https://www.ioew.de Nachrichten vom IÖW de TYPO3 News Thu, 21 May 2026 00:13:34 +0200 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:13:34 +0200 TYPO3 EXT:news news-1445 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/40-years-since-chernobyl-a-phase-out-of-nuclear-power-could-have-been-implemented-as-early-as-1987 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? news-1443 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:18:55 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/lithium-aus-dem-norddeutschen-becken-projekt-rolixx-erforscht-nachhaltige-gewinnung-aus-tiefenwaessern 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. news-1434 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:19:21 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/citizen-scientists-in-berlin-call-for-better-access-to-sustainable-transportation 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. news-1432 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/the-energy-transition-under-pressure-why-social-research-is-especially-important-now 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. news-1433 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:59:19 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/involving-young-people-in-committees-benefits-both-the-participants-and-the-committees-work 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. news-1428 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:18:32 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/improving-workers-qualification-quincy-project-wants-to-enable-sensor-supported-learning-on-large-construction-sites 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. news-1426 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:07:01 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/planetary-health-new-issue-of-oekologisches-wirtschaften 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. news-1417 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:18:00 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/the-energy-transition-as-a-societal-task-the-bewegt-project-aims-to-make-research-more-visible 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). news-1409 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:09:55 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/buergerenergie-im-wandel-neue-ausgabe-oekologisches-wirtschaften 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. news-1405 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:21:35 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/global-biodiversity-loss-how-the-eu-can-promote-environmentally-friendly-consumption 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. news-1402 Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:45:49 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/wandel-am-limit-und-jetzt-tagung-von-ioew-und-voew-exploriert-antworten 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. news-1395 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:17:30 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/sustainable-finance-oekologisches-wirtschaften-3-2025 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. news-1392 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:57:39 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/bewegt-new-accompanying-research-for-energy-transition-and-society 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). news-1383 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 08:30:00 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/new-administrative-director-at-the-ioew Stefanie Freier was appointed administrative director of the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) on 1 July 2025. She takes over the position from Marion Wiegand, who was part of the Institute's Board of Directors for almost 30 years and is now retiring. Thanks to her many years of experience as a finance and personnel expert at the IÖW, Stefanie Freier is excellently prepared to manage the externally funded institute. news-1381 Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:30:00 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/green-transition-how-policymakers-can-redirect-financial-flows-towards-sustainability A large proportion of global capital still flows into climate-damaging activities. Financing the green transition is a decisive factor in whether the climate targets are achieved. A research project conducted by Witten/Herdecke University and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) with funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has investigated how the financing gap can be closed and what policymakers and the financial sector can do to achieve this. Today, the project team presented its findings and addressed three key recommendations for a more sustainable financial policy in the policy brief “Financing the green transition”. news-1372 Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:32:59 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/change-at-the-limit-ecological-management-2-2025 After a brief euphoria of sustainable change, the socio-ecological transformation project currently appears to be stagnating. Approval ratings are falling and reactionary forces are gaining ground. Has socio-ecological change reached its limit? In the current issue of the journal “Ökologisches Wirtschaften”, our authors discuss political, sociological and economic explanations for the phenomenon of stagnation, look at the underlying structural challenges and discuss proposed solutions and strategies. It also becomes clear that some of our own convictions must be critically questioned if the project of sustainable change is to have any chance of success. news-1367 Tue, 06 May 2025 10:09:00 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/community-energy-why-and-how-policy-should-promote-it More and more citizens are joining forces to generate their own energy locally. The coalition agreement between the parties CDU/CSU and SPD reinforces this commitment: they want consumers to play an active role in shaping the energy transition – for example through community energy, tenant electricity or energy sharing. Researchers from the IÖW and the Leuphana University of Lüneburg show in a policy paper what obstacles community energy still faces and how these can be removed. news-1361 Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:08:00 +0200 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/heat-storage-for-a-climate-neutral-berlin-making-better-use-of-waste-heat-and-renewable-energies Berlin must make its heat supply climate-neutral – as stipulated in the Heat Planning Act. Heat storage systems play a central role in this. This is shown by a joint study conducted by the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI), the IÖW and the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM) on behalf of the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment (SenMVKU). Conclusion: Heat storage systems make it possible to use surplus heat, become less dependent on fossil fuels and reduce the load on the electricity grid. news-1358 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:16:24 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/now-what-space-for-change-volunteer-initiatives-can-apply-for-free-use-of-the-ioew-lab “We let the change in!” - is the motto of the Lab on the first floor of the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW). Associations and initiatives can use the rooms for work meetings, workshops and exchanges with researchers. This allows us to try out new forms of transdisciplinary collaboration and support employees, students, alumni and groups from the institute's network in their voluntary work. Free spaces are now available again. news-1353 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:50:08 +0100 https://www.ioew.de/en/news/article/healthy-mobility-for-all-citizen-science-study-be-mobile-in-your-own-way-in-berlin On foot, by bike, with a walking frame or pram, in a wheelchair, by car or public transport: a city's mobility is as diverse as its inhabitants. How can the city of Berlin better meet these different needs? A citizen science study will be launched in April 2025. Freie Universität Berlin and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) are inviting people to take part in the study under the motto “Be Mobile in Your Own Way”. The aim is to find out what barriers exist for people who want to move around the city in a healthy way. Registration for the study is open until the 1st of April 2025.