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.

Study shows ways to achieve climate neutrality by 2050

News 03/23/2026

The EU's current climate policy measures are not sufficient to achieve the emission targets for 2030 or to ensure climate neutrality by 2050. Although progress in the energy and transport sectors is already leading to falling emissions, industry, buildings and agriculture remain the major problem sectors. This is the conclusion of a study published today by Oeko-Institut and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) on behalf of the German Environment Agency.

New analysis

Interventions in the EU ETS are not a suitable way of reducing electricity prices

News 03/19/2026

A new analysis carried out by Oeko-Institut shows that interventions in the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) are not a suitable way of reducing electricity prices. In view of rising energy prices, there is currently a debate on how to reduce electricity costs in Europe. The proposal to exempt electricity generation from natural gas from the EU ETS could lower electricity prices in the short term, but would simultaneously lead to new problems.

“Women have boundless capacity to learn”

Blog 03/11/2026

Brenda Geofrey, Country Director at Barefoot College International Zanzibar, answered three questions for the Oeko-Institut.

Protest as nuclear cultural heritage: the example of Gorleben in Germany

Blog 03/05/2026

Our approach to dealing with radioactive waste and remembering its dangers is reflected in our nuclear cultural heritage. Germany already has nuclear cultural heritage from which lessons can be learned in the search for a final disposal. This third post in the blog series examines the nuclear cultural heritage that has emerged in the context of final disposal and protest, using Gorleben as an example.