Ecology

Articles

Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Imme Scholz on a green background with the words “Get Involved - Presidents' Column”

Criminalising Ecocide: Germany's Chance to Take the Lead

Published: 31 October 2025

When ecosystems are destroyed by human action, there must be consequences. The EU has criminalised large-scale environmental damage. Germany now has the opportunity to take leadership – and set a positive example – by introducing a law against ecocide.

Imme Scholz

Screenshot aus Erklärfilm: Ein Technofix für das Klima? Land-basiertes Geoengineering (BECCS)

Delay, Distract and Deceive: BECCS Developments in South America, Africa and Asia

Published: 30 November 2023

Analysis

Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technologies are among the most problematic in carbon removal geoengineering. Part two of our series analyses the status of BECCS in South America, Africa, and Asia.

Coraina de la Plaza, Kwami Kpondzo, Souparna Lahiri

Winning the Marathon and the Sprint: Achieving long-term economic policy objectives in an era of short-term responses

Published: 21 April 2022

Paper

This article wants to provide food for thought on what a long-term economic policy could look like. In the context of the climate crisis, increasing inequality, the loss of biodiversity and financial instability, the challenge is to craft a strategic approach that can set the course for long-term success.

Jonathan Barth, Jakob Hafele, Prof. Dr. Adam Tooze

High-risk geoengineering technologies won’t reverse climate breakdown

Published: 21 March 2022

Commentary

Techno fixes like carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management are no substitute for exiting coal, oil and gas – whatever polluters would like you to think.

Linda Schneider

"Mainstreaming gender and empowering women for environmental Sustainability"

Published: 14 March 2022

Analysis

In March 2020, the OECD Global Forum on Environment focused on "Mainstreaming Gender and Empowering Women for Environmental Sustainability". This summary report on the OECD-Forum highlights selected environment-related sectors and policies, and how they should be discussed from a gender-responsive perspective.

Birte Rodenberg

Dossiers

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Published: 21 March 2022

Dossier

We are following the work of the IPCC, currently in the 7th Assessment Cycle, particularly with regard to the topics of net-zero, “overshoot” of 1.5 degrees, and high-risk geoengineering technologies such as solar geoengineering (SRM) and technological CO2 removal (Carbon Dioxide Removal, CDR).

Dossier: Understanding Southeast Asia

Published: 27 October 2015

The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015/2016 will have drastic impacts on the socio-economic development and democratization of the ten member countries. This dossier and the lecture series seek to explain current political developments, societal changes and economic trends in the region.

Publications

Kohleatlas

Published: 24 November 2025

Atlas

Germany is world champion! In lignite mining. A quarter of Germany's greenhouse gas emissions come from the 30 largest coal-fired power plants. The result is dramatic damage to the climate, the environment, and human health. The Coal Atlas shows that a gradual phase-out of coal-fired power generation is technically possible and necessary.

Mooratlas 2023

Published: 20 November 2025

Atlas

The Peatland Atlas highlights the consequences of the destruction of these unique habitats and shows the opportunities that wet moors and their use offer society, encouraging all stakeholders to take action – “Moors must be wet!”

Climate Justice and Equitable Futures

Published: 6 February 2025

Policy Paper

The briefing shows how the scenarios of the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report (AR6) perpetuate existing inequalities into the future. It explores alternative perspectives that prioritize equitable futures, climate justice, and well-being for all in IPCC AR7.

Tejal Kanitkar, T. Jayaraman

From Boom to Burden

Published: 10 December 2024

Report

This report strives to shed light on the various biophysical as well as sociocultural long-term impacts of mining, which can mean massive long-term monetary costs for states and further generations.

Andrés Ángel, Johanna Sydow

Shaping a Future-Fit Common Agricultural Policy

Published: 26 November 2024

Policy Paper

For more than half a century, the European Union's agricultural policy has focussed primarily on increasing agricultural productivity and the cost-effective production of food. This policy paper provides recommendations for action that are largely possible without amending the EU treaties.

Phillip Brändle

Addressing Afghanistan’s Climate Induced Exodus

Published: 26 June 2024

E-Paper

In Southern Afghanistan, an urgent crisis is brewing. Water scarcity is driving large-scale displacement and migration, threatening to escalate into a global issue. Decades of drought have depleted traditional water sources, pushing communities to rely on unsustainable groundwater extraction.

Hamzah

World map with illustrated animals and plants on peatlands, incl. bird, frog, dragonfly, cow, reeds, and leaves.

Peatland Atlas 2023

Published: 1 September 2023

Atlas

The Peatland Atlas highlights the consequences of the destruction of these unique habitats and shows the opportunities of wet peatlands and their use for society in order to encourage all actors to take action.

Illustration - Petra Kelly mit Megaphon auf grünem Hintergrund

Petra Kelly - A Graphic Novel

Published: 1 December 2022

Graphic Novel

Petra Kelly was a co-founder of the German Green Party and known worldwide as a champion of ecology and human rights. She was tireless, fascinating and inspiring. So it's no surprise that her ideas and initiatives live on in today's politics: in the fight against climate change, for gender justice and the global validity of human rights. This year, the Heinrich Böll Foundation celebrates her 75th birthday and commemorates her violent death 30 years ago.

More publications about Ecology (17)