Trade | Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World

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Publication

Investigating Options for Different Compliance Systems for PEF and OEF Declarations

Determining environmental impacts of products is complex. In this study, BIO IS, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and the Ecologic Institute investigated approaches for verifying that claims made by companies on the environmental properties of products or their own overall environmental performance are correct. The study was commissioned by the European Commission, DG Environment. The Ecologic Institute contributed an analysis on the law of the World Trade Organziation as far as relevant for related policy measures. The report is available for download.Read more

Publication

Welthandelsrechtliche Grenzen des Ausbaus erneuerbarer Energien

Final Report

As renewable energy sources are more widely used and corresponding support systems expanded, the economic significance of the sector is also growing. This, in turn, also leads to a growing potential for trade disputes involving renewable energy production. This study on renewable energy law presents the international legal framework relevant to support systems for renewable energy, notably WTO law. A particular focus is on local-content requirements existing in this sectors as well as on trade remedy procedures. The study (in German) is available for download, including an English summary.Read more

Publication

How Crisis-resistant and Competitive are Europe's Eco-Industries?

This short study that Ecologic Institute produced for the Greens in the European Parliament, examines the competitiveness of European Eco-Industries. The key finding is that Eco-Industries have been a source of economic growth, particularly at times when other parts of the economy contracted. The short study is available for download.Read more

Publication

Investor-state Dispute Settlement under TTIP - a Risk for Environmental Regulation?

In this study for the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Christiane Gerstetter and Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf of Ecologic Institute look at the "I" in TTIP, investment rules in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership under negotiation between the US and the EU. They assess the impact of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) rules on environmental regulation by analysing existing case law. The study is available for download.Read more

Presentation

Speech

Trade

Ecologic Legal

TTIP: Hope or Hype – or a Risk to the Environment?

TimeLoc

14 December 2013

Heidelberg

Germany

Dr. Christiane Gerstetter

On 14 December 2013, Ecologic Institute's Christiane Gerstetter discussed the potential impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on environmental regulation. She identified real risks for the future regulatory freedom of the involved parties if certain clauses currently under discussion were to be agreed upon. In conclusion, she found the risks posed by TTIP from an environmental point of view to be greater than potential benefits. The presentation is available for download.Read more

Project

Finance

Trade

Ecologic Legal

Investor-state Dispute Resolution under TTIP

December 2013

Rule on investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) offer investors the possibility to sue their host states for alleged breaches of an investment agreement. Are such rules in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement necessary? What risks are there for environmental regulation? Will states have to pay compensation for environmental protection measures? The Ecologic Institute analyzed the potential influence of ISDS rules in TTIP on environmental regulation. The resulting study is available online.Read more

Event

Lessons from the Energiewende for the US Context

TimeLoc

27 November 2013

Berlin

Germany

Speaker

Amory Lovins

At an Ecologic Institute Dinner Dialogue on 27 November 2013, Co-founder and CEO of the Rockey Mountain Institute (RMI), Armory Lovins, discussed successes and challenges of the German Energiewende with a group of German energy and climate experts.Read more

Project

Competitiveness of Europe's Eco-Industries

November 2013 to December 2013

How competitive are Eco-Industries in Europe - and how well have they fared during the economic crisis? This is the central question of a short study that the Ecologic Institute produced for the Greens in the European Parliament. The key finding is that Eco-Industries have been a source of growth, particularly at times when other parts of the economy contracted. The study is available for download.

Output growth of Eco-Industries

The empirical analysis consisted of two components: first, an analysis of output growth in the segment of "low-carbon environmental goods andRead more

Publication

Legal Implications of TTIP for the Acquis Communautaire in ENVI Relevant Sectors

Ecologic Institute and BIO IS were commissioned by the European Parliament to investigate the potential impacts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the EU’s environmental and food safety policies and the EU’s right to regulate. TTIP is currently being negotiated between the US and the EU. The study provides recommendations regarding the role of the European Parliament in the negotiation of TTIP. The study is available for download.Read more

Publication

Information Collection and Impact Assessment of Possible Requirements for Environmental Inspections

in the area of EU legislation on water, nature protection and trade in certain environmentally sensitive goods

The objectives of the report were to provide information on how inspections are currently being undertaken for selected Member States in the policy areas of water, nature protection and CITES so as to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, combined with information from other studies, the study developed options that could be taken forward at EU level to strengthen inspection and control and it assessed the impacts of those options. Read more