ALBERT

Description: Earth's climate can be understood as a dynamical system that changes due to external forcing and internal couplings. Essential climate variables, such as surface air temperature, describe this dynamics. Our current interglacial, the Holocene (11 700 yr ago to today), has been characterized by small variations in global mean temperature prior to anthropogenic warming. However, the mechanisms and spatiotemporal patterns of fluctuations around this mean, called temperature variability, are poorly understood despite their socioeconomic relevance for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Here we examine discrepancies between temperature variability from model simulations and paleoclimate reconstructions by categorizing the scaling behavior of local and global surface air temperature on the timescale of years to centuries. To this end, we contrast power spectral densities (PSD) and their power-law scaling using simulated and observation-based temperature series of the last 6000 yr. We further introduce the spectral gain to disentangle the externally forced and internally generated variability as a function of timescale. It is based on our estimate of the joint PSD of radiative forcing, which exhibits a scale break around the period of 7 yr. We find that local temperature series from paleoclimate reconstructions show a different scaling behavior than simulated ones, with a tendency towards stronger persistence (i.e., correlation between successive values within a time series) on periods of 10 to 200 yr. Conversely, the PSD and spectral gain of global mean temperature are consistent across data sets. Our results point to the limitation of climate models to fully represent local temperature statistics over decades to centuries. By highlighting the key characteristics of temperature variability, we pave a way to better constrain possible changes in temperature variability with global warming and assess future climate risks.

Description: This dataset contains PISM simulation results of the Antarctic Ice Sheet based on code release v1.0-paleo-ensemble (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3574033). PISM is the open-source Parallel Ice Sheet Model developed mainly at UAF, USA and PIK, Germany. See documentation in https://www.pism.io. These are additional netCDF data from the same ensemble simulations already stored in doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.909728. 1) 1000-year snapshots since 125000 years before present, of ice thickness, bed topography, change in bed topography, floating/grounded mask, surface elevation, basal melt rate and vertically averaged velocity magnitude (SIA+SSA) (16GB) 2) 5000-year snapshots since 125000 years before present, SSA velocity components in x and y direction (8GB)

Description: Despite the well-known limitations of linear stability theory in describing nonlinear and turbulent flows, it has been found to accurately capture the transitions between certain nonlinear flow behavior. Specifically, the transition in heat flux scaling in rotating convective flows can be well predicted by applying a linear stability analysis to simple profiles of a convective boundary layer. This fact motivates the present study of the linear mechanisms involved in the stability properties of simple convective setups subject to rotation. We look at an idealized two-layer setup and gradually add complexity by including rotation, a bounded domain, and viscosity. The two-layer setup has the advantage of allowing for the use of wave interaction theory, traditionally applied to understand stratified and homogeneous shear flow instabilities, in order to quantify the various physical mechanisms leading to the growth of convective instabilities. We quantitatively show that the physical mechanisms involved in the stabilization of convection by rotation take two different forms acting within the stratified interfacial region, and in the homogeneous mixed layers. The latter of these we associate with the tendency of a rotating flow to develop Taylor columns (TCs). This TC mechanism can lead to both a stabilization or destabilization of the instability and varies depending on the parameters of the problem. A simple criterion is found for classifying the influence of these physical mechanisms.

Description: Marine Ökosysteme wie Mangrovenwälder, Seegraswiesen, Salzwiesen und Makroalgen sowie marine Sedimente verfügen über die Eigenschaft, Kohlenstoff in ihrer Biomasse und Sedimenten zu speichern. Durch die Rehabilitation, Wiederherstellung und den Schutz dieser Ökosysteme kann somit das Potential des Ozeans zur Aufnahme von atmosphärischem CO2 erhöht werden. Dieses Potential wurde in Vorbereitung der 15. UN-Klimakonferenz in Kopenhagen 2009 unter dem Konzept „Blue Carbon" eingeführt und wird seitdem weiter erforscht und in politischen Prozessen weiterentwickelt. Die langfristige Sequestrierung von atmosphärischem CO2 durch Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme unterstützt Umsetzungsprozesse zur Erreichung der Ziele des Pariser Abkommens. Das über Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme sequestrierte CO2 zählt als Teil der globalen Kohlenstoffsenke als „negative Emissionen". So erreichte negative Emissionen sollten jedoch nicht zur Umgehung von ohnehin notwendigen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Schritten in Richtung einer CO2-neutralen Zukunft führen. Die Wiederherstellung und Rehabilitation von Blue-Carbon-Ökosystemen zur Erhöhung der natürlichen Kohlenstoffsenke des Planeten sollte zusätzlich zu einer signifikanten globalen Emissionsreduktion eingesetzt werden. Diese Studie erörtert die wissenschaftlichen, ökonomischen und politischen Fortschritte im Bereich Blue Carbon und stellt mögliche politische Handlungspfade vor, die das Potential von Blue-Carbon-Ökosystemen zum Klimaschutz in, durch und mit Deutschland stärken. Für die verschiedenen Blue-Carbon-Ökosysteme wird aufgezeigt, inwiefern die Ausweitung und der Schutz dieser Ökosystemen weitere Ziele der Klimaanpassung und der nachhaltigen Entwicklung unterstützen. Aufbauend auf einer Auswertung praktischer Umsetzungsbeispiele von Blue-Carbon-Projekten und möglicher Finanzierungsmechanismen wird nachfolgend ein politischer Handlungsleitpfaden für Deutschland in Bezug auf Blue Carbon entwickelt. Die politischen Handlungsempfehlungen wurden gemeinsam mit dem Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Nukleare Sicherheit entwickelt.

Description: Marine ecosystems like mangroves forests, seagrass meadows, salt marshes and macroalgae can store carbon in their biomass and sediments. Rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of these ecosystems can increase the potential for atmospheric carbon uptake by the ocean. This concept was first introduced as ‘blue carbon’ during the preparation for the 15th UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 and since then it has seen continuous incorporation into politics and research. The long-term sequestration of atmospheric CO2 via blue carbon ecosystems supports the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement. The CO2 that is sequestered by blue carbon ecosystems is part of the global carbon sink and therefore it can be counted as ‘negative emissions’ in the global carbon stocktake. However, such negative emissions should not be implemented as a substitute for necessary political and economic measures towards a carbon neutral future. Rehabilitation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems as a natural carbon sink is one of many measures but cannot replace the significant reduction of global emissions needed for the realisation of the global climate targets. This study discusses the scientific, economic and political realm of blue carbon. Furthermore, possible courses for political action “in”, “by”, and “through” Germany that could strengthen the potential of blue carbon ecosystems to sequester carbon are explored. The study investigates a variety of blue carbon ecosystems to determine to what extent the expansion and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems can support additional climate adaptation targets and Sustainable Development Goals. The evaluation of a multitude of implemented and ongoing blue carbon projects across the globe gives insight to best practices and possible financing mechanisms. A political guideline for Germany regarding blue carbon was developed together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Description: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a fundamental component of all life on Earth. Due to the considerable increase in emissions, particularly industrial emissions, CO2has, however, become a waste product and greenhouse gas damaging to the climate and, consequently, a threat to both humanity and nature. For almost 50years, chemical research has been pursuing the idea of making the CO2 molecule useful as a raw material(Aresta and Dibenedetto 2010). Within the context of the oil crises of the 1970s, and contingent on the currentneed for climate protection, there has been a rise in global interest in the research and development oftechnologies which could make CO2 useful as a source of carbon. Several regions in Europe, but also in North America and Asia have started sponsorship programmes to support the development of such technologies (BMBF 2014, Climate-KIC 2014, U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] n.d.).The goal of these efforts is to integrate this climatedamaging gas in extremely diverse industrial productionprocesses as a raw material. The use of CO2 would not only allow for the production of useful raw materials and products, such technologies could alsoemulate a natural carbon cycle (Peters et al. 2011). At the same time, they have the potential to reduce the consumption of other fossil resources and, in so doing, they might not only contribute to the extension of the resource base, but also reduce missionswhilst providing protection for natural resources (von der Assen et al. 2013). Technological breakthroughs and advancements are currently observedin carbon capture technologies in the catalysis and transformation of CO2 (Aresta 2010, Mikkelsen et al. 2010, Peters et al. 2011, Styring et al. 2011, Wilcox 2012, Smit et al. 2014, Klankermayer and Leitner 2015), and the first innovative CO2-based productsare already coming onto the markets.

Description: Kohlenstoffdioxid (CO2) ist ein Grundbaustein allen Lebens auf der Erde. Mittlerweile ist CO2 jedochdurch den starken Anstieg vor allem industrieller Emissionen als klimaschädlicher Abfall und Treibhausgas zu einer Bedrohung für Menschheit und Natur geworden. Bereits seit fast 50 Jahren verfolgt die chemische Forschung die Idee, das Molekül CO2 als Rohstoff nutzbar zu machen (Aresta & Dibenedetto 2010). Im Kontext der Ölkrisen in den 1970er-Jahren und bedingt durch die Erfordernisse des aktuellen Klimaschutzes stieg weltweit das Interesse an der Erforschung und Entwicklung von Technologien, die CO2 als Kohlenstoffquelle nutzen könnten.Etliche Regionen in Europa, aber auch in Nordamerika und Asien haben Förderprogramme ins Leben gerufen, die solche Technologieentwicklungen unterstützen (BMBF 2013, Climate-KIC 2014, US DOE o. D.-b).Das Ziel dieser Bemühungen ist es, das klimaschädliche Gas als Rohstoff in ganz unterschiedliche industrielleProduktionsprozesse einzubinden. Hiermit könnten mithilfe von CO2 nicht nur nützliche Grundstoffe und Produkte hergestellt werden. Vielmehr imitieren diese Technologien auch einen natürlichen Kohlenstoffkreislauf (Peters et al. 2011). Gleichzeitighaben sie das Potenzial, den Verbrauch anderer fossiler Ressourcen zu verringern und somit möglicherweisenicht nur zur Erweiterung der Rohstoffbasis, sondern auch zur Schonung natürlicher Ressourcenund zur Emissionsverminderung beizutragen (von der Assen, Jung & Bardow 2013). Technologische Durchbrüche und Fortschritte sind derzeit sowohl in den Abscheidungstechnologien als auch in der Katalyse und Umwandlung von CO2 zu beobachten (Aresta 2010, Klankermayer & Leitner 2015, Mikkelsen, Jorgensen& Krebs 2010, Peters et al. 2011, Smit, Park & Gadikota 2014, Styring et al. 2011, Wilcox 2012). Erste neuartige CO2-basierte Produkte erreichen aktuelldie Märkte.

Description: Die Bundesregierung hat den Kohleausstieg bis zum Jahr 2038 beschlossen und beschleunigt so die Transformation in den Kohleregionen. Die Ausgangslagen für den Wandel in den Revieren und umliegende Gemeinden der Lausitz und des Rheinlands sind dabei sehr unterschiedlich. In beiden Regionen stehen Politik, Zivilgesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft vor der Aufgabe, Lösungspfade und Transformationskorridore zu finden, die ökologisch verantwortlich, sozial gerecht, wirtschaftlich vielversprechend und demokratisch getragen sind. Das IASS Potsdam veranstaltete im Frühjahr 2020 gemeinsam mit dem Kulturwissenschaftlichen Institut Essen einen Workshop, um demokratiepolitische Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede im Strukturwandel der Braunkohleregionen herauszuarbeiten. Die Zwischenergebnisse werden in dieser Studie dargestellt.

Description: This IASS study takes an in-depth look at Covid-19's impacts on the global energy sector, and then zooms in to the country level to see individual country effects and responses. The case studies are compiled by energy researchers in Argentina, China, Germany, India, Israel, and the United States.

Description: People living or working in the Arctic are faced with uncertainty regarding future social, political, economic, and environmental change. This uncertainty is due not least to the ongoing transformations caused by climate change. This paper presents results from a project entitled “Yamal 2040: Scenarios for the Russian Arctic”, which employed ‘Strategic Foresight’, a specific co-design and engagement methodology, to support stakeholders of one particular region in the Arctic, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamal region) in Western Siberia, Russia. It was the project’s objective to respond to this situation of general uncertainty, to develop forward-looking scenarios to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with future transformations in the Arctic. The findings presented here may be of interest for stakeholders in other parts of the Arctic and Russia that depend on the exploitation of fossil fuels and/or are facing complex and uncertain situations.

Description: In dem Discussion Paper werden die Bedingungen und Herausforderungen für den transformativen Forschungsansatz des IASS diskutiert.

Description: Este documento sirve de pauta orientativa para quienes deseen colaborar con las Organizaciones Regionales de Ordenación Pesquera (OROP) y explica cómo lograr medidas de conservación en una OROP, mediante el establecimiento de decisiones jurídicamente vinculantes. Se trata de una destilación de experiencias personales que incluye éxitos, fracasos y reflexiones sobre algunos de los aspectos más arcanos o complejos de las OROP. El propósito de este documento es el imperativo del proyecto STRONG High Seas: explorar el fracturado régimen de gobernanza de los océanos y, más explícitamente, ofrecer orientación práctica para apoyar la implementación de la conservación espacial en alta mar. Por lo tanto, este trabajo se enmarca en el contexto de la obtención de medidas de conservación espacial, usando ejemplos de otros esfuerzos de conservación de la biodiversidad a la vez que ofrece orientación para lograr medidas vinculantes para cualquier asunto, en cualquier OROP.

Description: The challenges facing European regions undergoing structural transformations as they transition towards sustainable development pathways have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Straddling the border between Germany and Poland, Lusatia is experiencing considerable transformation pressure. Various domestic and European funding programmes, for example under the umbrella of the European Green Deal, are intended to cushion the impacts of the phase-out or reduction of coal-fired power generation. The recently adopted EU Just Transition Mechanism aims to support sustainable structural transformations and the broader goal of achieving climate neutrality by mitigating impacts on the workforce and contributing to the diversification of economies in the most affected areas. Funds made available through this mechanism should be deployed in consultation with regional stakeholders in Lusatia to complement national support measures. Further funding programmes are available targeting various policy areas and could be harnessed to strengthen integration throughout the region. Funding programmes that are centrally managed by the European Commission (i.e. not under shared management with national governments) are of particular interest in this context. Closer political and economic cooperation, coupled with a deeper exchange of experience, can accelerate regional integration and guide processes of structural transformation towards sustainable outcomes. However, there are some practical hurdles to overcome in border regions. The primary objectives in using available EU funding are to mitigate the social impacts of processes of structural transformation and to deliver a just transition at all levels. Measures funded through these programmes should be aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and contribute to the goal of achieving climate neutrality.

Description: Ce rapport a été préparé dans le cadre du projet STRONG High Seas, à partir d’une série d’enquêtes menées auprès des parties prenantes et de l’expérience tirée de divers ateliers organisés dans la région de l’Atlantique du Sud-Est, ainsi que d’études documentaires et d’avis d’experts. Le rapport a été revu par plusieurs experts dans le but de valider les résultats et de garantir la rigueur du contenu. Ce document s’inscrit dans une série de rapports couvrant les questions de gouvernance des océans en mettant l’accent sur les ZAJN du Pacifique du Sud-Est et de l’Atlantique du SudEst et s’appuie sur les rapports précédents publiés par le projet STRONG High Seas. Les autres rapports du projet portent sur le cadre juridique et institutionnel applicable aux ZAJN, l’état écologique et l’importance socio-économique des ZAJN dans les régions du projet, les options de gestion et les mesures de conservation de la biodiversité marine dans les ZAJN, et les considérations relatives à la gestion intégrée des océans. Ces rapports sont disponibles sur le site web du projet STRONG High Seas.

Description: Mit der Neuauflage der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie hat die Bundesregierung die Wissenschaft zur Bildung einer Plattform aufgefordert, die systematisch in die Steuerungs-, Dialog- und Umsetzungsprozesse der Agenda 2030 und somit die neue Nachhaltigkeitsarchitektur eingebunden ist. Träger der Plattform sind die internationalen wissenschaftlichen Netzwerke Sustainable Development Solutions Network Germany (SDSN Germany), das Deutsche Komitee für Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in Future Earth (DKN Future Earth) sowie das Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), das zusätzlich die Geschäftsstelle der Wissenschaftsplattform beherbergt. Die inhaltliche und operative Ausgestaltung der Arbeit der Plattform liegt in der Verantwortung des Lenkungskreises aus derzeit 26 Mitgliedern aus Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und organisierter Zivilgesellschaft. Der Lenkungskreis formuliert das Arbeitsprogramm und initiiert Arbeitsprozesse sowie die Vernetzung mit weiteren Akteuren aus Wissenschaft, Politik, Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft, um eine effektive wie auch repräsentative und international verankerte Plattform aufzubauen. Die Plattform wird auf Seiten der Bundesregierung von einem für alle Ressorts offenen Kreis begleitet, in dem zurzeit BMBF, BMUB, BMZ, BMEL sowie Bundeskanzleramt mitwirken. Die Wissenschaftsplattform Nachhaltigkeit 2030 wurde am 8. Mai 2017 mit der konstituierenden Sitzung ihres Lenkungskreises etabliert und im Rahmen des 13. BMBF-Forums für Nachhaltigkeit am 9. Mai 2017 der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt.

Description: This report – Study on the socio-economic importance of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Southeast Atlantic region – aims to analyse the socio-economic importance of the ABNJ adjacent to the countries within the Abidjan Convention Area in West, Central and Southern Africa. It characterizes the socio-economic interests in ABNJ, underpinned by the ecosystem services concept, and the actual and potential social and economic outcomes (costs and benefits) associated with the conservation and use (exploitation) of marine resources, both in qualitative, and to the extent possible in quantitative terms. In this study, the term “socio-economics” is taken in a broad context to include the social aspects related to human well-being, livelihoods, impacts on communities, equity, socio-political systems, as well as economic ones. The analysis is based on an extensive literature review of scientific publications, articles, analysis of available data, stakeholder knowledge and experience, as well as expert opinion gathered through targeted interviews. It provides a narrative and forward-looking assessment of the key activities. The information presented is intend-ed to support decision-makers, including government officials, the private sector and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about ABNJ and weigh environmental, social and eco-nomic objectives, in the context of a new internationally binding treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction, the BBNJ agreement. This report is part of a series of reports covering issues of ocean governance with a focus on the Southeast Atlantic (and Southeast Pacific) published under the STRONG High Seas project – Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (June 2017 – May 2022).

Description: Kopenhagen ist eine der Städte mit der besten Fahrradinfrastruktur weltweit. Um zu verstehen, wie die dänische Hauptstadt das erreicht hat, lohnt sich ein Blick in ihre Vergangenheit. Nach Jahrzehnten der autogerechten Stadtplanung, vor der auch Kopenhagen nicht gefeit war, demonstrierten in den späten 1970er und frühen 1980er Jahren Zehntausende für mehr Radwege – mit Erfolg. Welche Rolle haben Diskurse und Erzählungen über das Fahrrad im Dänemark dieser Zeit gespielt, damit aus Kopenhagen die Fahrradstadt werden konnte, die sie heute ist? Und was können wir daraus lernen, um selbst die politische Förderung des Fahrrads als nachhaltiges Verkehrsmittel kommunikativ zu befördern? Diesen Fragen widmet sich das vorliegende Discussion Paper. Es untersucht drei repräsentative Korpora der auflagenstärksten Tageszeitungen Dänemarks aus den Jahren 1977, 1980 und 1983 mithilfe der im Projekt „Narrative der Nachhaltigkeit“ entwickelten „pentadischen“ Narrativanalyse. Das Ziel ist es, erfolgreiche Narrative für die Verkehrswende hin zu einer nachhaltigen urbanen Mobilität zu identifizieren.

Description: Ce rapport - Étude sur l‘importance socio-économique des zones situées au-delà de la juridiction nationale (ZAJN) dans la région de l‘Atlantique Sud-Est - vise à analyser l‘importance socio-économique des ZAJN adjacentes aux pays de la region de la Convention d‘Abidjan en Afrique occidentale, centrale et australe. Elle caractérise les intérêts socio-économiques dans les ZAJN, étayés par le concept de services écosystémiques, et les résultats sociaux et économiques réels et potentiels (coûts et bénéfices) associés à la conservation et à l‘utilisation (exploitation) des ressources marines, à la fois en termes qualitatifs et, dans la mesure du possible, en termes quantitatifs. Dans cette étude, le terme „socio-économique“ est pris dans un contexte large pour inclure les aspects sociaux liés au bien-être humain, aux moyens de subsistance, aux impacts sur les communautés, à l‘équité, aux systèmes socio-politiques, ainsi que les aspects économiques. L‘analyse se fonde sur une étude approfondie de publications et d‘articles scientifiques, sur l‘analyse des données disponibles, sur les connaissances et l‘expérience des parties prenantes, ainsi que sur l‘opinion d‘experts recueillie lors d‘entretiens ciblés. Elle fournit une évaluation narrative et prospective des activités clés. Les informations présentées ont pour but d‘aider les décideurs, y compris les responsables gouvernementaux, le secteur privé et d‘autres parties prenantes, à prendre des décisions éclairées sur les ZAJN et à peser les objectifs environnementaux, sociaux et économiques, dans le contexte d‘un nouveau traité international contraignant pour la conservation et l‘utilisation durable de la biodiversité marine audelà de la juridiction nationale, l‘accord BZAJN. Ce rapport fait partie d‘une série de rapports couvrant les questions de gouvernance des océans avec un accent sur l‘Atlantique du Sud-Est (et le Pacifique du Sud-Est) publiés dans le cadre du projet STRONG High Seas - Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (juin 2017 - mai 2022).

Description: Este reporte tiene como objetivo evaluar la con-tribución al bienestar humano de las activida-des socioeconómicas, actuales y potenciales, en las áreas marinas fuera de la jurisdicción nacio-nal (ABNJ por sus siglas en inglés) del Pacífico Sudeste, destacando la dependencia humana de los servicios ecosistémicos que la biodiver-sidad marina en las áreas fuera de la jurisdic-ción nacional (o BBNJ por sus siglas en inglés) provee, así como también de aquellas activi-dades que compiten en uso o bien generan efectos negativos sobre ella como consecuen-cia de su desarrollo. El estudio se focaliza en los aspectos socioeconómicos que dependen de, e interactúan con, la BBNJ en la región FAO 87, correspondiente al área f rente a las áreas juris-diccionales de Chile, Perú, Ecuador y Colombia (países miembros de la Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur o CPPS1), y de manera general para el bienestar de la humanidad. Como parte de esta introducción, se presenta a continuación una primera subsección que provee de contexto en relación a la importancia de los ecosistemas marinos y la relación de la BBNJ con el bienestar humano, seguida por una segunda donde se describe la organización de este reporte.

Description: Este informe se ha elaborado en el marco del proyecto STRONG High Seas, basándose en una serie de encuestas a las partes interesadas, en la opinión de expertos y estudios bibliográficos, así como en la experiencia adquirida en varios talleres celebrados en la región del Pacífico Sudeste. El informe fue revisado por expertos para validar las conclusiones y garantizar un contenido sólido. Este informe forma parte de una serie de trabajos que abarcan cuestiones de gobernanza de los océanos, centrándose en las ABNJ de las regiones del Pacífico Sudeste y del Atlántico Sudeste, y se basa en informes anteriores publicados por el proyecto STRONG High Seas. Otros informes del proyecto abarcan el marco jurídico e institucional aplicable a las ABNJ, el estado ecológico y la importancia socioeconómica de las ABNJ en las regiones de interés, las distintas opciones en cuanto a medidas de gestión y conservación para la conservación de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ y las consideraciones para la gestión integrada de los océanos. Estos informes están disponibles en el sitio web del proyecto STRONG High Seas. Tras este capítulo introductorio, el capítulo 2 ofrece el contexto pertinente en relación con la gobernanza de los océanos en las zonas que se encuentran fuera de la jurisdicción nacional, las negociaciones en curso para alcanzar un nuevo acuerdo en el marco de la CONVEMAR y las necesidades y enfoques de desarrollo de capacidades relacionados. El capítulo 3 presenta un breve resumen de las encuestas realizadas por el proyecto STRONG High Seas en relación con las necesidades de capacidad en la región del Pacífico Sudeste y el capítulo 4 es un resumen de los correspondientes esfuerzos de desarrollo de capacidad llevados a cabo por parte del proyecto STRONG High Seas. El capítulo 5 ofrece reflexiones y recomendaciones para futuras actividades de desarrollo de capacidades más allá del ámbito del proyecto y destaca las lecciones aprendidas a lo largo de los cinco años de este proyecto. En los Anexos se ofrece información adicional sobre los antecedentes.

Description: While the positive impacts of renewable energy development, the implementation and use of renewable energy for people and the planet are widely recognised, the direct contribution of local renewable energy projects to local community well-being has received limited attention. And while the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been rightfully celebrated as global milestones towards securing livelihoods and opportunities now and in the future, they lack societal ownership and traction among communities, who are decisive in supporting and driving the necessary sustainability transformation. However, aside from energy access, the opportunities for local energy projects to provide broader positive effects (such as community revenues) through co-investments are largely regarded as secondary co-benefits, if not entirely ignored by development policies and practices. Tapping into these opportunities for effective policies and practices in climate action and international development calls for a different approach to sustainable energy development (energy transitions in some countries): a social performance approach to energy development and investment, which we outline in this paper. In the context of this paper, the social performance of energy sector investments refers to direct and positive social impacts on the well-being of individuals and communities during the development and implementation of energy projects and the usage of locally generated energy, in both monetary and non-monetary ways. In essence, the social performance approach in energy-sector investments and energy-project development puts the needs and well-being of people – both current and future generations – at the centre of energy development and related investments and activities. The social performance approach that we propose builds on the conceptual foundations of the capability approach, the co-benefits approach, the Need–Opportunity–Ability (NOA) model, and important groundwork on community development in South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). An important aspect of the social performance approach is its focus on the direct contribution of these investments in fostering the well-being of individuals in a manner that reflects their aspirations for good quality of life. This approach can facilitate regular evaluation of progress and ensures accountability and adjustment of implementation strategies so that future investments, design, and implementation strategies perform both for people and the planet. Social performance can be used to compare how different energy options (e.g., a coal-mining site, a renewable wind park, or decentralised energy services such as solar mini-grids) may effectively and comprehensibly improve the lives of people and local communities. The social performance approach helps to identify concrete intervention points or enablers, to ensure and increase the positive contributions of energy-sector investments to the well-being of individuals and communities, either in monetary ways such as local economic value creation and employment, or in non-monetary ways such as community cohesion and social inclusion. In this paper we suggest that, consequently, policy interventions and investments aimed at decarbonising energy systems should not simply be monitored in view of how they perform for communities and people on the ground; rather, these interventions and investments should be intentionally designed to maximise their social performance for individuals and communities.

Description: This report was prepared as part of the STRONG High Seas project, based on a series of stakeholder surveys and experience gathered through various workshops held in the Southeast Pacific region, as well as on literature surveys and expert opinion. The report was reviewed by experts to validate findings and ensure robust content. This report is part of a series of reports covering issues of ocean governance with a focus on the ABNJ of the Southeast Pacific and the Southeast Atlantic regions and builds on previous reports published by the STRONG High Seas project. Further project reports cover the legal and institutional framework applicable to ABNJ, the ecological state and the socioeconomic importance of ABNJ in the project regions, options for management and conservation measures for conservation of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, and considerations for integrated ocean management. These reports are available through the STRONG High Seas project website. Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 provides relevant context with regards to ocean governance in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the ongoing negotiations towards a new agreement under UNCLOS and related capacity development needs and approaches. Chapter 3 presents a short summary of the surveys undertaken by the STRONG High Seas project with regards to capacity needs in the Southeast Pacific region and Chapter 4 is a summary of the corresponding capacity development efforts undertaken as part of the STRONG High Seas project. Chapter 5 provides reflections and recommendations for future capacity development activities beyond the scope of the project and highlights lessons learned through the five years of this project. Additional background information is provided in the Annexes.

Description: This report is intended to provide a review of the relevant governance frameworks currently in place for the management of high seas biodiversity in these regions. The report uses the issues under discussion in the ongoing negotiations for a new legally binding BBNJ agreement under the United Nations, as well as selected Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 targets, as a lens through which to assess progress towards conservation and sustainable use.

Description: Die Klimagerechtigkeitsbewegung (KB) hat in jüngster Zeit eine erstaunliche Dynamik entwickelt und dazu beigetragen, die Klimakrise in Deutschland auf die politische Agenda zu setzen. Die sichtbarsten und mobilisierungsstärksten Bewegungsakteur*innen sind Extinction Rebellion (XR), Ende Gelände (EG) und Fridays for Future (FFF). In ihrer öffentlichen Kommunikation zur Klimakrise zeigen sich unterschiedliche thematische Schwerpunkte. Die Studie analysiert vergleichend die narrativen Strukturen von Pressemitteilungen und Blog-Artikeln von XR, EG und FFF aus dem Jahr 2019 und führt die dortigen Motive und (Mikro-)Erzählungen auf ihre jeweiligen Grundwerte zurück. Es werden Potenziale identifiziert, wie XR, EG und FFF ihre politischen Anliegen innerhalb rhetorisch überzeugenderer, (strukturell vollständigerer) Erzählungen kommunizieren können. Die Untersuchung von Klima-Frames thematisiert zudem, ob und wie ein Bezug nicht nur zu Klimaschutz, sondern zu Klimagerechtigkeit hergestellt wird.

Description: Local cooperation between civil society and the public sector is becoming increasingly important – in local transformation projects, in science, and occasionally in politics and administration. Commons-Public Partnerships (CPPs) provide a way to frame, promote and extend this collaboration. In civil society, CPPs are typically defined by the practice of commoning, where local communities exercise self-regulation based on the principles of community welfare and the common good. This discussion paper examines the theory and practice of commoning and other forms of cooperation. While focusing on the challenges of social-ecological transformation, the paper also identifies areas where CPPs can be implemented and highlights fields of tension exposed by the concept.

Description: Einen spannenden, aktions- und forschungsorientierten Einstieg in die Themenfelder Klima und Rohstoffe ermöglicht die Zukunftsbox Kohlenstoff, die das IASS in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Futurium entwickelt hat. Die Materialien eignen sich für Schülergruppen jeder Schulform ab Klassenstufe 8. Die Zukunftsbox kann fachübergreifend eingesetzt werden. Mit ihr will das IASS einen Beitrag zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung leisten.

Description: Measures to support conservation efforts must put the protection of biodiversity and/or ecological integrity as the primary objective and consider cumulative pressures on the marine environment. This also means including ecological connectivity (e.g., migratory routes of marine species, transboundary impacts of human activities), and climate change impacts in their design and implementation. Moreover, the complexity and dynamic nature of the ocean, including in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), requires that conservation efforts acknowledge uncertainty, include options to address it or adapt swiftly to new scientific information, and consider the three-dimensional space of the ocean. This also requires that the best available interdisciplinary scientific and indigenous knowledge provide the basis for the design and implementation of such measures. It will be essential that measures to support conservation efforts apply mechanisms for cross-sectoral consultation, cooperation, and collaboration, as well as consider appropriate spatial and temporal scales for implementation. They must reflect broad societal goals and consider uneven distribution of socio-economic outcomes resulting from exploitative activities in ABNJ. Governance and management actions must recognise coupled and diverse social-ecological systems, and the interconnection between ocean health and human wellbeing, including diverse stakeholder considerations in the design and implementation of the measure or approach. It is essential that the design and implementation of measures to support conservation efforts include appropriate means to ensure the regular monitoring, control, and surveillance of human activities as well as the compliance and enforcement of the laws and regulations in place. States are familiar with legal instruments, such as those under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, International Seabed Authority (ISA), and management measures adopted by the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). They have developed governance structures and capacity to support their implementation. The recommendation in this context would be for States to support the consolidation and further development of measures to support conservation efforts with the aim to ensure that they integrate their approach with considerations for ecological connectivity, biodiversity protection, ecosystem-based integrated ocean management and climate change implications for the conservation and management of biodiversity in ABNJ. To be effective, any measures to support conservation efforts proposed for ABNJ in the Southeast Atlantic region must consider the socio-economic and political realities of the countries whose Exclusive Economic Zones border these areas. In this sense, it is important to note the important role that the fishing sector has historically played and continues to play for most economies of this region. The proposed Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Instrument in negotiation at the United Nations, will be fundamental for establishing the legal basis for developing and implementing cross-sectoral measures to support conservation efforts in ABNJ. The way in which the proposed BBNJ Instrument is integrated and how the link to existing conservation and sustainable use measures established under existing management organisations is made will determine the effectiveness of the possible measures to support current and future conservation efforts. In this regard, it is particularly important for the Southeast Atlantic region how existing RFMOs will be able to interact with the proposed BBNJ Instrument. Considering the capacity (technological, experience, financial, logistical) challenges of many of the countries in the Southeast Atlantic, it is important that measures to support conservation efforts under existing international treaties or legal mechanisms be integrated, practical, and cost-effective. The different legal status of the water column and the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction and the different legal provisions in place represent a challenge for the development of a coherent, comprehensive, and integrated approach to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in ABNJ. Lack of uniformity in compliance among flag States and the lack of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in ABNJ jeopardise the achievement of an integrated approach for conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in these vast areas of ocean. The wide array of existing instruments can be used to improve conservation of biodiversity in ABNJ through improved monitoring and enforced compliance. This remains the responsibility of individual flag States, but at present there is limited reporting of vessels and minimum follow up action by flag or port States.

Description: This Discussion Paper discusses the implications of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan for plastic and packaging waste. According to a recent report, each European Union (EU) inhabitant generated 172.6 kg of packaging waste in the year 2017, 19% of which was made of plastic. Amid growing concerns about the environmental effects of such consumption habits, the regulation of packaging waste and plastic has moved to higher up the legislative agenda of the EU in recent years.

Description: This summary for decision makers is based on the report ‘Ecological Baselines of the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific – Status of Marine Biodiversity and Anthropogenic Pressures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction’ and provides consolidated information on key biological and ecological features of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Southeast Atlantic as well as highlights key pressures placed upon it by human activities. ABNJ include the water column (the high seas) and the seabed (the Area) outside of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of coastal States and cover about half of the Earth’s surface. This summary is intended to inform relevant actors and stakeholders to support their understanding of the function and importance of marine biological diversity in ABNJ and the need to for appropriate conservation and management measures. The report was prepared as part of the Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (‘STRONG High Seas’) project – funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

Description: This report presents the results of the third and the last workshop in the series “Yamal 2040” organised within Blue-Action work package WP5 “Delivering and valuing climate and information services”. The Blue-Action team at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in cooperation with the Primakov National Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Science (IMEMO) and Foresight Intelligence, and with inputs provided by the National Oceanographic Center (UKRI-NOC) and the M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP-RAS) in the Blue-Action work package WP2 “Lower latitude drivers of Arctic changes” developed forward-looking scenarios to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with multiple developments in the Arctic and help stakeholders to adapt to them. This case study looks at a specific region, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in Arctic Russia (YNAO or Yamal region), a region with substantial ongoing and planned petroleum and shipping activities. Together with stakeholder groups, the team has co-developed a suite of scenarios to describe possible futures for this region in 2040 by incorporating cutting edge climate predictions with environmental, social and cultural concerns, economic opportunities, and political and legal developments. The scenarios are the outcome of a truly co-design and co-development process involving partners, stakeholders and using various foresight methods tailored to the project’s needs. These methods allow to constructively deal with cognitive biases, thus enabling participants to think out of the box when planning the future. This approach is very helpful in tackling complex issues linked to numerous interacting uncertainties.

Description: This report explores how the co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency saving measures can play an active role in connecting the Mexican energy transition with key processes and commitments for development that have been determined by the country itself. These include the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2019-2024 as well as climate goals or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), to which Mexico is committed under the Paris Agreement. This study, published in conjunction with the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC), offers quantitative evidence of the co-benefits of two routes (scenarios) for energy transition as related to the Energy Transition Law (LTE). These vary in scope however, revealing how the co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency can help to play an active role in achieving national development goals.

Description: How can science and business help build sustainable societies? This question took centre-stage at the second Global Sustainability Strategy Forum (GSSF), held on 22 - 24 March 2020. The event did not take place in Bangkok as previously planned due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, 25 leading experts from business and sustainability science came together online to discuss how the two sectors could work together more effectively.

Description: Der Bericht stellt die Resultate einer multikriteriellen Bewertung verschiedener Szenarien eines Kohleausstiegs in Deutschland vor. Die exemplarischen Politikszenarien basieren auf unterschiedlich umfassenden politischen Maßnahmenbündeln und bewegen sich im Spannungsfeld zwischen Ordnungsrecht und Markt. Der transdisziplinäre Bewertungsprozess wurde parallel zur Kohlekommission im Rahmen des Kopernikus-Projektes „Energiewende-Navigationssystem“ (ENavi) erprobt. Hierbei schätzten die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler des Konsortiums die Folgen der Maßnahmenbündel ab und bewerteten diese anhand von zehn Nachhaltigkeitskriterien. Die so entstandenen Bewertungsvorschläge wurden mit Stakeholdern aus Zivilgesellschaft, Industrie, Wirtschaft und Politik geprüft, diskutiert und verfeinert. Der Bericht gibt einen Überblick zu Prozess, Methodik sowie Ergebnissen der Bewertung. Zudem zeigt er, unter anderem anhand eines Vergleichs mit der Kohlekommission, Verbesserungspotentiale des realisierten Bewertungsverfahrens auf. Die Erfahrungen, Empfehlungen und identifizierten Forschungsbedarfe bieten wertvolle Gestaltungshinweise für zukünftige Projekte mit einer ähnlichen inter- und transdisziplinären Herangehensweise.

Description: Sowohl der deutsche als auch der polnische Teil der Lausitz stehen unter einem erhöhten Transformationsdruck. Der Ausstieg beziehungsweise die Reduktion der Kohleverstromung soll sowohl durch EU-Förderprogramme abgefedert werden. Der Policy Briefe gibt Empfehlungen, wie diese Programm genutzt werden können.

Description: Through the present report, we would like to share with you theinspiring outcomes of our joint experience at the Global Soil Week2017, and offer you an opportunity to reflect on the high potential ofpreparatory events to the HLPF, and of using its thematic reviews asmeans to achieve an integrated implementation of the SDGs.

Description: This article reflects the partial results of my ongoing research as part of the International Climate Fellowship Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which I am carrying out at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies – IASS Potsdam, Germany.

Description: Wir zeigen, wie die vorgeschlagene 1000 m-Abstandsregelung zwischen Windkraftanlagen und Wohngebäude den Ausbau der Windkraft an Land in Deutschland praktisch stoppen würde. Wir zeigen auch, dass ein Abstand von 600 m gleichzeitig den Schutz der Anwohner und der Ausbau der Windkraft möglich machen kann.

Description: This document includes the main policy outcomes of the Global Soil Week 2017 by introducing 1) the principles and methods utilized, 2) the five key policy messages discussed in plenary with the participants and 3) considerations from the discussions at the Global Soil Week supporting the five key policy messages. We respectfully submit the messages below, for consideration by the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), and reinforce our commitment to contribute to strengthening the work and role of the HLPF. We also stand ready to work together with Member States aiming to strengthen the emphasis on soil- and land-related issues in their National Voluntary Reviews and also with platforms aiming to conduct similar reviews.

Description: This IASS study considers the potential of the G20 to shape a global transition to sustainable energy, urgentlyneeded in order to achieve the UN’s climate and sustainability goals. The G20, a group of major emerging andindustrialised economies, is a high-level political forum that brings together a heterogeneous set of members.The Group carries great weight in international energy governance, and accounts for 80 percent of the world’s totalprimary energy consumption and 82 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Thus, decisions and actions ofthe G20 and its members have the capacity to significantly impact global energy systems.The study analyses the energy sector developments of 14 G20 members (Argentina, Brazil, China, European Union,France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and the United States).Short case studies trace major trends and policy initiatives in the countries and identify both potential conflictsof interest and existing common ground within the G20. Each study offers an assessment of potential impulsesoriginating from the respective case, and how these might help foster international cooperation for advancing aglobal energy transition.

Description: Table of Contents1. Introduction and Main Insights from the Study - Sybille Roehrkasten, Sonja Thielges and Rainer Quitzow http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19069032. The G20 and its Role in Global Energy Governance - Sybille Roehrkasten and Kirsten Westphal http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19069073. Argentina: From an Energy Stalemate Towards Shale Gas Expansion and Creating a Renewables Market - Moïra Jimeno http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19069104. Brazil: Long Tradition of Renewables-Based Energy Supply and Ethanol Diplomacy - Sybille Roehrkasten http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19069135. China: Emerging Global Power in Clean Energy? - Rainer Quitzow http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19088896. The EU: In the Midst of Crisis – Downgraded SustainableEnergy Ambitions - Kirsten Westphal http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19108887. France: Reducing Nuclear Dominance and Promoting a Low-Carbon Energy System - Carole Mathieu http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19108918. Germany: Promoting an Energiewende Domestically and Globally - Sybille Roehrkasten and Karoline Steinbacher http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:19108959. India: Meeting Energy Needs for Development While Addressing Climate Change - Madhura Joshi and Radhika Khosla http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191089710. Indonesia: A Long Way to Low-Carbon Development - Jens Marquardt http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191090011. Japan: Dominated by Fukushima and Tackling Hard Problemsin Decarbonisation - Llewelyn Hughes http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191090312. Russia: A Gas Superpower Striving for Nuclear Expansion and Starting to Support Renewables - Alexander Gusev http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191090713. Saudi Arabia: Oil as a Burden in the Struggle for Energy Diversification - Sebastian Sons http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191091014. South Africa: Carbon-Intensive Economy and a Regional Renewable Energy Frontrunner - Agathe Maupin http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191091315. Turkey: Great Potential, Missing Will - Jörn Richert http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:191091616. The United States: Domestic Transitions and International Leadership Towards Low-Carbon Energy - Karoline Steinbacher http://publications.iass-potsdam.de/pubman/item/escidoc:1910919

Description: In April 2021, under the “IMPACT R” project, IASS Potsdam and HEDERA Sustainable Solutions GmbH in Berlin, together with University of Rwanda and Sustainable Villages Foundation (SVF), conducted a household survey in two villages in Rwanda. SVF has started an integrated village development pilot project in those two villages and wanted to better understand the local populations’ needs and establish a baseline for impact measurement, in order to track the project’s progress over time. In parallel, focus group discussions and key stakeholder interviews were carried out. The main results are as follows: Over 80 % of households get their main income from agriculture, largely on small plots. Two-thirds of the households have USD 45 or less to spend on a 5-person family, on average. There is no public electricity grid. Half of the households have access to very basic electricity through solar systems; the other half has none at all. Over 90 % of households use wood and open fire pits or handmade clay stoves for cooking, mostly indoors, causing deforestation and health problems because of the smoke. There is no public or private drinking water supply. Villagers collect rainwater and/or surface water, which has to be carried over several kilometers by adults and children. The water is dirty and not treated before drinking in one-third of households, which triggers diseases. Only 26 % of households are classified as food-secure, whereas 15.5 % are above the severe food insecurity threshold. A significant percentage of the inhabitants does not eat a balanced diet due to lack of resources. The local community especially emphasized the need for: Priority 1: Safe drinking water Priority 2: Electricity Priority 3: Clean cooking devices Another severe challenge is poverty in general. There is a shortage of food in terms of quantity and quality for a significant portion of the population. This is caused by households’ limited financial capacity and insufficient agricultural yield due to the absence of water for irrigation and inefficient agricultural techniques. Furthermore, teacher qualification in English and information technology (IT) is not satisfactory, and the primary school has no electricity in most of the classrooms and no computers. Professional training options are only offered far away from the villages and are very costly. New business development is hindered by the lack of electricity. The target communities seek for support to address all the above challenges and are willing to contribute their part.

Description: Following more than a decade of informal deliberations, States at the United Nations (UN)are currently negotiating an “international legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction” (“BBNJ Agreement”). The negotiations aim to strengthen the international legal framework for the protection and management of the global ocean by addressing gaps in the current framework and building on existing obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to cooperate to protect and preserve the marine environment and conserve marine living resources. This policy brief explores how integrated ecosystem-based management (EBM) in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) can be advanced at the regional level and how the BBNJ Agreement can build on experiences in other legally binding agreements to strengthen regional cooperation, coordination and coherence. To this end, five building blocks are identified: 1. A robust global body such as a Conference of Parties capable of taking decisions and adopting recommendations; 2. A suite of regional mechanisms for integrated policy development and coordination; 3. Effective science-policy advisory mechanisms; 4. Overarching environmental obligations and principles; and 5. Operational principles to ensure good governance. A review of the current President’s draft text of the BBNJ Agreement highlights where the text could be strengthened to advance EBM. In particular, the BBNJ Agreement could draw inspiration from a range of existing instruments and craft specific obligations to: cooperate to promote in-situ conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats; mainstream biodiversity into all decision-making bodies and processes; and strengthen regional cooperation by supporting existing institutions and by building cross-sectoral platforms for cooperation.

Description: Seit 2012 beschäftigt sich das Forschungsprojekt ClimPol (Climate Change and Air Pollution)am Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam mit dem Zusammenhängenzwischen Klimawandel und Luftverschmutzung. Mit unseren wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungenwollen wir diese Zusammenhänge besser verstehen. Wir engagieren uns aber auchan der Schnittstelle von Wissenschaft und Politik, indem wir koordinierte und effektiveMaßnahmen für Klimaschutz und bessere Luftqualität prüfen.

Description: The German energy transition (Energiewende) is the subject of intensive research, and thankfully so. We now have reliable estimates relating to the required deployment of technology, the costs for end consumers and society, and the expected consequences for health and the environment. It has been firmly established just how much CO2 we have already saved with the energy transition, and what is required in order to reduce CO2 emissions even further. There is also a range of scientific studies on the impact of the expansion of renewable energies on nature conservation and species protection. However, one question has received little academic attention to date: How does the energy transition affect society? It is astonishing that we know so little about this. After all, experts have long been agreed on the fact that sustainability does not just have an economic and ecological dimension, but also a social one. It is essential that we consider the social impact to the same extent as the economic or ecological effects. So it is high time to give the question of social sustainability a solid empirical base. The Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), together with the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, conducted a panel survey of more than 7,500 households. Now, with the Social Sustainability Barometer for the German Energiewende 2017, we present the results for the first time.

Description: The overall aim of WP2 is to understand both the actual and possible application of the precautionary principle in eight different cases, and explain potential commonalities and differences in the application of the precautionary principle in the cases. This analysis should reflect the particular context of the case and reveal the arguments that have been used for invoking the precautionary principle and/or adopting precautionary measures (even without mentioning the precautionary principle). The multiple case study component of the RECIPES project is one of the key analytical phases of the project. Within the scope of the entire RECIPES project, WP2 builds on aspects of WP1, in particular the final WP1 report taking stock of the precautionary principle since 2000. The outputs of WP2 will feed directly into WP3, with the aim of the development of new tools and approaches to the PP in a co-creation approach. This document is intended for the individual case study analysis, and does not directly inform the cross-case comparison analysis which will take place in task 2.4.

Description: This report provides guidance to decision makers in all types of public and private organizations involved in the planning and development of CCU. It is prepared within the scope of the CO2nsistent project funded by the Global CO2 Initiative and EIT Climate-KIC, and is based on the published TEA and LCA Guidelines v.1. This report provides user-centered guidance on how to commission and understand TEA and LCA studies for CCU, and how to determine whether existing studies are eligible to be used in a decision making process. Another primary goal of this report is to ensure that disciplinary expertise is effectively taken up by decision makers and all potential audiences. The remainder of this document is structured in two parts. Part A introduces the reader to the concept of TEA and LCA studies: What types of input can such assessments provide for decision making? What are the limitations of their explanatory power? This part focuses on the goal and scope definition for such studies, and on other aspects that are particularly relevant for decision making. The document presents how the decision maker (or commissioner) and the assessment practitioner can jointly set the various assessment phases. These terms are explained in the boxes below. The approach and main components of TEA and LCA studies are described, with the specific goal of making the most sensitive disciplinary concepts clear and comprehensible to all audiences. Part B consists of practical tools to guide actors interested in commissioning TEA and LCA studies, and to support decision makers when evaluating and assessing TEA and LCA studies submitted by third parties. A series of consecutive steps, displayed as decision trees, provide support for checking the completeness of key aspects and requirements of TEA and LCA studies.

Description: Die Covid-19 Pandemie hat das Mobilitätsverhalten eindeutig beeinflusst. Während der ÖPNV mit einem starken Rückgang der Fahrgäste zu kämpfen hat, gewinnen individuelle Mobilitätsformen – wie der Fußverkehr, Radverkehr und Autoverkehr – an Bedeutung. Gleichzeitig haben der Infektionsschutz und das Einhalten der Abstandsregeln höchste Priorität. In Berlin entsteht eine sogenannte Pop-Up-Radinfrastruktur – provisorische Radwege, die mit einfachen Mitteln sicheres Radfahren und den nötigen Abstand ermöglichen. Welche Reaktionen rufen die Pop-Up-Radwege bei den Verkehrsteilnehmer*innen hervor? Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, durch eine Online-Befragung explorativ die Reaktionen und Wahrnehmungen in Form von Vor- und Nachteilen zu erfassen.

Description: The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly influenced mobility behaviour. While public transport has to cope with a sharp decline in the number of passengers, individual forms of mobility - such as walking, cycling and car traffic - gain in importance. At the same time, protection against infection and adherence to the rules of distance are a priority. In Berlin, a so-called pop-up cycling infrastructure is being created - provisional cycle paths that allow safe cycling and the necessary distance to be maintained by means of simple tools. What reactions do the pop-up cycle paths provoke in transportation users? The aim of this study was to explore reactions and perceptions in terms of advantages and disadvantages, using an online questionnaire.

Description: This report presents a framework for the systematic monitoring of the global hydrogen economy. It suggests data sources and indicators to systematically survey the most important trends and developments of a future global hydrogen economy. Monitoring based on this framework could provide an important knowledge base for the continuous review of policy measures related to the German and European hydrogen policy.

Description: Im folgenden Bericht wird ein Konzept für ein systematisches Monitoring der globalen Wasserstoffwirtschaft vorgestellt. Der Bericht stellt Datenquellen und Indikatoren zur systematischen Erfassung der wichtigsten Trends und Entwicklungen im Rahmen einer globalen Wasserstoffwirtschaft vor. Ein entsprechendes Monitoring könnte einen wichtigen Beitrag zur kontinuierlichen Überprüfung von Politikmaßnahmen im Rahmen der deutschen und europäischen Wasserstoffpolitik leisten.

Description: The IASS – and the research project Co-creation and Contemporary Policy Advice, in particular – aim to support policymakers in their efforts to address complex societal challenges within the context of a broad transformation towards sustainability. These challenges are interwoven with other issues and embedded within dynamic contexts that are characterized by a high degree of uncertainty, making it difficult to develop a unified approach to their resolution. In response to this, this IASS Discussion Paper presents a model for the development of co-creative policy advice that is intended to support actors from policymaking and public administration in addressing such complex challenges. The primary goal of the process outlined here is the development, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, of an in-depth understanding of a specific challenge – before appropriate strategies and measures for its resolution are put in place. The insights gained in this scoping process shape the development of tailored solution generation processes and the allocation of public procurement contracts for the implementation of societal transformation processes. In this approach, the policy advice process begins well before potential solutions are developed and presented to policymakers and administrative bodies. Rather, this model responds to the need to develop an integrated understanding of societal challenges in close cooperation with the people and institutions affected on the ground before public procurement processes for their resolution are launched.

Description: In dieser Publikation werden die Ergebnisse einer umfassenden und themenübergreifenden Auswertung der ersten beiden Erhebungswellen des Barometers (2017 und 2018) präsentiert, die tiefergehende Einblicke in die Einstellungen und Erfahrungen der Bevölkerung zur Energiewende ermöglichen. Diese Ergebnisse werden von der dritten Erhebungswelle (2019) bestätigt, auch wenn diese Daten hier nicht explizit aufgeführt werden. Auf der Grundlage der empirischen Ergebnisse werden Handlungsbedarfe und –optionen auch im Hinblick auf aktuelle politische Entwicklungen und Entscheidungen in zentralen Handlungsfeldern wie die Einführung der CO2-Bepreisung und den Windausbau an Land identifiziert.

Description: Post-pandemic recovery plans will play an important role in strengthening healthcare systems and rebuilding economies. These stimulus packages and policy responses present a unique opportunity to steer the global economy towards sustainable growth, increase resilience and bolster efforts to tackle the challenge of climate change. This IASS Discussion Paper shows how policymakers could align post-pandemic recovery planning with existing climate goals to unlock co-benefits for sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Description: The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is presently developing regulations (the “Mining Code”) to govern the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources of the international seabed (or “Area”). Whilst the financial mechanism is a critical component of this Mining Code, its development has been delegated to the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group of the Council. These informal discussions have prioritized a model that gives preference to enabling mining over delivering fair compensation for the loss of resources. This policy brief argues that a fundamentally different and comprehensive approach is required and outlines some of its key components.

Description: Deep-seabed mining in the Area is regulated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) which is mandated to act on behalf of humankind as a whole. Consistent with international environmental law and human rights norms, in its decision making the ISA is expected to engage with its broad constituency. Using ten assessment criteria, this paper analyses the extent to which the ISA has facilitated public participation to date. This paper finds that, while the ISA has increased outreach activities, significant scope for improvement remains. Several ways to improve public participation at the ISA are identified, including (1) proactive consultation with a wider reach, including stakeholders that are hitherto not engaged; (2) mechanisms to ensure stakeholder consultations and submissions are given due consideration, and that the rationale for decisions are publicly communicated; and (3) enhanced public engagement in the implementation of decisions.

Description: Este resumen para los tomadores de decisiones se basa en el informe ‘Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas: Opportunities and Challenges to Improve the Legal and Institutional Framework of the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific’. Está dirigido a los tomadores de decisiones, así como a otras personas que trabajan en cuestiones de gobernanza de los océanos, en particular en las regiones del Atlántico Sudeste y el Pacífico Sudeste. El informe se preparó como parte del proyecto Fortalecimiento de la gobernanza regional de los océanos en alta mar (‘STRONG High Seas’) y se basa en estudios anteriores, en particular en relación con el Pacífico Sudeste. El informe tiene por objeto proporcionar un examen de los marcos de gobernanza pertinentes actualmente en vigor para la gestión de la biodiversidad de la alta mar en esas regiones. El informe utiliza las cuestiones que se están debatiendo en las negociaciones en curso para un nuevo instrumento jurídicamente vinculante sobre la conservación y el uso sostenible de la BBNJ en el marco de las Naciones Unidas, así como determinadas metas del Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 14 (ODS 14), como una lente a través de la cual se pueden evaluar los avances hacia la conservación y el uso sostenible.

Description: On October 1st, 2019, the CO2nsistent Project (co-financed by the Global CO2 Initiative and EIT Climate-KIC) and the PHOENIX Initiative jointly organized a workshop in Brussels on the topic of CO2 utilization technology and assessment methodologies such as Techno-Economic and Life Cycle assessment (TEA and LCA). The event brought together LCA and TEA practitioners, national and European policy agencies, and the corporate field. To stimulate and enhance participation, diverse session formats were offered: thematic presentations by experts, a panel discussion, as well as a break-out session modeled on the “world café” method. The foci of the day were two-fold: Learning how to support European policymakers when assessing the environmental and economic aspects of CO2 utilization, and initiating an exchange with parallel European initiatives conducting research on CCU assessment methodologies and their environmental and economic perspectives. The event shed light on some unresolved issues raised by industrial actors with regard to the upcom-ing European policy and funding mechanisms (such as ETS Phase IV and Innovation Fund), while national and European decision-makers described the difficulties they face when evaluating CO2 utilization. The current ETS rules are inadequate to properly quantify the climate benefits of indus-trial CCU application, while the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) lacks requirements for broad-er environmental and social assessments. Workshop participants broadly agreed that the harmoniza-tion of LCA approaches could help to quantify the extent to which CCU can contribute to achieving the GHG emission targets described in the REDII, should address all environmental aspects, and can provide sound guidelines for implementing CCU in the ETS. At the same time, solution-oriented collaborations with LCA and TEA experts (e.g. the CO2nsistent group and others) were considered and examined, also with regard to new instruments and strategies to reduce complexity for policy-makers. The event also aimed at expanding the networks between the organizers and relevant actors in the field, with a particular focus on national and European policymakers. Members of CO2nsistent, LCA4CCU and the Joint Research Centre – all of whom are engaged in CCU assessment methodol-ogies – scrutinized alignments of proposed solutions and elaborated on specific divergences such as low-TRL technology. The likelihood that this effort could ultimately lead to standards for LCA and TEA for CCU was extensively debated with the direct support of the French (AFNOR) and German (DIN) associations for standardization.

Description: Wenn die EU einen CO2-Grenzausgleich (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM) einführt, könnten Länder, denen die Ressourcen für die Dekarbonisierung fehlen, schwerwiegende wirtschaftliche Folgen zu spüren bekommen. Die EU sollte daher mögliche politische Risiken berücksichtigen und Stakeholder aus Drittstaaten in die Gestaltung des CBAM einbeziehen. Sie sollte mit den CBAM-Einnahmen die Dekarbonisierung in den von Risiken betroff enen Ländern fördern und die Emissionsberichterstattung mit bestehenden internationalen Vorgaben verknüpfen.

Description: The German government has resolved to phase out coal-fired power plants at the latest by 2038. The coal exit will inevitably mean the end of lignite mining in Lusatia, a central economic sector that has played a major role in shaping the region’s identity. However, against the backdrop of the worsening climate crisis, lignite is a hotly contested political issue. Although there are many people in Lusatia who reject the coal exit by 2038, lignite is not uncontroversial here either. (see Bischoff et. al. 2021). At the same time, in recent years the right-wing populist and to some extent radical right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has gained mass appeal among some of the Lusatian population. With their right-wing populist orientation and simplistic friend-foe argumentation, the AfD is driving social polarisation. The party rails against the coal exit, sheds doubt on man-made climate change and, more recently, has sought proximity to pandemic deniers. But why exactly is right-wing populism so popular in Lusatia? Why does this success pose a threat to structural change in the region? And how might we remove the breeding ground for right-wing populism and counteract social polarisation? This Discussion Paper addresses these questions and develops three approaches for countering social polarisation so that the coming structural change in Lusatia can be successful. Acknowledge diversity Lusatia is often presented as a homogeneous area with a homogeneous population. This in no way reflects the social reality on the ground. The population in Upper and Lower Lusatia is very heterogeneous in terms of their origins, political views, and religious beliefs. This diversity must be acknowledged and viewed as a resource for the region. Establish a culture of immigration Since 2000 alone, the population in Lusatia has declined by about 20 per cent, from 1.4 million to 1.1 million, and the average age has increased significantly (WRL 2019, 27). For the future, it is imperative to establish a culture of immigration to make the region attractive both for people who left as young adults and for people from other parts of Germany and abroad. Take fears about the future seriously, but do not exacerbate them The massive economic and social changes of the 1990s have stirred fear of change in the region. For this reason, it is important to establish spaces where dialogue can take place on what the future might look like without strengthening vague fears stemming from past experiences.

Description: La gestión integrada de los océanos (GIO) es un enfoque adaptativo de la gestión de las actividades humanas en el océano, que tiene sus raíces en el enfoque ecosistémico. Requiere la consideración de todas las dimensiones del espacio oceánico – esferas física, oceanográfica, climática, biológica, social y económica – e incluye la dinámica espacial y temporal del sistema. Su objetivo es crear un marco para una economía oceánica sostenible. Para lograr este ambicioso objetivo, los procesos de gestión deben integrarse entre la gobernanza, las partes interesadas, los conocimientos, la dinámica del sistema y ser transfronterizos, lo que constituirá los "pilares" para una integración eficaz. Las características clave del enfoque integrado propuesto para la gestión de los océanos exigen una mayor colaboración, intercambio de conocimientos, transparencia, coordinación y comunicación. Los puntos de vista y valores de la comunidad, así como los conocimientos científicos, tradicionales y locales, desempeñan un papel fundamental en la definición y puesta en marcha de los pilares mencionados. El enfoque de la GIO aún no se ha aplicado a las ABNJ, pero sí a las aguas costeras. La GIO será cada vez más importante en las ABNJ para hacer frente a los crecientes desafíos de lograr la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina. Por ello, este informe pretende ofrecer una visión general de la aplicación de la GIO en el contexto de la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ, especialmente en las regiones del Atlántico Sudeste y del Pacífico Sudeste. En particular, pretende promover la GIO para las ABNJ en todos los sectores y dimensiones ecológicas, considerando la aplicación de condiciones propicias para lograr la cooperación y la colaboración entre los diversos actores que trabajan en las ABNJ o que las afectan. Este informe resume Resumen ejecutivo los retos actuales a los que se enfrenta la gestión de las ABNJ, identifica las oportunidades para aplicar la GIO a través de las fronteras y ofrece recomendaciones para avanzar en esta prioridad urgente, guiada por los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Abordar la GIO en las ABNJ es especialmente pertinente en este momento, ya que los Estados están negociando un nuevo instrumento jurídicamente vinculante para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ (denominado en este informe Acuerdo BBNJ). Por lo tanto, existe la oportunidad de que los Estados incorporen disposiciones que permitan que el mecanismo sea plenamente operativo en el marco del Acuerdo BBNJ una vez que éste sea adoptado y ratificado. Este informe abarca los conceptos de la GIO, sus pilares, la importancia de la GIO para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las ABNJ y las oportunidades de reforzar la GIO para la conservación de la BBNJ en las dos regiones focales del proyecto STRONG High Seas: el Atlántico Sudeste y el Pacífico Sudeste. Tras analizar las oportunidades en estas dos regiones, este informe destaca algunas vías claras por las que este enfoque integrado puede apoyar significativamente la conservación de la biodiversidad en ABNJ. A continuación, se incluyen algunas recomendaciones de este informe. Para un conjunto más completo de posibles acciones y decisiones que podrían adoptar una serie de actores para mejorar la GIO, véase Table 2 en el capítulo 3.

Description: The high volume of plastic packaging currently consumed in Germany poses a complex socio-ecological risk. As part of the BMBF-funded ENSURE research consortium, environmental psychologists at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam have studied various policy options to promote a reduction in individual consumption of plastic food packaging. A representative nationwide survey of 1,200 persons conducted by the researchers shows that 92 per cent of the interviewed consumers consider plastic waste in the environment a threat to the preservation of our natural resources and the foundations of life. Despite this widespread awareness, the consumption of plastic packaging continues to grow: In 2018, Germany generated over three million tonnes of plastic packaging waste; more than double the amount produced in 1997. The findings of the ENSURE project indicate that consumers are willing and indeed wish to reduce their consumption of plastic packaging; however, they are hindered by personal and structural barriers. Political action is needed to break down these barriers to change and support consumers in their efforts. This IASS Policy Brief presents three strategic policy recommendations that could help reduce the consumption of packaging in daily life. Following an outline of the broader context and key issues, these three recommendations are explained in detail. In conclusion, we highlight the need for a systemic approach to the reduction of plastic packaging.

Description: An EU Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may bring severe economic consequences to countries without the resources to adapt to a low-carbon paradigm. The EU should therefore consider possible policy risks and involve third-country stakeholders in CBAM policy design; use CBAM revenues to fund decarbonisation in at-risk countries; and build emissions reporting requirements around existing international obligations.

Description: The purpose of this study is to examine if and how the EU CBAM influences the climate policy debate in Ukraine, one of the countries that is expected to be most affected due to its large share of carbon- intensive exports to the EU. The study seeks to find out how the EU CBAM can be made more instrumental in promoting an increase in the country’s climate policy ambition.

Description: South Africa is in the midst of an energy transition, with important social and economic implications, depending on the pathway that is chosen. Economic prosperity, new sources of income for citizens and households, business and employment opportunities as well as health impacts: through its energy pathway, South Africa will define the basis for its future development.

Description: Eine Vielzahl an Unternehmen nutzen Rahmenwerke, um ihre Aktivitäten hinsichtlich Nachhaltigkeit zu steuern und / oder darüber zu berichten. Es existieren zahlreiche Rahmenwerke mit Vorgaben hinsichtlich der Aktivitäten bzw. der Berichterstattung. Dies führt derzeit nicht zu der gewünschten Vergleichbarkeit von Nachhaltigkeitsleistung zwischen den anwendenden Organisationen. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die Eigenschaften bestehender Rahmenwerke anhand exemplarisch ausgewählter Rahmenwerke herauszuarbeiten und vergleichend zu analysieren, um einen Anforderungskatalog zu entwickeln, der eine standardisierte und vergleichbare Berichterstattung zulässt. Die Firma B.A.U.M. Consult wurde vom Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) beauftragt, diese explorative Studie zu erstellen. Das Ergebnis soll als Grundlage für die Entwicklung eines universellen, gesetzlich verpflichtenden Rahmenwerks zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung dienen. Dieser Standard soll ermöglichen, die Beiträge von Unternehmen zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung vergleichbar abzubilden und soll universell für Unternehmen jeder Größe und Art anwendbar sein.

Description: Many companies use corporate sustainability reporting frameworks to manage and/or report on their sustainability activities. Numerous corporate sustainability reporting frameworks are available and provide guidelines for activities and/or reporting. As a result, it is difficult to draw comparisons between organizations with respect to their sustainability performance. This study seeks to identify the key characteristics of current frameworks on the basis of a selection of reporting frameworks and to conduct a comparative analysis of these characteristics in order to develop a catalogue of requirements to facilitate standardized and comparative reporting. B.A.U.M. Consult was commissioned by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) to prepare this exploratory study. The findings of this study are intended to serve as the basis for the development of a universal and legally binding framework for sustainability reporting. This new standard would facilitate the comparison of corporate contributions to sustainable development and should be designed for use by companies of all sizes and types.

Description: Este resumen para los tomadores de decisiones está basado en el informe “Ecological Baselines of the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific – Status of Marine Biodiversity and Anthropogenic Pressures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” y proporciona información consolidada sobre las principales características biológicas y ecológicas de las zonas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional (ABNJ, por sus siglas en inglés) en el Pacífico Sudeste, así como, destaca las principales presiones que ejercen sobre ellas las actividades humanas. Las ABNJ incluyen la columna de agua (alta mar) y el lecho marino (la Zona) fuera de la Zona Económica Exclusiva (ZEE) de los estados ribereños y cubren aproximadamente la mitad de la superficie de la Tierra. El presente resumen tiene por objeto informar a los agentes e interesados pertinentes para reforzar su conocimiento de la función e importancia de la diversidad biológica marina en las ABNJ y la necesidad de adoptar medidas apropiadas de conservación y gestión. El informe se preparó como parte del proyecto Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas (‘STRONG High Seas’) – financiado por el Ministerio Federal Alemán de Medio Ambiente, Protección de la Naturaleza y Seguridad Nuclear (BMU) a través de la Iniciativa Internacional sobre el Clima (IKI).

Description: This report aims to showcase and assess the participative multi-stakeholder approach used in the STRONG High Seas project to co-develop and co-design activities and outputs such as scientific assessments and capacity development programs. In particular, the report provides reflections from the project team on the numerous lessons learned during the project duration on participative multi-stakeholder approaches in transdisciplinary ocean governance research, such as designing and implementing effective engagement strategies, designing targeted capacity development programmes, and fostering co-creative research processes for supporting decision-making and achieving policy impact. The reflections on and recommendations for participative multi-stakeholder approaches within transdisciplinary ocean governance research gained through the course of the STRONG High Seas project can be found in Chapter 3.

Description: Diese Broschüre stellt den multikriteriellen Ansatz zur Bewertung von Energiewende-Politik vor, der im Kopernikus-Projekt „Energiewende-Navigationssystem“ (ENavi) im Arbeitspaket „Bewertung“ (AP11) entwickelt wurde. Die illustrierte Zusammenfassung verdeutlicht die Stellung des Bewertungsansatzes im Gesamtprojekt sowie die einzelnen Schritte des Bewertungsprozesses und zeigt anhand von exemplarischen Maßnahmen die hohe Relevanz der ENavi-Bewertungskriterien für die Gesellschaft.