Publications

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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Publication:Report
 
cover page
This report explores options for an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals to address a critical gap in climate change mitigation. While emissions reductions remain the primary objective of EU climate policy, achieving climate neutrality and eventually net-negative emissions necessitates the large-scale deployment of carbon removals. This requires the swift development and deployment of cost-effective and socially beneficial carbon removal technologies.

An EU Purchasing Programme for Permanent Carbon Removals

Assessment of policy options and recommendations for short-term policy design

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Publication:Book
 
Cover of the 2025 edition of Eurostat’s “Overview of progress towards the SDGs in an EU context.” The design mirrors the full report cover, featuring a white tree with multicolored leaves, this time on a grey-blue background. The Eurostat and SDG logos appear below the tree.
The 2025 overview brochure accompanies Eurostat's ninth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The brochure is available for download.

Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2025 Overview

Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context

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Publication:Book
 
Cover of the report titled 'Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context, 2025 edition' by Eurostat. The design features shades of blue with a colorful tree graphic in the lower half.
Eurostat's "Sustainable Development in the European Union: Monitoring Report on Progress towards the SDGs in an EU Context" (2025 edition) offers the ninth comprehensive assessment of the EU's journey toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers from Ecologic Institute authored the chapters on Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life Below Water (SDG 14), Life on Land (SDG 15) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), providing rigorous, policy-relevant evidence.

Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2025

Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context

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Publication:Report
 
Cover page of the report titled "Contributions of water saving to a climate resilient Europe" (ETC-BE Report 2025/1). The central image shows a dry, cracked riverbed with a smartphone in the foreground displaying a digitally altered vision of a green, water-rich landscape in the same location. A modern city skyline appears in the background. Authors and affiliations are listed below the image. The report is published by the European Environment Agency and the European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosys
This ETC-BE Report examines how targeted water-saving interventions can bolster the resilience of both ecosystems and key economic sectors in the face of climate change. The central question is: Which technical, economic and governance levers can unlock the water-savings potential in agriculture, electricity production, manufacturing and public water supply, and how can these be operationalized? Gerardo Anzaldúa and Levin Scholl (Ecologic Institute) explored how the industrial sector in Europe is dealing with this question, and provided critical insights on potentials and enablers.

Contributions of Water Saving to a Climate Resilient Europe

ETC-BE Report 2025/1

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Cover of a TESS Briefing Note titled “Identifying and Tackling Environmentally Harmful Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO: Note on Greenhouse Gas Emissions” by Anthony Cox, published in May 2025. The cover features a photo of black and white dairy cows grazing on green grass.
Prepared by Anthony Cox (Senior Policy Advisor at Ecologic Institute), this briefing note offers an up-to-date overview of how the agricultural sector contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It identifies key social, economic, and environmental trade-offs and highlights the importance of context when assessing emission impacts. The note also provides guidance on prioritising reforms of agricultural subsidies.

Identifying and Tackling Environmentally Harmful Agricultural Subsidies in the WTO

Note on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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Publication:Report
 
This ECNO report assesses transparency and policy information in the final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of four EU countries: France, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden. The report evaluates whether these plans provide a sufficient blueprint for achieving national climate targets.

Delivering 2030 Climate Targets

A snapshot of the transparency and policy information gaps of Member States' NECPs

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Publication:Brochure
 
Coverpage of publication "Arbeitshilfe zur Planung und Genehmigung von Moorschutzvorhaben in Niedersachsen"
Rewetting peatlands – but how? This new guide provides an overview of the key steps involved in planning, financing and authorising peatland protection projects in Lower Saxony, as well as the associated measures. Commissioned by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the brochure features contributions from Felix Dengler and Ulf Stein on behalf of the Ecologic Institute.

Arbeitshilfe zur Planung und Genehmigung von Moorschutzvorhaben in Niedersachsen

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Publication:Document
 
The image shows the cover of a discussion paper titled 'Climate Targets for EU Member States after 2030: Functions and Options.' The paper is authored by Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf (Ecologic Institute), Sabine Gores (Oeko-Institut), and Jakob Graichen (Oeko-Institut). The publication is from 10 April 2025 and includes the logos of Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut.
A new paper by the Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut discusses how to design climate target for Member States. The paper explores seven options how to best design national climate targets for the time after 2030. This paper is available for download.

Climate Targets for EU Member States after 2030

Functions and Options

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Cover of the OECD Net Zero+ Policy Paper No. 8 titled “A place-based approach to climate action and resilience.” The cover features images of green skyscrapers covered in plants, a woman riding a bicycle next to a tram, and wind turbines in a field. The OECD and Net Zero+ logos are also included.
Current climate action is falling short of meeting global climate goals. To get back on track, action is needed at all levels. Place-based climate action – i.e. policies targeted or tailored to the circumstances of different places – can work with the grain of local markets, leverage the funding and powers of sub-national governments and mobilise local communities to deliver meaningful change. This paper, prepared by Anthony Cox (Senior Policy Advisor at Ecologic Institute), reviews the case for place-based climate policies and actions and outlines challenges and opportunities.

A Place-based Approach to Climate Action and Resilience

OECD Net Zero+ Policy Papers No.8

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the reporrt with flag of the European Union in the background
This report presents the conclusions of the study titled "Macro-economic / Top-down Assessment of Climate Impacts on the EU Economy." Commissioned to assist the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), the study explores how climate change-induced hazards may influence the EU's socio-economic landscape. Its central aim is to deliver both qualitative and quantitative perspectives on the broader macro-economic effects of significant climate hazards. It also investigates how these climate-related shocks ripple through different sectors of the economy. By compiling and analysing relevant data, the study provides a knowledge base to help the European Commission assess how such impacts could potentially challenge the EU’s ability to meet its climate mitigation objectives.

Macro-economic / Top-down Assessment of Climate Impacts on the EU Economy

Final Report

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Publication:Video
 
This video, produced within the REACHOUT project, focuses on the Fluvial Flooding hazard, and showcases how climate service tools can be applied in real-world urban policy challenges. It serves as a visual guide to help municipal representatives, local consultants, and service providers understand and implement these tools effectively.

Increasing Flood Resilience: tools for city planners

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Publication:Video
 
This video, produced within the REACHOUT project, focuses on the Urban Heat climate hazard, and showcases how climate service tools can be applied in real-world urban policy challenges. It serves as a visual guide to help municipal representatives, local consultants, and service providers understand and implement these tools effectively.

Tackling Urban Heat: tools for city planners

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Publication:Report
 
Deckblatt
D3.6 presents an expanded set of over 15 climate service tools developed within the REACHOUT project. Aligned with the Triple-A framework, the tools support cities across all adaptation phases and have been tested through co-creation with seven European City Hubs. The report highlights practical applications, integration potential, and readiness levels—laying the groundwork for a future digital platform.

Guidelines for Climate Service Tools

Deliverable 3.6 of Horizon 2020 project REACHOUT

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Publication:Report
 
Cover page of the REACHOUT project report “D3.7: Guidelines for climate service tools”. The image features the REACHOUT logo with the subtitle “shaping climate resilient cities”, a list of contributing authors from various European institutions, and the EU funding acknowledgment at the bottom. The design includes colorful rounded shapes in blue, green, and turquoise.
As part of the EU-funded REACHOUT project, a comprehensive suite of climate service tools has been developed to support cities in addressing climate adaptation challenges. The newly released Guidelines for Climate Service Tools provide a structured overview of more than 20 technical and soft tools, as well as supporting consultancy services, all integrated into the Triple-A Toolkit – a web-based platform designed to enhance urban climate resilience. The tools address the full policy cycle of adaptation by covering the phases of Analysis, Ambition, and Action, and have been tested and refined through extensive co-creation with seven European City Hubs.

Guidelines for Climate Service Tools

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Publication:Report
 
The image shows a collage with two pictures: on the left, an aerial view of green, forested areas and wetlands, indicating nature-based carbon removal, and on the right, an industrial scene with large tanks and pipes, symbolizing technological carbon capture methods. The text below reads: 'Scaling up carbon dioxide removals. Recommendations for navigating opportunities and risks in the EU.' The image is from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.
This report explores options for scaling up carbon dioxide removals in the EU, considering respective costs, risks and opportunities. This assessment, covering both carbon sinks in the land sector and novel solutions, involves analyses of the status and potential of carbon dioxide removals in the EU, key policy needs and gaps, as well as policy recommendations for a robust EU governance of carbon dioxide removals.

Scaling up Carbon Dioxide Removals

Recommendations for navigating opportunities and risks in the EU

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of Ecologic Institute's report entitled "Integrating Hydrogen Emissions Into the EU Policy Framework. Why hydrogen emissions matter, when they will become significant, and how the EU can tackle them"
While hydrogen (H2) emissions make up a negligible fraction of today's GHG emissions, they are set to become more significant in the 2030s and, should the EU and the global community progress towards climate neutrality, will likely be substantial in the 2040s, as achieving climate neutrality requires the expansion of hydrogen use alongside the rapid reduction of other GHGs. As decisions made today will shape hydrogen value chains for decades, this paper develops a series of policy proposals to implement a four-pronged strategy.

Integrating Hydrogen Emissions Into the EU Policy Framework

Why hydrogen emissions matter, when they will become significant, and how the EU can tackle them

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the CREDIBLE deliverable 2.1 entitled "Report on Options for Standards to Ensure Environmental Integrity and Uptake" authored by Ecologic Institute's Hugh McDonald, Julia Pazmino Murillo, Aaron Scheid (Ecologic Institute)
This Deliverable presents the work of the CREDIBLE Focus Group 2.1, "Minimum requirements to ensure carbon farming delivers sustainability benefits". The objective of the Focus Group and the goal of this document is to make recommendations on how the CRCF can maximize the positive impact of carbon farming on biodiversity, adaptation, water and other sustainability outcomes, at the same time as mitigating climate change.

Options for Standards to Ensure Environmental Integrity and Uptake

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Publication:Infographic
 
Illustration of a future scenario titled "If We Finally Take Action…" depicting a sustainable landscape in 20 to 30 years. The negative scenario shows the consequences of inadequate climate protection. Plus symbols highlight different aspects of sustainable development. The graphic is created by NABU/Ecologic Institute.
This interactive infographic shows what the future could look like in 20 to 30 years - in two scenarios: one with resolute climate protection and another scenario that leaves everything as it is. The intention is to make the consequences of climate change more tangible and to illustrate the urgency of climate protection measures.

Wie sehen die Folgen der Klimakrise aus?

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the final report titled "Analysis of Ten Selected Crediting Methodologies for Climate-Friendly Soil Management," published by the German Environment Agency in February 2025.
This report, commissioned by the German Environment Agency and co-authored by Ecologic Institute, contains a detailed assessment of ten crediting methodologies on climate-friendly soil management measures. These crediting methodologies are examples of result-based payment and offsetting approaches to fund enhanced carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural practices. Our evaluation of these certification methodologies covers key aspects, including emission quantification, baseline setting, additionality, risk management, environmental and social impacts, and governance. We find many weaknesses with the assessed methodologies.

Analysis of ten Selected Crediting Methodologies for Climate-friendly Soil Management

Annex to the report "Funding Climate-friendly Soil Management"

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Publication:Report
 
The report, titled "Funding Climate-Friendly Soil Management: Appropriate Policy Instruments and Limits of Market-Based Approaches", is part of the Climate Change series (01/2025) and published by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt). It serves as a final report examining funding mechanisms for climate-friendly soil practices. The cover features a blue background with the agency's logo at the bottom.
Soils are vital for climate mitigation, storing substantial carbon. This report, co-authored by Ecologic Institute's Hugh McDonald, Aaron Scheid and Dr. Ana Frelih-Larsen, examines funding approaches to promote climate-friendly soil management in Europe, focusing on two models: action-based and result-based. Action-based funding supports specific activities but doesn't ensure measurable outcomes, while result-based funding ties payments to verified results, encouraging innovation but involving higher costs and monitoring. Result-based funding approaches can be challenging in the context of soil carbon, with offsetting approaches found to be particularly risky.

Funding Climate-friendly Soil Management

Appropriate policy instruments and limits of market-based approaches

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Publication:Report
 
Cover des Endberichts
Kemper, Melanie; Christin Dammann; Johanna Henkel; Juliane Petri 2024: Kommunikation zur Umsetzung von Moorschutz in Brandenburg – Empfehlungen und Handreichungen. Ecologic Institut und Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege. Unpublished.

Kommunikation zur Umsetzung von Moorschutz in Brandenburg

Empfehlungen und Handreichungen

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Cover of the Policy Paper "Between climate action and competitiveness: towards a coherent industrial policy in the EU" by Ecologic Institute
This new report from Ecologic Institute, PIK and IER discusses what EU industrial policy should look like, what principles it should follow and how it interacts with the set of existing EU climate and energy policies. The report proposes six principles for an EU industrial policy for climate action and discusses the 'industrial policy trilemma' of navigating goals in climate action, competitiveness, and security.

Between Climate Action and Competitiveness: Towards a coherent industrial policy in the EU

Principles for an EU industrial policy for climate action

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Publication:Report
 
Cover des Teilberichts
Kemper, Melanie; Elisa Thomaset und Jennifer Reck 2024: Von Niederungsmanagement bis Versumpfung: Kommunikation zur Umsetzung von Moorschutz. Medienresonanz- und Kommunikationsanalyse in den moorreichen deutschen Bundesländern. Ecologic Institut, Berlin. Unpublished.

Von Niederungsmanagement bis Versumpfung: Kommunikation zur Umsetzung von Moorschutz

Medienresonanz- und Kommunikationsanalyse in den moorreichen deutschen Bundesländern

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Publication:Document
 
Dr Ralph Bodle, Arne Riedel and Dr Stephan Sina from Ecologic Institute's Legal Team are among the authors of the comprehensive legal commentary on climate change law (BeckOK Klimarecht), which was published by C. H. Beck on their online platform in December 2024. The commentary is edited by Prof Ekkehard Hofmann and Dr Franziska Heß and is the first to cover climate-related laws and treaties at international, European and national level.

BeckOK Klimarecht

Legal commentaries on Climate Law

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Publication:Book
 
Cover of a WWF publication titled “Handbook of Agricultural Measures for Enhancing Water Retention, Water Quality and Biodiversity in Germany.” The image shows an aerial view of a vibrant landscape: a yellow agricultural field adjacent to a dense green forest strip, with a winding river separating forested areas. The WWF logo with a panda is in the upper left corner.
Germany is under increasing water stress, despite rising precipitation and extreme weather. The core issue lies not in rainfall quantity, but in the inability of our anthropogenically modified landscape to retain water. The Handbook of Agricultural Measures for Enhancing Water Retention, Water Quality and Biodiversity addresses this challenge head-on. Developed with farmers and advisors in mind, it presents field-tested and scientifically evaluated nature-based solutions for agricultural water management. These measures do not compete with productivity—they ensure long-term agricultural viability in a changing climate.

Handbook of Agricultural Measures for Enhancing Water Retention, Water Quality and Biodiversity in Germany

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
A teal-colored policy brief cover titled "Ensuring carbon farming delivers sustainability benefits: Recommendations for carbon farming certification methodologies." It is associated with Project CREDIBLE, focused on building trust in soil carbon farming within the EU. The document notes European Union funding under Grant Agreement nº 101112951 and includes the project website link, www.project-credible.eu. Logos and design elements in the footer show a stylized "C" and patterns resembling leaves.
Carbon farming allows farmers to mitigate climate change, but these practices also impact other sustainability outcomes, including biodiversity, soil health, and water. In this brief, we propose how the EU's regulation establishing a Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Certification Framework (CRCF) can ensure that carbon farming also delivers sustainability benefits, in the context of carbon farming on mineral soils.

Ensuring Carbon Farming Delivers Sustainability Benefits

Recommendations for carbon farming certification methodologies

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