Publications

Publication:Document
 
Researchers at Ecologic Institute have developed a new tool to help governments to produce socially just climate adaptation strategies. The Just2Adapt tool allows the user to analyse the justice dimensions of Heat Action Plans at the strategic level as well as at the level of individual measures. It is important that heat adaptation strategies integrate social justice considerations because of the unequal way in which the heat-health effects of climate change are distributed across the population.

Just2Adapt Tool: Supporting governments with socially just climate adaptation

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Publication:Report
 
In light of the agreed expansion of European emissions trading (inter alia the gradual inclusion of maritime transport and the introduction of the EU ETS 2), the study contains an analysis of the current sanctions regime in emissions trading. The fundamental amendment to the TEHG brought about by the TEHG EU Alignment Act 2024 has already been taken into account. Proposals for a more effective sanctions regime are put forward, relating both the enforcement of existing regulations and reforms of these regulations. The study focuses on administrative offence law.

Effizienter Vollzug der Sanktionen im Emissionshandelsrecht

Ordnungswidrigkeitenrecht und Festsetzung von Zahlungspflichten

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
ECNO’s 2026 update provides the first comprehensive assessment of all 27 final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). It evaluates whether Member States’ contributions and policy frameworks are sufficient to meet the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets. The results show a clearer and more complete picture than previous assessments. However, the overall conclusion remains unchanged: despite some progress, the EU is still not fully on track to meet its 2030 targets.

Delivering the EU's 2030 Climate and Energy Targets

Gaps in national contributions and policies

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Publication:Article
 
Nature-based solutions (NbS) at the landscape scale are increasingly recognised for their role in supporting biodiversity, enhancing ecological connectivity and contributing to climate change adaptation. However, their assessment and implementation remain complex. This article examines these challenges using the concept of pondscapes – networks of ponds and their surrounding terrestrial habitats – as a case for landscape-scale NbS.

Challenges for Assessing and Implementing Nature-based Solutions at Landscape-scale

Insights from project on ponds and pondscapes

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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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Publication:Policy Brief
 
This policy brief examines how current climate-action rewarding mechanisms address – or fail to address – organic farming as a systemic and climate-resilient approach. It analyses existing monetary, regulatory and supportive instruments at EU level, with a particular focus on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation.

Incentivising Systemic and Climate-resilient Farming Approaches through Rewarding Mechanisms

Barriers, challenges and recommendations

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Publication:Book Section
 
The chapter “International climate finance: institutions in the climate regime” by Dr. Ralph Bodle appears in the Research Handbook on Climate Finance and Investment Law. The volume is part of the Research Handbooks in Climate Law series and was published by Edward Elgar Publishing in 2025.

International Climate Finance: Institutions in the climate regime

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Publication:Report
 
This pilot roadmap is designed to support national authorities and stakeholders in Romania in develo ping a strategic framework for planning coastal wetland restoration, for example in the context of National Restora tion Plans. It draws on the latest scientific data, tools and methods developed by the EU-funded project RESTORE4Cs.

Restoring Coastal Wetlands in Europe – Romania

Pilot roadmap on coastal wetland restoration in Romania

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Publication:Report
 
This pilot roadmap is designed to support national authorities and stakeholders in Portugal in developing a strategic framework for planning coastal wetland restoration, for example in the context of National Restoration Plans.

Restoring Coastal Wetlands in Europe – Portugal

Pilot roadmap on coastal wetland restoration in Portugal

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Publication:Report
 
"RESTORE4Cs Restoring Coastal Wetlands in Europe – Implementation Roadmap to Guide National Action" is a practical guidance document, designed to support national authorities and stakeholders in developing or strengthening strategies for coastal wetland restoration, helping countries meet these and other related obligations. The Implementation Roadmap builds on the latest scientific knowledge and integrates key RESTORE4Cs findings, tools and methodologies into a coherent decision-support framework.

Restoring Coastal Wetlands in Europe

Implementation Roadmap to Guide National Action

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Publication:Case Study
 
This paper examines the penalty provisions in the draft Czech implementing law submitted on 11 November 2025 by the Minister for the Environment to the Prime Minister. It briefly considers the draft's legislative status in light of the political situation following the 3–4 October general election, assesses its compliance with the EU-MER, and compares it with good practice in Denmark and with Italy's draft law.

Czechia's Draft Penalty Rules for Violations of the EU Methane Regulation

Assessment of the draft law of 11 November

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Publication:Case Study
 
This paper examines the penalty provisions in the draft Romanian implementing law proposed by the Romanian government on 22 July 2025. It briefly considers the draft's legislative status, assesses its compliance with EU-MER, and compares it with good practice in Denmark and with Italy's draft law.

Romania's Draft Penalty Rules for Violations of the EU Methane Regulation

Assessment of the draft law of 22 July 2025

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Publication:Report
 
Humanity has already exceeded six of the nine planetary boundaries, with climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution pushing the Earth system beyond its safe operating space. Because these boundaries interact through complex feedback loops, surpassing one accelerates pressures on the others, creating cascading effects that amplify environmental degradation. This interconnected dynamic is driving a systemic triple planetary crisis, or polycrisis, that undermines ecological resilience and threatens long-term human well-being. Addressing it requires integrated, cross-sectoral approaches that tackle shared drivers and deliver co-benefits across environmental and socio-economic domains.

Integrated Approaches to Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis: Country Best Practices

Lessons learned from Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, Panama, Rwanda and Sweden

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Publication:Infographic
 
Infographic depicting drivers
Climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are deeply interconnected and reinforce one another. This infographic, based on the report "The Interconnected Challenges of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Environmental Pollution: Drivers, Interdependencies and Impacts of the Triple Planetary Crisis", illustrates the main human-driven causes of the triple planetary crisis and the feedback loops that intensify its impacts.

Drivers and Feedback Loops of the Triple Planetary Crisis

Infographic Series

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Publication:Infographic
 
Infographic depicting selected nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions (NbS) can address multiple dimensions of the triple planetary crisis at once: climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution, while delivering benefits for people and ecosystems. This infographic, visualises how NbS can function as systemic responses when designed and implemented under the right conditions. It illustrates how measures such as mangrove restoration, constructed wetlands, and urban green infrastructure can simultaneously contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation, strengthen biodiversity, and reduce pollution-related pressures. It also highlights the broader societal challenges that NbS can support, including water and food security, human health, risk reduction, and reversing environmental degradation.

Examples of nature-based solutions as systemic solutions for the triple planetary crisis

Infographic Series

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Publication:Report
 
This report, commissioned by the German Federal Agency (UBA), provides a systematic analysis of this triple planetary crisis. It demonstrates why climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution cannot be understood and tackled in siloes, but instead share common drivers, feedback mechanisms, and cascading effects. The aim of the report is to close knowledge gaps and provide political and scientific actors with an integrated, holistic understanding.

The Interconnected Challenges of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Environmental Pollution

Drivers, Interdependencies and Impacts of the Triple Planetary Crisis

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Publication:Report
 
The triple planetary crisis is a systemic challenge, not three separate issues: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution reinforce one another through shared drivers and feedback, threatening planetary and human well-being. It is driven by fossil fuel dependence, unsustainable production and consumption, overexploitation of land and resources, and structural inequalities. The analysis concludes that the triple crisis can only be effectively addressed through systemic, cross-sectoral, and justice-oriented approaches. By linking resource governance, NbS, and transformative change, this report highlights how today’s triple crisis can be turned into an opportunity to regenerate ecosystems, reduce inequalities, and build resilient societies within planetary boundaries.

Moving from Interconnected Crises to Systemic Solutions

Resource efficiency, nature-based solutions, and systemic transformation as responses to the complexity of the triple planetary crisis

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Publication:Fact Sheet
 
This fact sheet summarizes the information contained in the publication Burgos Cuevas et al. (2025): Moving from interconnected crises to systemic solutions. Resource efficiency, nature-based solutions, and systemic transformation as responses to the complexity of the triple planetary crisis. Interim report, Climate Change 83/2025. German Environment Agency: Dessau-Roßlau. https://doi.org/10.60810/openumwelt-8108.

Moving from Interconnected Crises to Systemic Solutions

Resource efficiency, nature-based solutions, and systemic transformation as responses to the complexity of the triple planetary crisis

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Publication:Fact Sheet
 
The fact sheet explains why climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution must be understood as a systemically interconnected crisis driven by shared pressures such as resource use, land-use change and structural inequalities. It highlights how direct and indirect drivers interact across sectors and regions, creating reinforcing feedbacks and compounding risks for ecosystems and societies.

The Interconnected Challenges of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Environmental Pollution

Fact sheet

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Publication:Infographic
 
Infographic titled “Current model of material use and key policy actions to address structural barriers.” The graphic illustrates global material flows from sources and extraction through provisioning systems to disposal and sinks. It shows that material use has more than tripled over the past 50 years, exceeding 100 billion tonnes annually and potentially reaching 160 billion tonnes by 2060. Key policy actions such as circular economy solutions and sustainable consumption are highlighted.
This infographic presents the current model of material use and shows how extraction, production, consumption and disposal drive environmental pressures. It also outlines key policy actions to overcome structural barriers, reduce resource use and decouple human well-being from environmental harm. It is based on the report “Moving from Interconnected Crises to Systemic Solutions. Resource Efficiency, Nature-based Solutions, and Systemic Transformation as Responses to the Complexity of the Triple Planetary Crisis” and highlights concrete pathways for action. The infographic is also included in the accompanying fact sheet under the same title.

Current Model of Material Use & Key Policy Actions to Address Structural Barriers

Infographic Series

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Publication:Infographic
 
Infographic titled “Impacts of the triple planetary crisis on human and ecosystem health.” It shows how climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution create cascading effects on ecosystems and human health, amplified by socio-economic inequalities, climate hazards, global interconnectedness, and pollutant interactions. The graphic links environmental pressures to impacts such as disease risks, ecosystem degradation, and reduced resilience.
This solution-oriented infographic showcases nature-based solutions (NbS) as systemic responses to the triple planetary crisis, illustrating how measures such as wetland restoration, mangrove protection or urban green infrastructure can simultaneously address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, while delivering co-benefits for health, resilience and livelihoods.

Impacts of the Triple Planetary Crisis on Human and Ecosystem Health

Infographic Series

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Publication:Fact Sheet
 
Nature-based solutions are central to climate change adaptation. Urban green spaces and waterbodies can reduce heat in cities, for example. How can local authorities implement such measures despite limited resources? This paper presents financing options based on practical examples – from crowdfunding to green bonds – and assesses which ones are suitable and when. It also provides recommendations on how the federal and state governments can provide support.

Jenseits öffentlicher Gelder: Wie Kommunen naturbasierte Lösungen für die Klimaanpassung finanzieren können

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Publication:Report
 
This study investigates instruments that could generate revenue for international climate finance. Through a mixed-methods approach, including desk research and interviews with 23 experts from diverse professional backgrounds, the study evaluates four proposed levies: a Fossil Fuel Extraction Levy, a Levy on Windfall Fossil Fuel Profits, a Levy on Plastic Polymers, and a Levy on Jet Fuel.

Study on Potential New Sources of Climate Finance, Including Taxation

Final report

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Publication:Report
 
This report, by Ecologic Institute and Öko-Institut, explores how emerging EU policy instruments – such as the proposed Agricultural Emissions Trading System (AgETS), Mandatory Climate Standards (MCS), and public procurement programmes – can integrate carbon farming while maintaining high environmental standards. The study highlights both the opportunities and the pitfalls of linking these policies to the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) and its system of temporary certified carbon units – and investigates alternative approaches to promote carbon farming.

Temporary Carbon Units from Carbon Farming and EU Agri-food Climate Policy

Assessment of risks, opportunities, and alternatives for promoting carbon farming

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Publication:Report
 
This report evaluates the focus of Bread for the World on climate policy between 2023 and 2025. It examines how the organisation strengthens the rights and needs of vulnerable population groups within the context of international climate policy, demonstrating how climate justice can be effectively integrated into development cooperation. The report assesses this work against the following criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, development impact and sustainability.

Kurs Klimagerechtigkeit

Wie Brot für die Welt die Bedürfnisse der ärmsten und verletzlichsten Bevölkerungsgruppen in der internationalen Klimapolitik stärkt

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Publication:Article
 
This paper analyses the European Union's (EU) policy framework, alongside international and regional agreements relevant to wetland conservation and restoration, focusing on coastal ecosystems. Drawing on policy content analysis, it assesses how 36 EU policies and multilateral agreements support or limit coastal wetland restoration and conservation efforts in Europe.

Restoring European Coastal Wetlands for Climate and Biodiversity

Do EU Policies and International Agreements Support Restoration?

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Publication:Report
 
This report summarizes the outcomes of the online workshop held on 4 September 2025. The workshop was organized by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) on behalf of the Alpine Biodiversity Board (ABB) of the Alpine Convention and implemented and moderated by the Ecologic Institute. The discussion focused on how cross-border cooperation can strengthen the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) in the Alpine region.

Enhancing Synergies in Alpine Nature Restoration Planning

Online Workshop Results

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Publication:Report
 
Europe's agricultural sector holds tremendous potential to advance climate and environmental goals, but realizing that potential depends on the right mix of funding and targeted support. A new report led by Ecologic Institute, together with partners in the Climate Farm Demo (CFD) project, introduces a framework to better understand and navigate the wide variety of rewarding mechanisms that encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart practices.

Incentivizing Farm-level Climate Action through Rewarding Mechanisms

A categorization framework

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Publication:Report
 
Cover page of the "2025 Flagship Report: State of EU progress to climate neutrality" by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO). The image shows a panoramic view of a green urban park with various climate-related icons overlayed, and a city skyline in the background. The title highlights the report’s focus on indicator-based assessment across 13 building blocks for a climate-neutral future. Dated September 2025.
The EU is making promising progress on the road to climate neutrality but needs to keep up the pace to achieve the goal. This is the result of the third progress report by the European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO), which has analysed developments in over 150 indicators across all areas of society. The weak points identified provide crucial information for the work of the EU institutions.

State of EU Progress to Climate Neutrality

2025 Flagship Report

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Publication:Report
 
How can the EU stay on track to climate neutrality – despite tightening budgets and rising geopolitical pressure? A new Ariadne background paper reviews the Fit for 55 package, discusses open questions for the post-2030 period, and outlines options for a more coherent EU policy architecture.

Staying the Course in Turbulent Times

Insights on the current state and ways forward for the EU's climate, energy and finance policy architecture

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Publication:Book Section
 
Cover of the book " A research agenda for environmental crime and law"
As part of the section on new and emerging themes in the book A Research Agenda for Environmental Crime and the Law, Stephan Sina, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute, contributed a chapter titled "Climate Change and Criminal Justice". In this chapter, he explores why criminal law currently plays only a marginal role in discussions on climate change mitigation – and whether this should, and could, be changed.

Climate Change and Criminal Justice

Chapter in A Research Agenda for Environmental Crime and the Law

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