On April 26, 1986, Reactor Unit 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. The disaster marked a turning point in the German and international nuclear debate. Just a few months later, in August 1986, the IÖW and the Öko-Institut presented a report that systematically examined the possibilities of phasing out nuclear energy. Forty years later, we ask our former IÖW colleagues Prof. Dr. Martin Jänicke, Prof. Dr. Sabine Spelthahn, and PD Dr. Lutz Mez: What does this report signify today? more

Lithium is a key raw material for battery production and thus for the energy and transportation transitions. However, despite rapidly rising demand, European and German extraction and processing capacities remain limited. In the new collaborative project “Rotliegend as a lithium resource in the North German Basin – from exploration to extraction” (RoLiXX), researchers from the IÖW, along with other partners, are investigating whether lithium can be extracted sustainably and economically from highly saline groundwater in deep geological layers of the North German Basin. more

For a year, more than 200 citizens of Berlin worked together with Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin) and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) to explore how healthy and equitable mobility can be achieved in Berlin. On March 27, 2026, they presented their findings from the “AMBER” project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research. Their conclusion: The needs of disadvantaged groups have been neglected in Berlin’s road space and public transport. To make active mobility – such as walking or cycling – more attractive for everyone, what is needed first and foremost is not new laws or technical innovations, but rather the consistent implementation of existing legal frameworks and the strengthening of infrastructure. The citizens participating in the study summarized what they consider to be the key requirements for improving mobility in Berlin in a policy proposal addressed to policymakers. more

As the energy transition enters a phase of accelerated progress, new obstacles are emerging, and political, economic, and social challenges threaten to slow its momentum. In a new policy brief, researchers from the IÖW and Fraunhofer ISI demonstrate why research on issues of social justice and social participation, communication and narratives, and geopolitical dependencies is essential to ensuring the progress of the energy transition in its current phase. more

What impact does it have when young people get involved in committees such as advisory boards, executive boards, or forums? Researchers at the IÖW, commissioned by the Institut Futur at Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin), investigated this question using the youpan as a case study. It is the youth forum of the National Platform for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the German “Nationale Plattform BNE”. For the study, the IÖW conducted interviews with members of the youpan and other committee members of the Platform. The interviews show that the participants not only expand their own skills and networks but also influence decisions within the committees. more

Order books are full, but construction sites are short-staffed. Can digital innovation solve this problem and improve working conditions at the same time? The Quincy research project is developing a smart learning and assistance system for assembly work on large open-field solar installations. Sensors will recognize activities, provide appropriate learning content, and give feedback – for example, to teach healthy posture. On March 12, 2026, the team presented its ideas at the 72nd Spring Congress of the Society for Ergonomics (GfA) in Kassel. more

Health is not a private matter. The well-being of humans, animals, and ecosystems are inextricably linked – and concepts such as Planetary Health, One Health, and EcoHealth show what this means in practice. The current issue of “Ökologisches Wirtschaften” presents them – exploring their potential, but also their contradictions. In the introduction, Dr. Vivian Frick, researcher at the IÖW, emphasizes that the transformation in the areas of sustainability and health is stagnating for similar reasons. more