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Environment

Alongside digitalization, climate change is the megatrend of our time. Our economy is still largely dependent on fossil energies. How must the economy be shaped so that it is in harmony with the environment? What does an economically efficient and socially acceptable climate policy look like? How can energy needs be met more and more from renewable sources? Can the transformation to a circular economy succeed? These and other questions are addressed by the Environment Energy Infrastructure competence area at the Institute of German Business.

About the topic

In 2015, Germany and the EU set themselves ambitious goals by signing the UN Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. Important levers for greater sustainability exist, for example, in transport, the building sector and industry. The EU also has big plans when it comes to climate protection: The Green Deal is intended to pave the way to a climate-neutral future. The money for this - one trillion euros - is to be raised via a fund and come from private investors.

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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Critical Raw Materials: Corporate Exposure, Supply Risks and Adaptation Strategies
IW-Trends No. 2 6. August 2026 Adriana Neligan et al.

Critical Raw Materials: Corporate Exposure, Supply Risks and Adaptation Strategies

Critical raw materials are vital inputs for key technologies and thus for industrial competitiveness.

Adriana Neligan / Cornelius Bähr / Hubertus Bardt / Edgar Schmitz IW

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Reform of the EU ETS 1 and accompanying instruments: A policy mix for the decarbonisation of industry
Expertise 14. July 2026 Thilo Schaefer et al

Reform of the EU ETS 1 and accompanying instruments

The reforms to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS 1) for the energy sector, energy-intensive industries, and aviation and maritime transport, due to take place in 2026, must address two key aspects in particular.

Thilo Schaefer et al IW

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CO2 Regulation of Road Transport in Europe
Expertise 23. February 2026 Thomas Puls

Compendium 5.7: CO2 Regulation of Road Transport in Europe

With the Compendium CO2 Regulation in Europe, the IW has been providing the interested public with a comprehensive collection of data on the development of CO2 emissions from passenger car traffic in the European Union, as well as on the applicable regulatory framework, since 2015.

Thomas Puls IW

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circular economy in North Rhine-Westphalia
IW-Policy Paper No. 2 21. January 2026 Sarah Lichtenthäler / Adriana Neligan

From aspiration to implementation: circular economy in North Rhine-Westphalia

The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is currently developing a circular economy strategy at the state level.

Sarah Lichtenthäler / Adriana Neligan IW

Our Experts

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Andreas Fischer

Andreas Fischer

Senior Economist for Energy and Climate Policy

Tel: +49 221 4981-402
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Adriana Neligan

Dr. Adriana Neligan

Senior Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability

Tel: +49 30 27877-128 Adriana Neligan @a_neligan
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Thomas Puls

Thomas Puls

Senior Economist for Transport and Infrastructure

Tel: +49 221 4981-766
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Thilo Schaefer

Dr. Thilo Schaefer

Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit

Tel: +49 221 4981-791 Thilo Schaefer
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All news

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Critical Choices: How Malaysia and Germany can Navigate Shifting Energy Geostrategy
External Publication 26. October 2026

Critical Choices: How Malaysia and Germany can Navigate Shifting Energy Geostrategy

Stewart Nixon* / Malte Küper in Policy Ideas

Malaysia and Germany, as constructive and reliable participants in globally interdependent energy (as well as trade and financial) markets, face an increasingly hostile, volatile, and uncertain environment surrounding energy choices.

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Fiscal Effects of Having Children
IW-Report No. 43 15. October 2026

Fiscal Effects of Having Children

Wido Geis-Thöne

The fiscal effects of children are relevant to various areas of policymaking.

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Event 14. October 2026 Alexander Radunz

Expert Workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act

The German Economic Institute (IW) and Frontier Economics are pleased to invite you to a rapporteur & stakeholder workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) in Brussels.

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Universal entitlement, unequal provision: childcare in segregated German cities
External Publication 13. October 2026

Universal entitlement, unequal provision: childcare in segregated German cities

Matthias Diermeier / Jan Engler* / Melinda Fremerey / Leon Wansleben* in Journal of Social Policy

One mechanism driving persistent inequalities in childcare provision, despite rising investments and a substantial expansion of childcare facilities, may consist in the locational choices of providers, who eschew poorer neighbourhoods.

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A Comparison of Public Revenues Across the Federal States
IW-Report No. 41 12. October 2026

A Comparison of Public Revenues Across the Federal States

Björn Kauder

To ensure equivalent living conditions, the federal government influences the revenues of the states and municipalities. Under the fiscal equalization system, financially weak states receive surpluses in the distribution of sales tax revenues, while financially strong states must accept shortfalls.

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German Foreign Investment and the debate over Germany as a business location
IW-Report No. 39 6. October 2026

German Foreign Investment and the debate over Germany as a business location

Samina Sultan / Jürgen Matthes

Geopolitical pressure and the debate over Germany’s competitiveness make it necessary to develop a more precise understanding of German foreign direct investment. This report provides a comprehensive empirical analysis and also examines the implications for Germany as a business location.

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The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison
IW-Trends No. 3 29. September 2026

The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison

Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff / Augustin Renz

Honesty reduces transaction costs and is therefore a prerequisite for effective economic cooperation.

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Event 28. September 2026 Sandra Parthie / Alexander Radunz

Online-Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin”: Regionalentwicklung und Industriepolitik

Wir laden Sie herzlich zu einer weiteren Online-Veranstaltung unserer Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin“ ein. Mit ihr wollen wir in loser Folge Themen aus der europäischen in die deutsche Hauptstadt tragen.

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Complementary Capabilities for Circular Practices: Firm-Level Evidence in Germany on the Role of Digitalization and Innovation
External Publication 16. September 2026

Complementary Capabilities for Circular Practices: Firm-Level Evidence in Germany on the Role of Digitalization and Innovation

Sarah Lichtenthäler / Adriana Neligan in Journal of Circular Economy

The transition to a circular economy (CE) requires firms to reconfigure business models, processes and capabilities.

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Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring
IW-Report No. 38 11. September 2026

Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring

Paula Risius / Dirk Werner / Philip Herzer / Fritz Orange / Regina Flake / Franziska Arndt / Yasin Küçükyavuz / Edgar Schmitz

In-company vocational training is a key factor in securing skilled labour. The first step in investing in future employees is to approach and recruit new apprentices. For many companies, filling the apprenticeship positions they offer is a challenge.

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