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.
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.
IW-Trends No. 3 23. October 2025 Thomas Puls / Edgar Schmitz
How much Does the State of Transport Infrastructure Affect Businesses in Germany?
For the fourth time, the German Economic Institute has surveyed companies in Germany to determine whether they are regularly affected by infrastructure deficiencies in their general business activities and, if so, which infrastructure networks are the source of these problems.
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.
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.
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.
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.
GTIPA Perspectives: Making AI Policy to Drive Innovation
Vera Demary
Germany’s federal structure leads to a diverse landscape of AI policies across the country. While
the EU AI Act establishes a general framework for AI policy throughout the continent, Germany’s
federal government is responsible for national AI policies.
More and more companies in Europe are using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In 2025, one in five companies in the EU with 10 employees or more used at least one major AI technology, up from 8% in 2023 (Eurostat, 2026a).
Contribution
31. August 2026
Samina Sultan in the Financial Times
Letter: Expanded EU carbon border tax is not a reaction to US tariffs
In his op-ed (August 12) Andrew Puzder, the US ambassador to the EU, accused the EU of double standards. He argued that criticising US tariffs on steel and aluminium derivatives while simultaneously imposing Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism charges on the same products, is hypocritical.
European Minimum Wage Directive and Strengthening Collective Bargaining Coverage
Hagen Lesch / Lennart Eckle / Sandra Vogel
The EU Minimum Wage Directive recommends that EU Member States achieve a collective bargaining coverage of 80 per cent to ensure adequate minimum wages.
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