The European Union is in a unique position to support and coordinate Member State efforts to develop Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies, as well as support collaboration on the development and sharing of knowledge, standards and cost-effective tools. This finding and other key messages are presented in a new policy brief for EU policy makers, prepared as part of the EU FP7 Collaborative project RISC-KIT (Resilience-Increasing Strategies for Coasts-Toolkit) and in collaboration with PEARL (Preparing for Extreme and Rare events in coastaL regions). The policy brief is available for download.

Milesecure 2050 Analysis of energy policies, trends and existing scenarios from the national to the worldwide. September 2014. Milesecure 2050 Policy Brief. Turin: Politecnico di Torino.

(2013). ELEEP Policy Recommendations For Energy Efficiency. UK Study Tour 13-19 April 2013. ELEEP Policy Brief. Ecologic Institute US, Atlantic Council, ELEEP: 7.

(2014). ELEEP Policy Recommendations for Energy and Climate Change. Brussels/Rotterdam Conference and Study Tour 14-17 May 2014. ELEEP Policy Brief. Ecologic Institute US, Atlantic Council, ELEEP.

Yeang, Donal et al. 2014: Carbon Rights and Benefit Sharing in Cambodia (Policy Brief). Fauna & Flora International / 4CMR.

Moreira Alves, Filipe Miguel et al. 2014: Challenges to Planning Climate Adaptation Strategies in Europe. BASE Policy Brief # 2.

How are Member States in the EU implementing National Adaptation Strategies (NAS's)? How do their approaches differ, and what lessons can we learn? Using case studies from across Europe, this policy brief analyses processes for designing, implementing and reviewing NAS's. It identifies the positive role being played by the EU Adaptation Strategy in influencing NAS implementation, while also identifying shared challenges, including those related to short political timeframes and concretely realizing mainstreaming of climate adaptation into all sectors.

This science policy brief summarizes the results of the Water Lives policy symposium. The Water Lives science policy symposium was held on 29 and 30 January 2014 in Brussels and was organized by BIOFRESH and REFRESH projects.

A policy brief written by Katharina Umpfenbach and colleagues for DG Environment summarises the most relevant scientific insights and analyses the implications for policy making. It highlights novel policy ideas for triggering changes in consumer behaviour. The policy brief is available for download.

Ecologic Institute, IEEP, Bio Intelligence Services, PSI and IVL (2013). What creates a successful resource efficiency policy? DYNAMIX Policy Brief No. 1. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

(2014). ELEEP Policy Recommendations for Urban Development and Transportation. Portland-Seattle Study Tour 26-31 January 2014. ELEEP Policy Brief. Ecologic Institute US, Atlantic Council, ELEEP.

(2013). ELEEP Policy Recommendations For Renewable Energy and Climate Change. Poland-Germany Study Tour 10-16 November 2013 ELEEP Policy Brief. Ecologic Institute US, Atlantic Council, ELEEP.

This UNEP policy brief seeks to address and raise awareness of the social dimension of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change, laying particular emphasis on the social impacts of EbA on the global, national, regional and local levels as well as on social considerations in designing and implementing EbA. The authors highlight appropriate methods and measures and provide policy recommendations to facilitate successful EbA implementation and therewith the delivery of expected benefits for local communities. The policy brief is available for download.

Is biodiversity being left behind? Freshwater ecosystems hold unparalleled species diversity, but are amongst the most threatened in Europe. Prioritizing short-term, often localized benefits in ecosystem provisioning services (such as hydropower) is degrading habitats and damaging cultural and regulatory services such as carbon storage, making it impossible for Europe to meet policy goals under the Habitats and Water Framework Directives. The brief calls for ‘biodiversity-conscious priority setting,’ considering the full range of services that freshwater ecosystems provide, as well as improving the knowledge of ecosystems’ status and threats, to use EU funding resources to the greatest advantage.

This policy brief contains recommendations for action from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) that would enhance existing efforts and achieve more rapid black carbon reductions and climate benefits. The policy brief is available for download.