An Algorithm for Peace? AI in International Peace Mediation Commentary AI in the context of international conflict is more likely to be associated with lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS) on the battlefield. Hiding on the other side of that coin are, however, rewarding questions regarding AI’s possible contribution to peace. By Katharina Höne
What are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and what is their status in Germany? Commentary Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) allow energy consumption of buildings to be compared, turning their energy efficiency into a selling argument when selling or renting out a building. This analysis looks at the status of EPCs in Germany. By Senta Schmatzberger
Fashion Sustainability: Achieving Circularity in Clothing Consumption Explainer The staggering amount of waste generated by the disposable fashion model has become a major problem over the years. Newer business models utilize systems thinking and aim to move away from a linear system and towards a closed loop scenario. By Olga Cieslak
What role could off-shore wind energy play in Europe's energy transition? Explainer In May 2022, four EU member states, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, held the North Sea Summit in Denmark’s leading offshore harbor. At this summit, the four countries signed the Esbjerg Declaration that will make the North Sea the green power plant of Europe, focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen. By Karin Jensen
What is the relation between meat consumption and climate change? Explainer Meat consumption is a contentious issue for any reasons, with many condemning the practice on moral, ethical or religious grounds. But its climate impact is indisputable. By Rachel England
What is Tech Diplomacy? Explainer The term “tech diplomacy” has gained currency over the last five years. The following text aims to unpack it and highlight specific examples of tech diplomacy practices. By Katharina Höne
What is Germany's cleantech strategy? Backgrounder Since the 1970s, Germany has been a leader in cleantech and environmental protection, initially focusing on pollution control across water, air, soil, and waste. In the 1980s, attention shifted towards ending nuclear power and boosting renewable energy. With the millennium, the Energiewende, or energy transition, began affecting many sectors. Germany's strong high-tech and engineering background has increasingly concentrated on energy issues in recent decades, underlining the importance of understanding the evolution of its environmental policies. By Severin Beucker
What is Digital Constitutionalism? A view from Europe Explainer European digital constitutionalism should not be considered as a mere constitutional reaction. Rather, it is a long-term, proactive strategy to protect democratic values in the algorithmic society from being eroded by unaccountable powers. By Giovanni De Gregorio
What is “sector coupling” and what is its role as part of the energy transition? Explainer The target vision of zero-carbon emissions presents an enormous challenge to economies around the world and is still not within grasp. How can sector coupling play a significant role in achieving this goal. By Christine Krüger
What are deepfakes and why do they matter? backgrounder Deepfakes are manipulated or synthetically generated images, videos and audio tracks of human faces, bodies, or voices, which look or sound authentic to varying degrees, and are often created using deep learning, a method of machine learning. The result is a subset of synthetic media showing people saying or doing things that they never said or did. By Maria Pawelec