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

Converting the energy system to be climate-neutral is more than just a technical project – it is a social task. That is why numerous research projects are investigating not only technological innovations but also aspects such as participation, affordability, resilience, and democratic design. The new research project “BEWEGT – The Energy Transition Society” by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) networks and supports numerous research projects in the funding priority “Energy Transition and Society” of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). more

Citizens are actively involved in the energy transition – from installing their own solar panels to joining energy cooperatives that build wind turbines. However, community energy is not just about producing electricity, but also about models for consuming it collectively, such as tenant electricity or energy sharing. The current issue of “Ökologisches Wirtschaften” highlights how such communities operate. In the introduction Jan Wiesenthal, Astrid Aretz, Malte Zieher and Lydia Takit address the question of where community energy stands today and what potential it has despite the difficult framework conditions. more

14 tonnes of material consumption per person – according to Eurostat, this is how large the footprint of consumer behaviour in Europe is in 2024. The goal would be 5.5 to 8 tonnes says United Nations Environment Programme. This consumption contributes to global biodiversity loss, especially in the Global South. A new study by the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu) highlights the role of soy, palm oil and shrimp production. The researchers make recommendations for EU policy in line with biodiversity conservation goals. This week, the results of the study “Towards nature-friendly consumption”, com-missioned by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), were discussed at an online conference with international experts. more

How can social change be shaped when crises are on the rise and trust in political processes is dwindling? This question was the focus of the conference “Change at the Limit. What Now?”, hosted by the Institute for Ecological Economy Research and the Association for Ecological Economy Research in Berlin on October 9, 2025. Around 120 participants from research, politics, civil society, and the media explored ways to advance social and ecological change in a fair, democratic, and collaborative manner. more

Green investments are considered a key lever for sustainable transformation, but greenwashing is widespread in the financial sector. The latest issue of “Ökologisches Wirtschaften” highlights the challenges facing green finance and shows which problems remain despite new EU guidelines. How can public and private financial flows be mobilized to promote greater sustainability—for example, for climate-resilient infrastructure, new technologies, and economic sectors? Despite rising investment in renewable energies, there are “huge financing gaps” in many areas that require targeted steering, according to Florian Kern and Bernd Hirschl in the introduction to the focus section. more

Accelerating the energy transition: Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) came together at a two-day kick-off meeting in Karlsruhe in July to launch the new BEWEGT project. The accompanying research and coordination project on the “Energy Transition and Society” funding priority is part of the Energy Research Program for applied Energy Research of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). more