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

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. more