Press

Designing artificial intelligence to be environmentally-friendly

Press releases 11/25/2025

Debate about artificial intelligence (AI) is currently focused on energy consumption and carbon emissions. However, the more crucial ecological challenges lie deeper: algorithm-based decision-making systems (ADS), which are increasingly based on AI, are shaping human behaviour and social processes. This is giving rise to socio-technical mediation of environmental impacts; such mediated impacts have been largely overlooked to date by existing environmental legislation. In a new study, Oeko-Institut, along with the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU), the Society for Institutional Analysis (sofia) and experts from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Jade University and IOW Rostock, has analysed how environmental law can be adapted and extended to respond to this development.

EU’s Renewable Energy Directive remains a catalyst for renewables amidst political instability

Press releases 10/01/2025

A new joint study* reveals that the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has been a significant political stimulus for EU Member States to initiate spatial mapping for renewables and the designation of renewable acceleration areas

Oeko-Institut warns against weakening due diligence obligations

Water protection is a human right

Press releases 09/10/2025

Water is a vital resource for people, nature and the economy. But this resource is under pressure worldwide: changes in precipitation patterns, extreme weather events and the increasing water needs of agriculture, industry and households are leading to shortages and pollution. However, global companies have failed to systematically take water risks into account to date, even though there are substantial dangers in global supply chains in particular. A recent study conducted by Oeko-Institut shows that the strategic importance of water is often still low.

Check the sustainability of chemicals easily online with ChemSelect

Press releases 07/07/2025

Various substances are available for a wide range of chemical applications. These substances can have very different effects on humans and the environment. ChemSelect is a freely available web application developed by Ökopol and Oeko-Institut on behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency. It helps users of chemicals, including product manufacturers, to assess the sustainability of their products and select good chemicals.

Guzman Renovable: How a tiny village is powering Spain’s local energy transition

Blog 12/01/2025

One of Spain's first rural energy communities has been established on the Burgos plateau. Dr Sibylle Braungardt describes how the community achieved this in this blog post.

Assessment of risks, opportunities, and alternatives for promoting carbon farming

Temporary carbon units from carbon farming and EU agri-food climate policy

News 11/07/2025

With Europe’s climate ambitions placing growing expectations on the agricultural and land sectors, our new report analyses how carbon farming – that is, practices that result in the temporary storage of carbon in natural ecosystems or the reduction of soil emissions - can be enhanced, without compromising environmental integrity.

EU Climate Target 2040: Assessment of the Council Proposal

News 11/07/2025

On 5 November, the European Council presented its proposal for the EU climate target for 2040 and for the revision of the EU Climate Law. As in the European Commission's proposal, European countries are to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, but the amount of international carbon credits to achieve the 2040`s target will be significantly increased. This is a key milestone on the EU’s path to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Issues to watch out for at COP30 in Belèm

Blog 10/29/2025

From 10 to 21 November 2025, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) will take place in Belém, Brazil. At this year’s COP, key issues will include the new climate pledges by countries for 2035, a proposal by Brazil for a new fund to protect rainforests, further work on scaling-up climate finance for developing countries, and a framework to measure progress on adaptation. At this time of geopolitical tension and after the renewed withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, COP30 will also serve as a test of the multilateral process: how well will countries work together to address climate change?