In this study, Ecologic Institute researchers Timo Kaphengst and Lucy Smith summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the increasing share of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in developing countries. The accrued benefits and/or disadvantages vary widely across the reviewed countries and depend on the governance structures of each country. On the one hand, GM crops can increase export revenues; on the other hand, developing countries' resulting dependency on Western biotechnology companies could grow and threaten local farmers, especially smaller ones. Moreover, GMOs are leading to a reduction in biodiversity. In light of this, the authors recommend that GM crops no longer be promoted in developing countries. The study is available for download.

Caste-based discrimination is a serious human rights violation negatively affecting the political, economic, social, cultural, and civil rights of approximately 260 million people worldwide. This briefing by Susanne Langsdorf (Ecologic Institute) for the European Parliament aims to assess to what extent the EU has integrated the fight against caste-based discrimination in its external relations. Light is shed on the specific situations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Yemen and the European Union's actions to address caste-based discrimination in these countries. Based on the analysis, the briefing elaborates recommendations on how the EU can mainstream the fight against caste-based discrimination into policies, strategies and programmes as well as dialogues with countries with caste systems. The briefing is available for download.

Kuikman, P.J., E. Andersen, B.S. Elbersen, A. Frelih Larsen, P.J. Jones, S. Naumann, J.J. Oñate, I. Staritsky (2013). EU wide Farm-level Carbon Calculator: data availability at farm level for farms across EU-27. A report on Deliverable 1 to the Institute of Environment and Sustainability (JRC/IES) by Alterra - WageningenUR, Wageningen, The Netherlands. 73 pp.

This report for the City of Hamburg highlights that climate change adaptation is a dynamic process with many uncertainties. A core message for public sector institutions is to "bear climate adaptation in mind," especially through the integration of climate change concerns in upcoming decisions and the implementation of measures that have co-benefits today. Furthermore, adaptation activities should begin today if the costs of adaptation potentially remain constant over time or tend to rise. The case studies investigated also indicate that the evaluation of measures must take into account local conditions.

For the third time, Ecologic Institute conducted a study on the role of local and regional authorities (LRA) in the Europe 2020 National Reform Programmes (NRP) of the EU member states. The new results and their comparison with the 2011 and 2012 studies (for the core set of questions) permit a number of conclusions. While progress is made in many countries and areas, greater progress still needs to be made concerning the involvement of LRAs in the preparation of NRPs. The study is available for download.

Ecologic Institute (2013): Ostseeküste 2100 – auf dem Weg zu regionaler Klimaanpassung. Ergebnisse der RADOST-Tour 2012. Berlin. RADOST- Report Series, Report No. 16.

On 19 December 2012, the first monitoring report from the Federal Government and the joint statement from the expert commissions about the "Energy of the Future" monitoring process were presented. The independent expert commission, composed of Prof. Dr. Andreas Löschel, Prof. Dr. Georg Erdmann, Prof. Dr. Frithjof Staiß, and Dr. Hans-Joachim Ziesing, provided scientific support and delivered a joint statement on the monitoring process, which should show progress towards the German "Energiewende", and with it a highly efficient energy system based on renewable sources by the year 2050,. Ecologic Institute provided scientific support to this work with a focus on the key topics that Dr. Hans-Joachim Ziesing and the expert commission selected for their joint statement. The joint statement is available for download.

Ecologic Institute (2012), Study on "Implementation report for Directive 2006/21/EC2 on the management of waste from extractive industries (Mining Waste Directive)", Final Report prepared for. DG Environment – European Commission

Srebotnjak, Dr. Tanja et al. 2012: Is Emergency Department Closure Resulting in Increased Distance to the Nearest Emergency Department Associated with Increased Inpatient Mortality?

It is difficult to deny the fact that Earth's climate is changing. Almost all scientists consider the emission of greenhouse gases, mainly through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to be one of the main reasons. The impacts of climate change include rising average and extreme temperatures, shifting patterns in snow- and rainfall, and rising sea levels. These changes threaten not only fragile ecological equilibria but also our economies and societies. Ecologic Institute's Senior Fellow Tanja Srebotnjak was involved in the indicator review for the report "Climate Change Indicators in the United States, 2012," published in December 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Fehér, János et al. 2012: Hydromorphological alterations and pressures in European rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters. VITUKI, NIVA, IWRS, Ecologic, Ecologic Institute, Stichting Deltares, SYKE, CENIA, Prague. ISBN: 978-80-85087-98-7.

This report evaluates the National Climate Initiative which aims at reducing German greenhouse gas emissions by 40% until 2020. In detail, 21 individual projects, 4 directives and 3 increases from 2008 to 2011 are examined.

This report contains the results of a survey of the EU Committee of the Regions about the impacts of the financial and economic crisis on SMEs. It points out how the affected regions and cities reacted to this challenge by supporting their local businesses in various ways. Furthermore it concentrates on the question, whether these steps were of any help and what could have been solved in a better way. The report is available for download.

The European Union needs a common vision for its energy future. A shift towards renewable energy sources will increase security of supply, improve the competitiveness of the European economy, and put Europe on a path towards sustainability. The Heinrich Böll Foundation commissioned a working group of experts from different backgrounds to provide a collection of policy ideas for two key areas that will define the future of renewable energy development in Europe: grids, and support and remuneration schemes for renewable energy technologies. The report 'A European Union for Renewable Energy' was co-authored by Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Partner of Ecologic Institute and Susanne Langsdorf, researcher at Ecologic Institute. The study is available for download.

This study about the costs and benefits of adaptation measures in Germany shows that many such measures can deliver results and are economically viable. Included here are green roofs that protect against heat waves in cities, the restoration of floodplains, and heat-resistant asphalt for street cover. Measures to increase awareness of adaptation opportunities were also found to have positive effects.