Ecology

The annual COP (Conference of the Parties) is the highest decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the primary multilateral forum for international climate policy. Here, the 198 signatory states negotiate agreements and assess progress in addressing the climate crisis. We provide an overview of past conferences and the current COP.

While much of the AI debate focuses on its economic potential, its expanding physical footprint tells a different story. The machines driving this revolution depend on a resource far older – and far more contested – than data or electricity.

New policy briefs by a broad range of stakeholders in energy and social policy outline key levers for the EU to improve citizen participation and inclusion in the energy transition. 

Green Tech has emerged as one of the defining factors in the relationship between the European Union (EU) and China, intertwining their economic ambitions and security considerations with their climate commitments.

Water is the basis of all life. It covers more than two-thirds of our planet, comprises most of our bodies, and binds us humans with nature in a unique way. Without water, there would be no plants, no animals, and no people. Water shaped us and the world we live in long before we began to manage and control it. No wonder that it has left its mark on the religions, art, and culture of every civilisation. But today water, that indispensable resource, is threatened more than ever by overuse, by the effects of the climate crisis, and by pollution. The water cycle of our planet is tipping out of balance, and we have already exceeded the limits of sustainable water use. A change of course is urgently needed. Fortunately, such a change is still possible.

Water is the basis of life. It covers more than two-thirds of our planet and shapes ecosystems and cultures. Industrialisation, overexploitation, and population growth are driving water scarcity, water pollution and conflicts.

Returning the land to nature and agriculture that restores the soil can create so-called climate landscapes that are able to soak up carbon and water. That helps against droughts and floods, promotes biodiversity, and cools the climate. It also maintains the local and regional water cycles that sustain life on Earth.

Water is becoming scarcer in Colombia, and pollution is rising. Community water management offers a solution: it allows communities to take control of their water, make decisions collectively, and prioritise sustainability and equity. Could this democratic alternative be a chance to manage the world’s water challenges?

Contamination, parched rivers and recurring floods expose the fragility of Europe’s water systems. Robust legislation exists, but governments are slow to act. Delivering water resilience requires leadership, investment and real accountability.

The climate crisis is disrupting the balance of the global water cycle. While rain floods entire regions, others suffer from severe drought. Where water becomes either a threat or a scarcity, the basis of life begins to falter. All the more crucial are solutions like restored wetlands and climate-resilient building in sponge cities, practices that can retain, manage – and safeguard – water and lives.