Annual Report 2024: Scientific clarity against the headwinds
Science in headwinds
© Öko-Institut
These remain challenging times for the environment and climate. Despite progress on renewables expansion and new political strategies for a more sustainable economy, climate action is encountering opposition in many quarters. How can we stay on course despite the headwinds? Which scientific solutions exist for a socially just transition? And how can policy-makers, businesses and society be motivated to do more for the climate and resource conservation?
These questions are explored in the Oeko-Institut’s new 2024 Annual Report, titled “Headwinds”. It shows how science can provide fact-based guidance and how current challenges can be addressed as key future-focused questions.
Insights into research and consultancy
A key focus of the Institute’s research in 2024 was a just approach to the energy transition. The necessary expansion of wind and solar is causing competition over land – so what can be done to ensure that its distribution is fair? Science-based regional planning offers entry points for viable solutions. The report also shows how people can be motivated to engage more fully in protecting the climate again. Here again, social justice is a key factor for a successful transition to sustainability.
The circular economy continued to be a key topic in research and consultancy at the Oeko-Institut in 2024 as well: together with policy-makers, the Oeko-Institut supported the development of the National Circular Economy Strategy, the aim being to make more efficient use of resources and minimise waste.
New: the Oeko-Institut’s Science Forum
With the development of its new Science Forum in 2024, the Oeko-Institut now has a flexible and interactive event format which intensifies the dialogue between stakeholders from science, politics, business and civil society. With “Circular Economy – What’s next?” as their theme, experts and decision-makers discussed the future of the circular economy; key issues relating to resource conservation, economic incentives and public acceptance were explored at several online forums and an in-person session. The Forum created space for innovative ideas, scientific findings and practical solutions in a format that will be expanded further in future.
Insights into the Institute’s work and structure
Alongside these topics, the Annual Report offers insights into more than 500 research projects undertaken in 2024 – ranging from promoting the heat transition and innovative approaches in textile recycling to sustainable mobility. And finally, it also provides some key facts and figures about the Institute itself – including staff numbers, turnover and project development.
