventConferenceCharting a Path Towards EU Climate Neutrality in Turbulent Times
 

Photo taken by Paula Schöberlein

The EU's toolbox on climate action has been significantly expanded since the adoption of the Paris Agreement: targets have been increased and the climate neutrality goal is legally binding. New planning processes have been started and new institutions created. And with... Read more

Conference:Charting a Path Towards EU Climate Neutrality in Turbulent Times

Date
Location
Brussels, Belgium
EventDigital EventA Climate Neutral Europe by 2050
 

○ A Climate Neutral Europe

On 26 March 2021 the Climate Recon 2050 Platform hosted an online debate with the European Commission and national government experts, discussing the impact of the climate neutrality target on EU climate policy and national planning processes. The virtual discussion,... Read more

Digital Event:A Climate Neutral Europe by 2050

Date
Location
online
EventDigital EventThe EU Climate Law: Holding the EU Accountable for Delivering on the Paris Agreement
 
The Ecologic Institute and the European Climate Foundation (ECF) hold an online conference on the forthcoming EU Climate Law. The European Commission's proposal for a European climate law was discussed  with insight from experts and policy-makers and followed up by... Read more

Digital Event:The EU Climate Law: Holding the EU Accountable for Delivering on the Paris Agreement

Date
Location
online
Selected presentations by Matthias Duwe
PresentationSpeechProfessionalizing Climate Policy
 

© IPPI

Countries around the world are considering the introduction of national framework laws to make their climate policy more effective. A debate is underway in Israel on the adoption of such a climate law, to establish a clear institutional set-up and regular processes for... Read more

Speech:Professionalizing Climate Policy

Date
Location
online
PresentationSpeech"Paris Compatible" Governance: insights from climate law case studies
 
| © Gonzalo Escribano
On 4 December 2017, Matthias Duwe presented insights on national climate laws to inform Spanish debate gained from a joint research effort on long-term climate frameworks at a roundtable discussion organized by the renowned thing tank Elcano Royal Institute. He joined... Read more

Speech:"Paris Compatible" Governance: insights from climate law case studies

Date
Location
Madrid, Spain
PresentationSpeechHow to Integrate European Lessons Learned on Climate Laws in the Slovenian Context?
 
slides

Ecologic Institute

In the webinar series "Why do we need a climate law?" Matthias Duwe, Head Climate at Ecologic Institute, presented three key elements of a sound climate law: (1) the coordination of long-term planning and short-term policy, (2) monitoring progress, and (3) mechanisms... Read more

Speech:How to Integrate European Lessons Learned on Climate Laws in the Slovenian Context?

Date
Location
online, Slovenia
PresentationChairingClimate Protection and Artificial Intelligence – How can AI help us reach the Paris Agreement?
 
Climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) are two intensely debated topics, but mostly treated by separate communities. While climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges the world is facing, AI is creating new opportunities for all sectors,... Read more

Chairing:Climate Protection and Artificial Intelligence – How can AI help us reach the Paris Agreement?

Date
Location
Berlin, Germany

Recent content by Matthias Duwe

Publication:Infographic
 
Infographic showing assessment of progress along the clean industrial value chain in Europe, covering upstream inputs, production, and demand side, including clean energy access, industrial decarbonisation, electrification, circularity, energy efficiency, and clean technology supply, with cross-cutting factors like finance, skills, and trade highlighted (ECNO 2026).
The infographic underscores a central insight of the Clean Industrial Transition Monitor: Europe has put in place many of the necessary building blocks for a clean industrial transition. However, achieving scale will depend on addressing remaining bottlenecks and ensuring coherent implementation across all parts of the value chain.

Assessment of Progress Along the Value Chain

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Publication:Report
 
The transition to a clean and competitive industrial base is crucial to strengthening Europe’s resilience and strategic economic independence. The Clean Industrial Transition Monitor by ECNO assesses real-world progress using more than 50 indicators and provides a comprehensive and nuanced picture of both progress and remaining gaps.

Moving to a Clean Industrial Future in Europe

Clean Industrial Transition Monitor

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Event:Digital Event
 
On 24 March 2026, the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) presented its new Clean Industrial Transition Monitor and discussed whether current EU policy creates the enabling conditions needed for a successful industrial transformation.

Reality Checking the Clean Industrial Deal

Launch of the Clean Industrial Transition Monitor


online

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Project
 
This project, funded by the European Climate Foundation (ECF), supports the research and policy community working on the EU's post-2030 governance architecture by providing targeted analysis, engagement, and practical tools to strengthen EU and national climate governance.

Post-2030 EU Climate Framework and Governance Architecture

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Project
 
This project supports the next phase of ETS training and capacity building with the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP). It is commissioned by the European Commission’s DG CLIMA and builds on long-standing cooperation with ICAP to support jurisdictions in developing and emerging economies that are exploring, designing, or strengthening emissions trading systems.

ETS Training and Capacity Building Activities under the Auspices of ICAP

Supporting emissions trading capacity building and technical exchange worldwide

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Event:Digital Event
 
On 3 September 2025, the European Climate Neutrality Observatory presented their latest findings on EU's progress toward climate neutrality and discussed the ensuing recommendations with high-profile EU policy stakeholders, including members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the business community.

Tracking the Transition to a Clean, Competitive and Fair EU Future

Launch of the 3rd Assessment by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory


online

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