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.
Environment

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)

Digital Product Passport – Enabler of the Circular Economy
In a circular economy, a new understanding of economic activity and an alternative approach to raw materials are required. Resources should be used for as long as possible in order to reduce both the material and energy consumption as well as the waste and emissions of an economic system to a minimum.
Adriana Neligan / Carmen Schleicher / Barbara Engels / Thorsten Kroke IW

Climate Clubs as a Lightning Rod for Tensions in Trade and Industrial Competitiveness
The Paris Agreement has established a transformative paradigm. While this transformation will create winners and losers, it now seems increasingly clear that overall, there are tremendous opportunities.
Thilo Schaefer IW
Infrastructure: The Next German Challenge?
Closed bridges, outdated railway control centres, missing high-voltage power lines between north and south, as well as dead zones in the mobile network. In recent years, bad news about the German infrastructure has been piling up.
Thomas Puls in Italian Institute for International Political Studies IW
![[Translate to English:] Spritpreistafel einer Araltankstelle [Translate to English:] Spritpreistafel einer Araltankstelle](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/7/csm_Araltankstelle-Preistafel-GettyImages-1383966754-creative_226d85bbf9.jpg)
Better in the West refuel – An inventory of gasoline and diesel prices at the start of the vacations
On 22 June, the summer holidays begin in North Rhine-Westphalia. As every year, many will then be going on holiday by car and for this reason the prices of petrol and diesel regularly become a hot summer topic.
Thomas Puls / Jan Wendt IW
Our Experts

Andreas Fischer
Economist for Energy and Climate Policy
Tel: +49 221 4981-402 Mail: fischer@iwkoeln.de
Dr. Adriana Neligan
Senior Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability
Tel: +49 30 27877-128 Mail: neligan@iwkoeln.de @a_neligan
Thomas Puls
Senior Economist for Transport and Infrastructure
Tel: +49 221 4981-766 Mail: puls@iwkoeln.de
Dr. Thilo Schaefer
Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit
Tel: +49 221 4981-791 Mail: thilo.schaefer@iwkoeln.deAlongside 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.
All news

Green Nudging – a key against littering?
The demand for cleanliness in cities is increasing: "Littering" - the illegal littering of public spaces - does not only cause costs for the environment and society, but also has significant financial consequences through increased cleaning costs.
Jennifer Potthoff IW

The Transformation of the Automotive Industry: An International Comparison of Germany's Innovation Performance
The automotive industry is undergoing a comprehensive technological transformation that is challenging established value chains. Making sure that domestic research helps to shape this ongoing transformation is therefore an important task for countries with a significant car industry.
Enno Kohlisch / Oliver Koppel / Thomas Puls IW

Digital Product Passport – Enabler of the Circular Economy
In a circular economy, a new understanding of economic activity and an alternative approach to raw materials are required. Resources should be used for as long as possible in order to reduce both the material and energy consumption as well as the waste and emissions of an economic system to a minimum.
Adriana Neligan / Carmen Schleicher / Barbara Engels / Thorsten Kroke IW
Climate Clubs as a Lightning Rod for Tensions in Trade and Industrial Competitiveness
The Paris Agreement has established a transformative paradigm. While this transformation will create winners and losers, it now seems increasingly clear that overall, there are tremendous opportunities.
Thilo Schaefer IW

German Industry's Options for a Secure Supply of Raw Materials
In recent years German industry has seen a rise in the risks attached to its procurement of raw materials.
Cornelius Bähr / Hubertus Bardt / Adriana Neligan IW
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