ALBERT

Description: To enable quality control of measurement procedures for determinations of Mg isotope amount ratios, expressed as δ26Mg and δ25Mg values, in Earth-surface studies, the δ26Mg and δ25Mg values of eight reference materials (RMs) were determined by inter-laboratory comparison between five laboratories and considering published data, if available. These matrix RMs, including river water SLRS-5, spring water NIST SRM 1640a, Dead Sea brine DSW-1, dolomites JDo-1 and CRM 512, limestone CRM 513, soil NIST SRM 2709a and vegetation NIST SRM 1515 apple leaves, are representative for a wide range of Earth-surface materials from low-temperature environments. The inter-laboratory variability, 2s (twice the standard deviation), of all eight RMs ranges from 0.05 to 0.17‰ in δ26Mg. Thus, it is suggested that all these materials are suitable for validation of δ26Mg and δ25Mg determinations of Earth-surface geochemical studies.

Description: Fisheries advice is based on demographic calculations, which assume that density-dependent processes regulating recruitment occur only in early life. This assumption is challenged by laboratory and lake studies and some recent indications from marine systems that demonstrate density-dependent regulation late in life. By accounting for spatial dynamics of a population, something that has previously been ignored in models of fish, we show that density-dependent regulation is determined by the size of the habitat: in small habitats, for example small lakes, regulation occurs late in life, while it can occur early in large habitats. When regulation happens late in life, fisheries yield is maximized by exploitation of mainly juvenile fish, while exploiting mature fish maximizes yield if regulation happens early. We review and interpret observations of density dependence in the light of the theory. Our results challenge the current assumption that density dependence always occurs early in life and highlights the need for an increased understanding of density-dependent processes. This can only come about by a change of focus from determining stock-recruitment relationships towards understanding when and how density-dependent regulation occurs in nature.

Description: The spatial structure of species is important for their dynamics and evolution, but also for management and conservation. There are numerous ways of inferring spatial structures, and information from multiple methods is becoming more common to examine how different processes shape the spatial structures of species to improve fish management. Here, we investigate the spatial structure of a suite of Baltic Sea fish species based on the following: (i) spatial (presumably neutral) genetic differentiation, reviewed from the literature, and (ii) spatial synchrony in abundance changes from time series of fishery‐independent surveys, which we currently find to be underused given the amount of data available. For each of these two methods, species were classified as having a distinct, continuous or no/weak spatial structure. In addition, based on each source of information, we estimated the spatial scale of management units for species. The results show that only among species confined to the coastal zone the two sources of information yielded a congruence of the spatial structure (displaying a continuous spatial structure). In contrast, offshore species show weak spatial genetic structure but stronger spatial structure of synchrony in abundance. Based on this, we suggest that population genetic structure and synchrony in abundance should be used as complementary information as they reflect different spatial processes and suggest that management actions should differ with respect to scale depending on the management targets applied. We propose similar analysis should be applied to areas outside the Baltic Sea, and other stock identification methods, to improve management of fish resources.

Description: We report U–Pb zircon ages of c. 700–550 Ma, 262–220 Ma, 47–38 Ma and 15–14 Ma from amphibolites on Naxos Island in the Aegean extensional province of Greece. The zircon has complex internal structures. Based on cathodoluminescence response, zoning and crosscutting relationships a minimum of four zircon growth stages are identified: inherited core, magmatic core, inner metamorphic (?) rim and an outer metamorphic rim. Trace element compositions of the amphibolites suggest igneous differentiation and crustal assimilation. Zircon solubility as a function of saturation temperatures, Zr content and melt composition indicates that the zircon did not originally crystallize in the mafic bodies but was inherited from felsic precursor rocks, and subsequently assimilated into the mafic intrusives during emplacement. Zircon inheritance is corroborated by the complex, xenocrystic nature of the zircon in one sample. Ages of c. 700–550 Ma and 262–220 Ma are assigned to inherited zircon. Available geochemical data suggest that the 15–14 Ma metamorphic rims grew in situ in the amphibolites, corresponding to a high-grade metamorphic event at this time. However, the geochemical data cannot conclusively establish if the c. 40 Ma zircon rims also grew in situ, or whether they were inherited along with the xenocrystic cores. Two scenarios for emplacement of the mafic intrusives are discussed: (i) Intrusion during late-Triassic to Jurassic ocean basin development of the Aegean realm, in which case the 40 Ma zircon rims would have grown in situ, and (ii) emplacement in the Miocene as a result mafic underplating during large-scale extension. In this case, only the 15–14 Ma metamorphic outer rims would have formed in situ in the amphibolitic host rocks.

Description: Populations of fishes provide valuable services for billions of people, but face diverse and interacting threats that jeopardize their sustainability. Human population growth and intensifying resource use for food, water, energy and goods are compromising fish populations through a variety of mechanisms, including overfishing, habitat degradation and declines in water quality. The important challenges raised by these issues have been recognized and have led to considerable advances over past decades in managing and mitigating threats to fishes worldwide. In this review, we identify the major threats faced by fish populations alongside recent advances that are helping to address these issues. There are very significant efforts worldwide directed towards ensuring a sustainable future for the world's fishes and fisheries and those who rely on them. Although considerable challenges remain, by drawing attention to successful mitigation of threats to fish and fisheries we hope to provide the encouragement and direction that will allow these challenges to be overcome in the future.

Description: Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, is an economically important marine fish species in Asia. A suite of 18 microsatellite markers chosen from published genetic linkage maps was used to carry out parentage assignments of 188 hatchery-reared juveniles from a small number of breeders. The probabilities of exclusion for the 18 microsatellite markers were 0.604–0.913, and the effectiveness of combined probability of exclusion reached 100% when using the eight microsatellite markers with higher Excl 1 probabilities. The cultured and wild stocks (WSs) were differentiated in a release-recapture population based on these markers. Of the 321 recaptured offspring, 28.34% were assigned to their parental pairs in our broodstock, whereas the remaining offspring could not be traced back to a possible sire or dam. Significant reduction in genetic diversity of the cultured stock (CS) had not been found compared with that of the WS. The results suggest that CSs released into the wild will not adversely affect the genetic structure of natural populations. Our results demonstrate that these markers provide an efficient tool for parentage assignments and genetic analysis of Japanese flounder.

Description: Managing fisheries presents trade-offs between objectives, for example yields, profits, minimizing ecosystem impact, that have to be weighed against one another. These trade-offs are compounded by interacting species and fisheries at the ecosystem level. Weighing objectives becomes increasingly challenging when managers have to consider opposing objectives from different stakeholders. An alternative to weighing incomparable and conflicting objectives is to focus on win–wins until Pareto efficiency is achieved: a state from which it is impossible to improve with respect to any objective without regressing at least one other. We investigate the ecosystem-level efficiency of fisheries in five large marine ecosystems (LMEs) with respect to yield and an aggregate measure of ecosystem impact using a novel calibration of size-based ecosystem models. We estimate that fishing patterns in three LMEs (North Sea, Barents Sea and Benguela Current) are nearly efficient with respect to long-term yield and ecosystem impact and that efficiency has improved over the last 30 years. In two LMEs (Baltic Sea and North East US Continental Shelf), fishing is inefficient and win–wins remain available. We additionally examine the efficiency of North Sea and Baltic Sea fisheries with respect to economic rent and ecosystem impact, finding both to be inefficient but steadily improving. Our results suggest the following: (i) a broad and encouraging trend towards ecosystem-level efficiency of fisheries; (ii) that ecosystem-scale win–wins, especially with respect to conservation and profits, may still be common; and (iii) single-species assessment approaches may overestimate the availability of win–wins by failing to account for trade-offs across interacting species.

Description: Mass fractions of Sn and In were determined in sixteen geological reference materials including basaltic/mafic (BCR‐2, BE‐N, BHVO‐1, BHVO‐2, BIR‐1, OKUM, W‐2, WS‐E), ultramafic (DTS‐2b, MUH‐1, PCC‐1, UB‐N) and felsic/sedimentary reference materials (AGV‐2, JA‐1, SdAR‐M2, SdAR‐H1). Extensive digestion and ion exchange separation tests were carried out in order to provide high yields (〉 90% for Sn, 〉 85% for In), low total procedural blanks (~ 1 ng for Sn, 〈 3 pg for In) and low analytical uncertainties for the elements of interest in a variety of silicate sample matrices. Replicate analyses (n = 2–13) of Sn‐In mass fractions give a combined measurement uncertainty of 2u that are generally 〈 3% and in agreement with literature data, where available. We present the first high precision In data for reference materials OKUM (32.1 ± 1.5 ng g−1), DTS‐2b (2.03 ± 0.25 ng g−1), MUH‐1 (6.44 ± 0.30 ng g−1), and PCC‐1 (3.55 ± 0.35 ng g−1) as well as the first Sn data for MUH‐1 (0.057 ± 0.010 μg g−1) and DTS‐2b (0.623 ± 0.018 μg g−1).

Description: Ecological studies based on time-series often investigate community changes centered on species abundance or biomass but rarely expose the consequential functional aspects underlying such changes. Functional diversity measures have proven to be more accurate predictors for ecosystem functioning than traditional taxonomic approaches and hence gained much attention. There are only limited studies available that analyse the functional implications behind decadal changes of entire communities. We studied zoobenthic communities of two habitats, sheltered and exposed, of a coastal system subject to contrasting changes in community composition over the past four decades. Besides eutrophication and climate-related impacts, the system has been invaded by a non-native polycheate Marenzelleria spp., adding altered functional properties to the communities. The functional dispersion (FDis) metric was used as a measure for comparing the functional diversity of the contrasting habitats, with special focus on the role of Marenzelleria for the entire communities. We highlight changes in the functional identity of the communities, expressed as community-weighted means of trait expression (CWM), using multivariate techniques, and investigate the relationship between taxonomic and functional changes. Despite contrasting community developments in the two habitats, with characteristics traditionally suggesting different environmental quality, we found that the FDis in both habitats remained similar and increased with the introduction of Marenzelleria. Although showing maintained functional diversity across time and space, the functional identity (CWM) of communities changed irrespective of taxonomical differences. Examples include inter alia alterations in palatability proxies, feeding position and sediment transportation types, indicating changed functionality of zoobenthos in coastal systems. We show, when focussing on qualitative functional changes of communities, it is important to evaluate the underlying functional identity, and not only rely on measures of the diversity of functions per se, as the quality indication of expressed functional traits can be concealed when using multi-functionality approaches.

Description: The advent of genomic-, transcriptomic- and proteomic-based approaches has revolutionized our ability to describe marine microbial communities, including biogeography, metabolic potential and diversity, mechanisms of adaptation, and phylogeny and evolutionary history. New interdisciplinary approaches are needed to move from this descriptive level to improved quantitative, process-level understanding of the roles of marine microbes in biogeochemical cycles and of the impact of environmental change on the marine microbial ecosystem. Linking studies at levels from the genome to the organism, to ecological strategies and organism and ecosystem response, requires new modelling approaches. Key to this will be a fundamental shift in modelling scale that represents micro-organisms from the level of their macromolecular components. This will enable contact with omics data sets and allow acclimation and adaptive response at the phenotype level (i.e. traits) to be simulated as a combination of fitness maximization and evolutionary constraints. This way forward will build on ecological approaches that identify key organism traits and systems biology approaches that integrate traditional physiological measurements with new insights from omics. It will rely on developing an improved understanding of ecophysiology to understand quantitatively environmental controls on microbial growth strategies. It will also incorporate results from experimental evolution studies in the representation of adaptation. The resulting ecosystem-level models can then evaluate our level of understanding of controls on ecosystem structure and function, highlight major gaps in understanding and help prioritize areas for future research programs. Ultimately, this grand synthesis should improve predictive capability of the ecosystem response to multiple environmental drivers.

Description: Despite considerable progress in the production of alternative diets, small concentrations of antinutrients remain common in aquaculture nutrition, resulting in a perpetual limitation with regard to the inclusion of plant ingredients in aquafeeds. These compounds are known to impair the general performance of fish when fed for a prolonged period of time, potentially affecting the animal's susceptibility to stress, too. Therefore, a 12-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the chronic effects of purified rapeseed protein concentrate (RPC), containing low concentrations of glucosinolates and phytic acid, on the relative expression of multiple target genes in the liver of juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima, L.). Our results revealed divergent patterns of gene expression, suggesting different coping strategies dependent on the grade of RPC substitution. Data implies increased metabolic rate of turbot fed a 33% RPC-substituted diet due to an upregulation of cytochrome c oxidase mRNA, accompanied by minor adjustments in metabolic pathways. While no signs of reduced welfare were found, data adumbrate a beneficial hormetic reaction. In the highest treatment level (66% RPC), diminished fish condition and reduced growth performance coincided with a downregulation of insulin-like growth factor I, further indicating a potential impaired resistance to stress. An additional downregulation of transferrin hints towards an increased liability to bacterial infections.

Description: The geological development of the Fogo island volcano commenced in the early Quaternary, and much later during the Last Glacial stage this involved a mega-scale lateral collapse of the former edifice. This later event created a large caldera-like landform open to the east, the floor of which is known as the Chã, and subsequently within this a strato-volcanic cone has grown. The last phase of volcanic activity started in late 2014 and persisted for 77 days. It had a devastating impact on the lives of the 1000 plus people who were living within the ‘caldera’, since two large villages and a smaller one were each totally destroyed in a matter of days by the advancing lavas. In addition, large areas of cultivated land, upon which the inhabitants were dependent for their livelihood, were enveloped by lava. The eruption proved to be of a greater magnitude than the immediately preceding one of 1995, when a mass evacuation was necessary but as only a few buildings were affected, resettlement followed. Unfortunately the much greater devastation to the human environment makes it doubtful whether any significant resettlement will be possible after the 2014–2015 event.

Description: The herbal remedy, milk thistle (Silybum marianum), has been used in traditional medicine for various liver, kidney, and gall bladder ailments. For over a decade, our research group has been investigating the flavonolignans obtained from this medicinal herb for cancer chemoprevention and hepatoprotection.[1–6] Recently, we extended our studies toward examining the diversity as well as distribution patterns of fungal endophytes in leaves, stem, and roots of milk thistle.[7] These fungi inhabit the internal living tissues of the host plants asymptomatically, though they may also cause disease over time.[8] In addition to the phylogenetic profiling of these endophytes, a series of fungal extracts were also examined for chemical composition. Although the plant–endophyte relationship may ormay not be mutualistic, the compounds produced by some endophytes could play a role in the growth and survival of the host. In a previous study, Penicillium restrictum, isolated from milk thistle, yielded promising secondary metabolites.[9] Hence, in pursuit of interesting chemistry, a related monoverticillate endophytic Penicillium sp. was explored.

Description: To estimate the anthropogenic contribution to climate signals in the recent past and future decades implies a certain degree of confidence in both understanding and simulating natural internal variability at interdecadal time scales. If we are to embark on the challenge of decadal prediction, we must be able to mechanistically attribute events to known processes and phenomena, and reproduce their features and statistics within our models. To date, models have succeeded in reproducing only partially spatial patterns, statistics and climatic impacts of interdecadal modes of variability. Reasons for the partial success and agreement among models are to be attributed to the short observational record, the different and complex flavours of coupling between the many subcomponents of the climate system, and the present inability to resolve all climate processes. At an even more fundamental level, this difficulty is aggravated by the limited understanding of the physical mechanisms involved. Here, we review the proposed mechanisms giving rise to interdecadal climate variability, we discuss the hypotheses explaining the main interdecadal modes of variability, and present an overview on the ability and level of agreement in their simulation by the latest generation of coupled climate models. To achieve any progress, the modeling community should focus on both improving the representation and parameterization of key ocean physical processes and obtaining a firmer grasp on the physical mechanisms generating the variability. Both goals can benefit from process studies, intercomparisons with perturbation experiments to study model's sensitivities, and the use of a hierarchy of climate models.

Description: The spatial structure of species is important for their dynamics and evolution, but also for management and conservation. There are numerous ways of inferring spatial structures, and information from multiple methods is becoming more common to examine how different processes shape the spatial structures of species to improve fish management. Here, we investigate the spatial structure of a suite of Baltic Sea fish species based on the following: (i) spatial (presumably neutral) genetic differentiation, reviewed from the literature, and (ii) spatial synchrony in abundance changes from time series of fishery-independent surveys, which we currently find to be underused given the amount of data available. For each of these two methods, species were classified as having a distinct, continuous or no/weak spatial structure. In addition, based on each source of information, we estimated the spatial scale of management units for species. The results show that only among species confined to the coastal zone the two sources of information yielded a congruence of the spatial structure (displaying a continuous spatial structure). In contrast, offshore species show weak spatial genetic structure but stronger spatial structure of synchrony in abundance. Based on this, we suggest that population genetic structure and synchrony in abundance should be used as complementary information as they reflect different spatial processes and suggest that management actions should differ with respect to scale depending on the management targets applied. We propose similar analysis should be applied to areas outside the Baltic Sea, and other stock identification methods, to improve management of fish resources.

Description: Climatic warming is a primary driver of change in ecosystems worldwide. Here, we synthesize responses of species richness and evenness from 187 experimental warming studies in a quantitative meta-analysis. We asked 1) whether effects of warming on diversity were detectable and consistent across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, 2) if effects on diversity correlated with intensity, duration, and experimental unit size of temperature change manipulations, and 3) whether these experimental effects on diversity interacted with ecosystem types. Using multilevel mixed linear models and model averaging, we also tested the relative importance of variables that described uncontrolled environmental variation and attributes of experimental units. Overall, experimental warming reduced richness across ecosystems (mean log-response ratio = –0.091, 95% bootstrapped CI: –0.13, –0.05) representing an 8.9% decline relative to ambient temperature treatments. Richness did not change in response to warming in freshwater systems, but was more strongly negative in terrestrial (–11.8%) and marine (–10.5%) experiments. In contrast, warming impacts on evenness were neutral overall and in aquatic systems, but weakly negative on land (7.6%). Intensity and duration of experimental warming did not explain variation in diversity responses, but negative effects on richness were stronger in smaller experimental units, particularly in marine systems. Model-averaged parameter estimation confirmed these main effects while accounting for variation in latitude, ambient temperature at the sites of manipulations, venue (field versus lab), community trophic type, and whether experiments were open or closed to colonization. These analyses synthesize extensive experimental evidence showing declines in local richness with increased temperature, particularly in terrestrial and marine communities. However, the more variable effects of warming on evenness were better explained by the random effect of site identity, suggesting that effects on species’ relative abundances were contingent on local species composition.

Description: Sediment core PS1904 reveals continuous records of planktic and benthic foraminiferal stable isotopes (δ18O/δ13C) from the north-eastern Greenland continental margin. The data show good comparability with other records from the Nordic Seas, allowing the stratigraphic range of PS1904 to be dated to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6. Focusing on MIS 5 reveals light δ18O values during MIS 5a compared to the last interglacial peak (MIS 5e) which indicates that surface and bottom water layers were strongly affected by freshwater during the former event. We present two possible scenarios explaining the origin and routing of the freshwater: (i) drainage of a Eurasian proglacial lake coupled with the collapse of the Kara Sea Ice Sheet at the MIS 5b/a boundary, and (ii) destabilization and melting of the nearby Greenland Ice Sheet. Although both scenarios could have acted simultaneously, sediment records from the Eurasian sector of the Arctic Ocean hint at the proglacial lake system in north-western Siberia as the largest freshwater source. Regardless of the actual source, the freshwater lowered the surface ocean salinity causing water column stratification and sea ice expansion. Increased sea-ice abundance led to a higher albedo and probably contributed to the cooling and global ice sheet growth that occurred subsequently during MIS 4.

Description: A new olivine reference material – MongOL Sh11‐2 – for in situ analysis has been prepared from a central portion of a large (20 cm × 20 cm × 10 cm) mantle peridotite xenolith from a ~ 0.5 Ma old basaltic breccia at Shavaryn‐Tsaram, Tariat region, central Mongolia. The xenolith is a fertile mantle lherzolite with minimal signs of alteration. Approximately 10 g of 0.5 to 2 mm gem quality olivine fragments were separated under binocular microscope and analysed by EPMA, LA‐ICP‐MS, SIMS and bulk analytical methods (ID ICP‐MS for Mg and Fe, XRF, ICP‐MS) for major, minor and trace elements at six institutions worldwide. The results show that the olivine fragments are sufficiently homogeneous with respect to major (Mg, Fe, Si) and minor and trace elements. Significant inhomogeneity was revealed only for phosphorus (homogeneity index of 12.4), whereas Li, Na, Al, Sc, Ti and Cr show minor inhomogeneity (homogeneity index of 1–2). The presence of some mineral and fluid‐melt micro‐inclusions may be responsible for the inconsistency in mass fractions obtained by in situ and bulk analytical methods for Al, Cu, Sr, Zr, Ga, Dy and Ho. Here we report reference and information values for twenty‐seven major, minor and trace elements.

Description: Aim: The interdependencies between trophic interactions, environmental factors and anthropogenic forcing determine how species distributions change over time. Large changes in species distributions have occurred as a result of climate change. The objective of this study was to analyse how the spatial distribution of cod and flounder has changed in the Baltic Sea during the past four decades characterized by large hydrological changes. Location: Baltic Sea. Taxon: Cod (Gadus morhua) and flounder (Platichthys flesus). Methods: Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) data for adult and juvenile cod and for adult flounder were modelled using Delta-Generalized additive models including environmental and geographical variables between 1979 and 2016. From the annual CPUE predictions for each species, yearly distribution maps and depth distribution curves were obtained. Mean depth and the depth range were estimated to provide an indication on preferred depth and habitat occupancy. Results: Adult and juvenile cod showed a contraction in their distribution in the southern areas of the Baltic Sea. Flounder, instead, showed an expansion in its distribution with an increase in abundance in the northern areas. The depth distributions showed a progressive shift of the mean depth of occurrence towards shallower waters for adult cod and flounder and towards deeper waters for juvenile cod, as well as a contraction of the species depth ranges, evident mainly from the late 1980s. Main conclusions: Our study illustrates large changes in the spatial distribution of cod and flounder in the Baltic Sea. The changes in depth distribution occurred from the late 1980s are probably due to a combination of expanded areas of hypoxia in deep waters and an increase in predation risk in shallow waters. The net effect of these changes is an increased spatial overlap between life stages and species, which may amplify cod cannibalism and the interaction strength between cod and flounder

Description: The continental expression of global cooling during the Miocene Climate Transition in Central Asia is poorly documented, as the tectonically active setting complicates the correlation of Neogene regional and global climatic developments. This study presents new geochemical data (CaSO 4 content, carbonate δ 13 C and δ 18 O) from the endorheic alluvial‐lacustrine Aktau succession (Ili Basin, south‐east Kazakhstan) combined with findings from the previously published facies evolution. Time series analysis revealed long‐eccentricity forcing of the paleohydrology throughout the entire succession, split into several facies‐dependent segments. Orbital tuning, constrained by new laser ablation U‐Pb dates and a preexisting magnetostratigraphy, places the succession in a 5.0 Ma long interval in the middle to late Miocene (15.6 to 10.6 Ma). The long‐term water accumulation in the Ili Basin followed the timing of the Miocene Climate Transition, suggesting increased precipitation in the catchment area in response to climate cooling and stronger westerly winds. This was paced by minima of the 2.4 Ma eccentricity cycle, which favored the establishment of a discharge playa (~14.3 Ma) and a perennial lake (12.6 to 11.8 Ma). Furthermore, low obliquity amplitudes (nodes) caused a transient weakening of the westerlies at ~13.7 to 13.5 Ma and at ~12.7 Ma, resulting in negative hydrological budgets and salinization. Flooding of the windward Ili Basin coeval with aridification in the leeward basins suggests that the Tian Shan was a climate boundary already in the middle Miocene. Our results emphasize the impact of climate fluctuations on the westerlies' strength and thus on Central Asian hydrology.

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

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Description: This guide for action can be used by policymakers at any level or in any form of government to identify how to redesign governance processes to respond to the Fridays for Future Movement in a way that is meaningful and impactful.

Description: Die Wissenschaftsplattform Nachhaltigkeit 2030 ist ein zentraler Ort der Wissenschaft, an dem sie drängende Fragen der Nachhaltigkeits-politik reflektiert und diskutiert – im Austausch mit Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Wissen für Nachhaltigkeit wird dort zusammengetragen und weitergetragen, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Umsetzung der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeits-strategie. Die Plattform arbeitet unabhängig und ist systematisch eingebunden in den offiziellen politischen Steuerungs-, Dialog- und Umsetzungsprozess der Agenda 2030. Träger der Plattform sind SDSN Germany, DKN Future Earth und das IASS Potsdam.

Description: Der Beteiligung von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern, Gemeinden und Städten an der Gestaltung undUmsetzung gesellschaftlicher Großprojekte wie der Energiewende wird vielerorts eine großeBedeutung beigemessen. Dies zeigt sich besonders da, wo die deutlich dezentraleren Strukturen desneuen Energiesystems die Planung von Windenergie- und Biomasseanlagen oder auch neuenÜbertragungsnetzen erforderlich machen. Bürgerbeteiligung wird hierfür als ein Modus gesehen, umKonflikte um Infrastrukturprojekte zu lösen und Akzeptanz herzustellen. Denn es zeigt sich, dass dierechtlich verankerten Formen der Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung nicht hinreichend sind, um sachorientiertewie emotionale Aspekte mit Betroffenen zu erörtern und Probleme lösen zu können.Zunehmend werden erweiterte Mitsprachemöglichkeiten bei Planungen und politischen Entscheidungsprozesseneingefordert, die zudem über die lokale Ebene und Planungsdetails konkreterEinzelprojekte hinausreichen. Der Blick in die Praxis zeigt, dass vielerorts in der Tat ergänzende Forender Meinungsbildung und Mitwirkung eröffnet werden. Wie dies konkret geschieht, ist jedoch eineoffene Frage. Denn insgesamt besteht nur wenig systematisches Wissen über die Praktiken undMethoden, mit denen Bürgerinnen und Bürger in die Erörterung von Zielen und Gestaltungsprinzipiender Energiewende, von Handlungsoptionen und konkreten Standortfragen eingebundenwerden. Will man derartige informelle Beteiligungsformen stärken, ist deshalb die Erarbeitung einesdifferenzierten Überblicks zu den angewandten Vorgehensweisen ein wichtiger Schritt. Dervorliegende Beitrag setzt hier an und legt in Form einer Beteiligungsmatrix eine Grundlage vor, nachder eine Systematisierung von Beteiligungsverfahren erfolgen kann.

Description: The series of the Yamal 2040 Scenario Workshops is a part of the international research project “BlueAction – Arctic Impact on Weather and Climate” funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme. This project aims to evaluate the impact of a changing Arctic on northern hemisphere weather and climate. Blue-Action brings together 120 experts from over 40 organizations in 17 countries most of whom are climate scientists dealing with improvement of existing and development of new techniques that will enable robust and reliable forecasting of weather and hazardous climate events in the Arctic and over the northern hemisphere. However, Blue-Action is not limited to natural science’ goals alone. As a final result, the project aims to improve the safety and wellbeing of people in the Arctic and across the northern hemisphere by reducing risks associated with a changing climate and Arctic operations like resource exploitation, and to support evidence-based decision-making by policymakers worldwide. To achieve this, Blue- Action takes a transdisciplinary approach, bridging scientific understandings of Arctic climate, weather and risk management research with key rights- and stakeholder knowledge. This is being done within the project’s Work Package 5 “Developing and Valuing Climate Services”, which consists of a set of case studies that bring scientists together with stakeholders to co-develop products that “translate” the model outputs and improved modelling skill developed in other work packages into societal- and sectorrelevant products. Our case study in the Blue-Action project develops a study of the impact of the Arctic changes on resource development in the Russian Arctic with the goal of improving stakeholders’ capacity to adapt to these changes. The Yamal 2040 Scenario Workshop series is at the core of the case study. The work carried out in this deliverable is a desk study producing a map of stakeholder groups involved in oil and gas development on the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO). This study is part of the preparatory work for the scenario exercise conducted in cooperation with various stakeholder groups active in or affected by oil and gas development in YNAO.

Description: Qu'il s'agisse d'énergie propre, de production durable ou de réduction de la pauvreté, les idées et analyses sur les défis du développement durable ne manquent pas. Pourtant, nous faisons encore trop peu de progrès pour atteindre un état de durabilité. Comment mieux mettre en oeuvre nos connaissances et lier les défis du développement durable, la science et les réponses politiques? Tel est le thème du Global Sustainability Strategy Forum, qui, tous les deux ans, réunira une quinzaine d'éminents experts internationaux sur la durabilité pendant une semaine, et pour la première fois du 4 au 8 mars 2019 à Potsdam.

Description: This guide for action can be used by decision-makers at any level or in any form of organisation or business to identify how to respond to the Fridays for Future Movement in a way that is meaningful, responsive and impactful.

Description: In Germany, the costs of renewable energies are financed through a surcharge on the price of electricity. Much speaks for the adoption of a more broad-based approach to financing. The energy transition is a strategic project involving the whole of society and public funding should accordingly be made available.

Description: Tras más de una década de deliberaciones informales, los Estados de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) están negociando actualmente un „instrumento internacional jurídicamente vinculante para la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad marina en las áreas situadas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional“ („Acuerdo BBNJ“). El objetivo de las negociaciones es reforzar el marco jurídico internacional para la protección y la gestión de los océanos globales, colmando las lagunas del marco actual y aprovechando las obligaciones existentes en virtud de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar (CONVEMAR) para cooperar en la protección y la preservación del medio ambiente marino y la conservación de los recursos marinos vivos. Este informe explora cómo la gestión ecosistémica (EBM, por sus siglas en inglés) en las áreas marinas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional (ABNJ, por sus siglas en inglés) puede ser promovida a nivel regional y cómo el acuerdo BBNJ puede aprovechar las experiencias de otros acuerdos legalmente vinculantes para fortalecer la cooperación, la coordinación y la coherencia regional. Para ello, se han identificado cinco bloques de construcción: 1. Un órgano global sólido, como una Conferencia de las Partes, capaz de tomar decisiones y adoptar recomendaciones; 2. Un conjunto de mecanismos regionales para el desarrollo y la coordinación de políticas integradas; 3. Mecanismos eficaces de asesoramiento científico-político; 4. Obligaciones y principios medioambientales generales; y 5. Principios operativos para garantizar una buena gobernanza. Un examen del actual proyecto de texto del Presidente del acuerdo BBNJ pone de relieve los aspectos en los que el texto podría reforzarse para hacer avanzar la EBM. En particular, el acuerdo BBNJ podría inspirarse en una serie de instrumentos existentes y establecer obligaciones específicas para: cooperar en la promoción de la conservación in situ de los ecosistemas y los hábitats naturales; integrar la biodiversidad en todos los órganos y procesos de toma de decisiones; y reforzar la cooperación regional apoyando a las instituciones existentes y creando plataformas de cooperación transectoriales.

Description: Deutschland wird weltweit als führend in der Förderung von erneuerbaren Energien und Energieeffizienz wahrgenommen. Die Energiewende ist international ein Vorbild. Mit seinen gewaltigen Potenzialen im Energiesektor ist Nordafrika ein lohnendes Ziel für die Entwicklungszusammenarbeit.

Description: Derzeit werden die Kosten erneuerbarer Energien durch eine Umlage auf den Strompreis finanziert. Eine Reihe von Gründen sprechen jedoch für eine breitere Finanzierungsbasis. Die Energiewende ist ein gesellschaftliches Zukunftsprojekt, für das zusätzliche öffentliche Mittel bereitgestellt werden sollten.

Description: From clean energy to sustainable production and the fight against poverty – insights into the many challenges of sustainable development are not in short supply. But despite the wealth of knowledge available to policymakers, little progress has been made in the transformation towards a sustainable future. How can we bring our knowledge to bear more effectively? This question underpins the Global Sustainability Strategy Forum, which will bring together 15 leading international experts for a week-long retreat in Potsdam every two years, beginning on 4 – 8 March 2019.

Description: KEY MESSAGES1. Without strategic investment in soil rehabilitation and protectionpoor and food insecure households will be left behind and globalagendas will not be achieved! Targeting is of the essence.2. Public investment in soil protection and rehabilitation must beincreased; the private sector has little incentive in investing in soilrehabilitation by food insecure households.3. Cross-sectorial coordination is pivotal to create the right incentivesand to ensure that structural hindrances to SLM are addressedsystematically.4. Technologies for protecting and rehabilitating land and soil at plotand farm levels are well known but are seldom applied at largerscales. Successful adoption – and adaptation – at scale is conditionalon locally owned and driven processes.5. Supportive tenure systems and responsive agricultural advisoryservices are essential preconditions for achieving soil protection andrehabilitation at scale. They must be gender and youth sensitive, andcreate the necessary incentives to protect the soils.

Description: What are the prerequisites for employing superconducting links in the power grid of the future? This document assesses the main elements of a new 3-gigawatt-class superconducting cable. In addition to discussing the technical details of the cable conductor, electrical insulation, and grid connections, it outlines the environmental benefits and future implementation challenges of this new technology. The concluding remarks include recommendations for industry and policymakers.

Description: Grundlegende gesellschaftliche Fragen, komplexe systemische Risiken, umfassende Zukunftsentwürfe - sie finden nach Meinung vieler Beobachter keinen angemessenen Platz in der politischen Auseinandersetzung und noch weniger im Handeln von Regierung und politischer Administration. Das ist das Problem, von dem hier die Rede sein soll. Es gilt daher Herausforderungen mittel- und langfristiger Art gezielter und systematischer zu Themen politischer Strategieentwicklung zu machen - das ist die Aufgabe. Die Frage ist: Welche Formen politisch-administrativer Organisation und Vorgehensweise sind geeignet mit solchen Herausforderungen umzugehen und nachhaltige Lösungsansätze zu erarbeiten? Ausgangsüberlegung hier ist es, dass über offene und innovative Suchprozesse effiziente und effektive Steuerungs- und Regierungsstrukturen identifiziert und initiiert werden können und sollten. Der vorliegende Beitrag begründet und skizziert einen Vorschlag für einen solchen offenen Suchprozess innerhalb des deutschen Regierungshandelns auf Bundesebene. Vorgeschlagen wird die Einrichtung eines „Government Innovation Lab(oratorium)s“ - als eine von mehreren Ressorts getragene Arbeitseinheit mit dem Auftrag, innovative abteilungs- und ressortübergreifende Kommunikations- und Kooperationsformen zu initiieren. "Lab" steht für den experimentellen und kollaborativen Ansatz, Innovation bezieht sich auf Organisation und Verfahren, Government adressiert den Innovationsimpuls in Richtung auf das Betriebssystem des Regierens selbst. Der Vorschlag für ein solches „Lab“ ist bewusst als ein experimenteller Impuls für den Kreis der Bundesministerien und als Stärkung ressortübergreifender Koordination zu verstehen. Das „Lab“ fokussiert auf Anstöße für organisatorische Innovationen in frühen Phasen der Themenfindung und -strukturierung im politisch-administrativen Umgang mit neuen und noch schwer greifbaren Problemlagen. Der Vorschlag ist als Experiment auf starke Promotoren und unterschiedliche Anknüpfungspunkte angewiesen, setzt er doch an der vielfach als neuralgisch – d.h. schmerzhaft und kaum lösbar - wahrgenommenen Frage an, wie auf Seiten der Exektuve Komplexität zu organisieren sei. Das hier vorgelegte Papier kann und soll nicht konkrete Optionen für die einzelnen Umsetzungs-schritte, die Organisation, Steuerung und Vorgehensweise entwerfen, sondern bietet für weitere Sondierungsgespräche im Raum von Experten, Promotoren und Entscheidern eine Gesprächs- und Diskussionsgrundlage. Am Beginn steht die Frage des Umgangs mit komplexen Herausforderungen im Politik- bzw. Regierungsbetrieb und die zentrale Rolle von Kommunikation, Kooperation und Koordination für nachhaltige Lösungsansätze (Teil 1). Es folgen Überlegungen zur Anschlussfähigkeit von Innovationen im Regierungsbetrieb mit Blick auf eine Stärkung ressortübergreifender Ko-ordination (Teil 2). Erläutert werden auf dieser Basis Grundidee und einzelne Stränge des angedachten „Government Innovation Lab“ (Teil 3), der Beitrag endet mit einem kurzen Ausblick (Teil 4). Der Beitrag entstand unter anderem vor dem beruflichen Hintergrund des Autors in der Organisationsberatung und seit 2007 als Referatsleiter im Bundesumweltministerium. Der Beitrag gibt jedoch ausschließlich persönliche Überlegungen und Einschätzungen des Autors wieder.

Description: Große Schiefergas-Lagerstätten finden sich in Frankreich, Deutschland, Polen, Rumänien und Großbritannien. Doch wie viel Gas dort überhaupt gefördert werden kann, ist längst noch nicht geklärt. Schiefergas könnte Europa Vorteile verschaffen, die Förderung birgt aber auch erhebliche Umweltrisiken.

Description: Das vorliegende Papier ist eine Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse der Arbeitsgruppe Global Commons der Wissenschaftsplattform Nachhaltigkeit 2030 (WPN 2030) (Laufzeit Januar 2018 – Dezember 2019). Die Plattform wurde 2017 gegründet, um die Umsetzung der Agenda 2030 und ihrer Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) sowie der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie (DNS) wissenschaftlich zu begleiten. Im Rahmen der Arbeitsprozesse wurde die Nutzung und Governance sogenannter Global Commons als ein zentrales Thema von Nachhaltigkeitspolitik in, mit und durch Deutschland identifiziert. Kernziel der eingesetzten Arbeitsgruppe war es, aus einer sektorenübergreifenden Bestandsaufnahme der Governance zentraler Commons Handlungsempfehlungen abzuleiten, wie Deutschland zur Stärkung der globalen Nachhaltigkeitsarchitektur in diesem Bereich beitragen kann. Zu diesem Zweck fokussierte sich die Arbeitsgruppe auf die folgenden zentralen Umweltressourcen mit Bezug zur Agenda 2030: (i) Wälder, (ii) Böden/Biodiversität, (iii) Ozeane und (iv) Süßwasser. Zur Vertiefung dieser Bereiche wurden vier Hintergrundstudien in Auftrag gegeben, welche die globale Governance der jeweiligen Ressourcen und die Rolle Deutschlands analysieren.

Description: The focus of climate policy is shifting towards local and regional contributions as well as initiatives by different actors and economic sectors, such as transport and traffic engineering. How can multi-level governance approaches be leveraged to enhance climate governance?

Description: Der vorliegende praktische Leitfaden richtet sich an politische Entscheidungsträgerinnen und Entscheidungsträger auf jeder Ebene und in jeder Form von Regierung. Er soll helfen, Governance-Prozesse so umzugestalten, dass sie mit einer bedeutungsvollen, wirksamen Reaktion auf die Bewegung Fridays for Future eingehen.

Description: In a decarbonised future electricity system, Europe will rely on fluctuating renewable sources, such as solar PV and wind power, to a much larger extent than today. This means that Europe as a whole and each individual country on the continent must increase the availability of flexibilityoptionsin order to balance the grid. Such flexibility options include dispatchable renewable sources (e.g. concentrating solar power (CSP)with thermal storage), electricity storage, anddemand-response. We start from the notion that the future does not happen, but it is madeby a series of policy decisions between now and then. If this is true, then the electricity system of 2050 is determined by the sum of all policy decisions affecting the power system – the policy pathway – in all legislations in Europeuntil 2050. In this report, we take the first steps towards identifying the potential future role for dispatchable renewables – specifically CSP with thermal storage – as a function of policy decisions that either increase the need for power system flexibility (e.g. fluctuating renewables) or provide flexibility (e.g. storage, dispatchable renewables, flexible demand). We draw on the energy transition logics framework developed by Foxon and colleagues. This framework poses that the space of possible energy transition pathways is a triangle with three distinct policy logicsin its corners: a state-centred logic, in which the central government leads or carries out the transition; a market-centred logic, in which the government sets the framework but leaves all other decisions to market actors; and a grassroots-centred logic, in which the transition is carried out locally with the resources available to each community. Any transition strategy will consist, in some constellation, of policies from these corner. We investigate policy strategies in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and of the European Union as a whole. For each case, we define one dominant pathway, consisting of currently valid, implemented policies of the current (or newly resigned) government. In addition, we identify up to three minority pathwaysfor each case, describing the energy policy visions and strategies of parties that are currently in opposition but could form a government in the future. For each case, we identify pathways representing each of the three logics, bothin narrative formand as a set of 41 quantitative variables affecting the need for and provision of power system flexibility. This report is a primary data source for the power system modelling in the MUSTEC project. This modelling will happen in 2019 and 2020, and will bring detailed, quantitiave insights of how the potential role for dispatchable renewables is affected by energy policy decisions. However,from the data we have derivedhere, we can draw a number of conclusions. We show that all countries and the EU as a whole seek to strongly decarbonise their power systems, as a key part of economy-wide decarbonisation efforts. Some countries have plans that would suffice to fulfil the European (Union and national) commitments under the Paris Agreement: net-zero emissions, mainly or exclusively based on renewables. We also show that all countries seek to vastly expand intermittent renewables, which will trigger a greatly increased need for flexibility. However, this is not reflected in the policies we analysed: no pathway, dominant or minority, is specific on how they want to provide flexibility, especially not at the scale and pace needed. This problem will be exacerbated as the climate targets are tightened and fossil fuels – first coal and lignite (mainly in the 2020s) and later gas power (especially in the 2040s) – are phased out: once this happens, the European power system(s) will lose much of its current flexibility, and unlessother, carbon-free flexibility options are expanded, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain power system stability.

Description: Klimawandel, Hungersnöte, Weltwirtschaftskrisen: Viele Risiken sind heute systemisch, vernetzt und nicht über geläufige Ursache-Wirkungs-Modelle erklärbar. Natürliche, technische und sozioökonomische Prozesse interagieren mit gesellschaftlichen. Die Risikoforschung braucht einen systemischen Blick.

Description: Das Diskussionspapier untersucht die bilateralen Energiepartnerschaften der Bundesregierung - eines der zentralen Elemente der deutschen internationalen Energiewendepolitik. Gestützt auf eine umfassende Datenanalyse liefert es eine Bestandsaufnahme der Ziele, Umsetzung und inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte der Partnerschaften. Zudem arbeitet es deren Rolle in der bilateralen Energiezusammenarbeit heraus. Das Diskussionspapier liefert damit erstmals eine umfassende wissenschaftlich fundierte Analyse zur Gestaltung dieses wichtigen Politikinstruments. Auf dieser Basis stellt es fünf Thesen zur weiteren Ausgestaltung der Energiepartnerschaften vor. Die Auswertung zeigt die Flexibilität des Politikinstruments Energiepartnerschaften. Die Partnerländer sind in hohem Maße divers. Sie beinhalten Vorreiter im Bereich erneuerbare Energien ebenso wie große Erdgas- und Öllieferanten. Die Bundesregierung passt das Politikinstrument der Ausgangslage des Partnerlands an. Die Federführung liegt dabei in Deutschland zumeist im Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi) und in den Partnerländern in der Regel ebenso im Energieministerium. Mit der Umsetzung der Partnerschaften betraut sind die GIZ, adelphi, Navigant und die AHK. Diese Umsetzer unterhalten teilweise auch Sekretariate im Partnerland. Typisch für viele Partnerschaften sind regelmäßige Treffen von Steuerungs- und Arbeitsgruppen. In deren Rahmen werden in einigen Partnerschaften auch andere deutsche Ministerium eingebunden. Zu den strategischen Zielen der Partnerschaften zählen neben der Förderung einer globalen Energiewende Aspekte wie die Stärkung des internationalen Klimaschutzes und die Verbesserung von Exportchancen für deutsche Unternehmen. Konkretisiert wird dies in operativen Zielen wie der Unterstützung des Partnerlands beim Ausbau von erneuerbaren Energien oder der politischen Flankierung von Unternehmensaktivitäten. In ihrer Umsetzung unterscheiden die Partnerschaften sich dabei von Aktivitäten anderer Ministerien im Bereich der bilateralen Energiezusammenarbeit sowie der Außenwirtschaftsförderung im Energiebereich des BMWi. Sie schaffen dabei einen strategischen Mehrwert, indem sie Ressortkommunikation im Bereich internationale Energiewendepolitik ermöglichen, als Dach für internationale Energiewendeaktivitäten dienen und ein Netzwerk für die globale Energiewende aufbauen.

Description: This document fulfils RECIPES delivery 2.1, the literature research for the multi-case study analysis, and covers the theoretical component of criteria for multi-case study analysis. Those criteria are presented in delivery 2.2 as the comparative multiple-case design, which is the methodological framework developed in task 2.2. Thus deliveries 2.1 and 2.2 are tightly linked, and should be taken together as the overall case study framework for WP2. The comparative multiple-case design contains the practical methodological framework required by each partner to execute the case study analysis for task 2.3. Delivery 2.3 explains the case study selection process which was undertaken to arrive at the eight cases studies to be carried out in WP2.

Description: Der globale Wasserbedarf im Energiesektor ist enorm. Ohne Politikwechsel wird er weiter stark wachsen. Dabei gefährdet Wassermangel schon jetzt die weltweite Energieversorgung. Vielerorts musste die Stromerzeugung aufgrund von Dürren oder Hitzewellen bereits vorübergehend zurückgefahren werden.

Description: Die Energiewende wird intensiv beforscht – glücklicherweise. Wir haben inzwischen zuverlässige Abschätzungen zu Fragen des notwendigen Technikeinsatzes, der Kosten für Endverbraucher und Gesellschaft und der zu erwartenden Konsequenzen für Umwelt und Gesundheit. Es ist gut erfasst, wie viel CO2 wir mit der Energiewende bereits eingespart haben und was geboten ist, um die CO2-Emissionen weiter zu reduzieren. Auch über die Auswirkungen des Ausbaus der erneuerbaren Energien auf den Natur- und Artenschutz gibt es eine Reihe von wissenschaftlichen Studien. Es gibt aber eine Frage, die bislang wenig wissenschaftlich beleuchtet wurde: Was macht die Energiewende mit der Gesellschaft? Dass wir hierzu sehr wenig wissen, verblüfft. Denn schon lange herrscht im fachlichen Diskurs Einigung vor: Nachhaltigkeit hat nicht nur eine ökonomische und eine ökologische, sondern auch eine soziale Dimension. Daher gilt es, über die gesellschaftlichen Wirkungen der Energiewende genauso gut Bescheid zu wissen wie über die wirtschaftlichen oder ökologischen. Höchste Zeit also, der Frage nach der sozialen Nachhaltigkeit eine solide empirische Basis zu geben. Das Institut für transformative Nachhaltigkeitsforschung (IASS) hat gemeinsam mit dem RWI-Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung über 7.500 Haushalte in einer Panel Untersuchung befragen lassen. Mit dem „Sozialen Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer der Energiewende 2017“ legen wir nun erstmalig die Ergebnisse vor.

Description: Bei der Realisierung einer nachhaltigen Lebensweise kommt der Wirtschaft zentrale Bedeutung zu. Dies umfasst sowohl die Entwicklung eines entsprechenden regulatorischen Rahmens als auch die Förderung und Etablierung nachhaltiger Unternehmenspraktiken, die ökologische und soziale Be-lange integrieren. Branchenübergreifend ist dabei eine Auseinandersetzung zwischen ökofairem und konventionellem Wirtschaften zu beobachten, von der Agrarwirtschaft, über Chemie und Automo-bilindustrie, bis zur Energiewirtschaft – um die besonders umstrittenen Branchen zu nennen. In Wis-senschaft und Öffentlichkeit wird über die Machbarkeit von ökofairem Wirtschaften im Wettbewerb mit vorrangig profitgetriebenen Konkurrenten diskutiert, wobei der Fokus meist auf einer Analyse der Geschäftspraktiken liegt. Der vorliegende Artikel wendet sich dem bisher meist wenig beleuchte-ten Aspekt der mentalen Voraussetzungen öko-fairen Wirtschaftens zu und beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, welche Einstellungen und Werten den Entscheidungen von ökofairen UnternehmerInnen vorausgehen und diese prägend beeinflussen. Dabei zeigt die Auswertung von 35 qualitativen Interviews mit GeschäftsführerInnen und InhaberIn-nen ökofairer Betriebe, dass sie – unterschiedlich ausgeprägt - Verantwortung übernehmen für die Belange aller Berührungsgruppen ihres Unternehmens, von KundInnen, über MitarbeiterInnen, Lie-ferantInnen, das lokale Umfeld, die Gesellschaft und die Natur. Sie definieren Nachhaltigkeit als zukunftsorientiertes Konzept für die Wirtschaft. Ihre Anstrengungen für nachhaltige Unternehmens-praxis werden von vielen nicht als Belastung empfunden, sondern erfüllen sie mit Freude. Unter-nehmensintern leben sie es vor, setzen die Ressourcen des Unternehmens dafür ein und verstetigen den Kurs mit Regelwerken, Nachhaltigkeitsberichten und Managementsystemen. Die Vorteile des ökofairen Wirtschaftens werden aus den Angaben der Befragten deutlich. Diese Unternehmen führen den lebenden Beweis, dass eine werte-orientierte, ethisch motivierte Wirtschaftspraxis im Wettbe-werb bestehen kann. Im Anschluss an die Darstellung der Interview-Ergebnisse werden die Stufen der Entwicklung des Bewusstseins, die in der Studie erkennbar wurden, nachgezeichnet und mit dem Konzept des Homo Oeconomicus verglichen. Es wird argumentiert, dass es erforderlich ist, das Verständnis des Homo Oeconomicus zu überwinden, um die ökologischen und sozialen Herausforderungen des Anthropo-zäns bewältigen zu können. Die Weiterentwicklung der ethischen Reife der Menschheit wird als die grundlegende Voraussetzung der Veränderung beschrieben. Danach werden die Möglichkeiten der Verbreitung von fortschrittlichen Denkformen in Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Staat erörtert und es wird eine Perspektive zur Veränderung aufgezeigt, die in Ansätzen bereits existiert.

Description: Die Studie arbeitet gesellschaftliche Strukturdeterminanten und -dynamiken sowie Frames, Bedingungsverhältnisse, Trade-offs, Kopplungen und Eigendynamiken von Energiewende und – in deutlich verkürzter Form – von Energiekonflikten und von nachhaltiger Entwicklung heraus, thematisiert die Zusammenhänge dieser drei Sphären, und versucht auf dieser Grundlage, Entwicklungsmuster und Erfolgschancen der Energiewende abzuschätzen. Als eine soziotechnische Transformation verlangt die Energiewende die Realisierung eine Vielzahl von Maßnahmen in praktisch allen Teilsystemen der Gesellschaft, die ihrerseits vielfältige Konflikte generieren. Von daher ist die Energiewende in ihrer Entwicklung nicht akteurspezifisch steuerbar und eine erwünschte konsistente, ihre Nachhaltigkeit gewährleistende, produktive Konflikte nutzende und unproduktive Konflikte vermeidende Energiewendepolitik allenfalls ansatzweise zu erwarten. Prinzipiell ist eine die Energiewende konsequent vorantreibende Interaktionsdynamik der sie prägenden Einflussfaktoren zwar denkbar und möglich, in der Praxis ist hingegen eine die Energiewende eher erratisch antreibende Interaktionsdynamik aus einer Kombination von für sie vorteilhaften und nachteiligen Einflussfaktoren zu beobachten.

Description: Der vorliegende praktische Leitfaden richtet sich an Entscheidungsträgerinnen und Entscheidungsträger auf allen Ebenen in jeder Art von Organisation und Unternehmen. Er soll eine bedeutungsvolle, wirksame Reaktion auf die Bewegung Fridays for Future ermöglichen.

Description: The primary aim of the report – Ecological Baselines of the Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Pacific - Status of Marine Biodiversity and Anthropogenic Pressures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – is to provide decision makers with relevant and useful information on the current status of the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), both in the Southeast Pacific and the Southeast Atlantic, as well as highlight key pressures placed upon it by human activities. Such information is intended to support decision makers with improved understanding of the functioning and importance of ecological features of ABNJ and their contribution to global human wellbeing.

Description: In dieser Broschüre finden Sie die wichtigsten Zahlen und Fakten zum IASS auf einen Blick. Außerdem eine Auswahl an Zeitschriftenartikeln und Publikationen der Schriftenreihe aus den Jahren 2014 bis 2016.