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The LIFE-A2J-EARL project focused on bridging the 'implementation gap' of EU environmental laws by empowering the judiciary, public administrations, and public interest lawyers. Operating across eight EU Member States, the project produced a comprehensive legal guide, national toolkits, and a digital platform to facilitate access to justice. It delivered 48 training sessions and 12 webinars, reaching over 2,000 participants. Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting judicial attitudes in some regions, the project successfully increased stakeholder awareness of the Aarhus Convention and EU case-law. Key outputs included a database of 117 public interest lawyers from 15 countries and a final virtual conference attended by 285 participants.

The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) concludes that the Transport and Mobility Development Plan 2021-2035 generally supports environmental goals, though its high level of generality creates uncertainty regarding the actual realization of these benefits. The plan aims to reduce the transport sector's environmental footprint by shifting freight from roads to rail and sea, increasing the share of public and active transport to 55% by 2035, and reducing transport CO2e emissions to 1,750 kt by 2035. Key environmental concerns include the potential for increased car use due to road infrastructure improvements and the impact of new infrastructure on biodiversity and the Natura 2000 network. The report recommends a stricter application of the '4-step principle' for infrastructure investment and the definition of clear priorities to ensure environmental goals are not superseded by demands for road convenience.

The report examines the tension between Ethiopian nationalists and ethno-nationalists, noting that while most agree on federalism, they disagree on its purpose. It analyzes three primary constitutional frameworks—consociationalism, centripetalism, and integration—and proposes five hybrid models to balance inclusion, moderation, and national cohesion. The author concludes that no single design is sufficient and recommends a negotiated blend of these mechanisms to ensure stability and protect individual and minority rights.

In 2020, renewables generated 38% of the EU's electricity, surpassing fossil-fired generation (37%) for the first time. This shift was driven primarily by wind and solar, while coal generation fell by 20% to 13% of the total mix. However, the report notes that the transition remains too slow to meet 2030 and 2050 climate targets, as gas generation remains high and nuclear output saw a record 10% decline.

In 2020, renewables became the EU's primary electricity source for the first time, generating 38% of electricity. While wind and solar growth remained robust despite the pandemic, the report argues that deployment must nearly triple to meet 2030 Green Deal targets. Coal generation fell by 20% in 2020, though this decline was partially offset by increased gas generation and a record 10% drop in nuclear output. Consequently, Europe's electricity carbon intensity fell to 226 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour in 2020, a 29% reduction since 2015.

The report evaluates how the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) bridges science and policy to induce sustainable development. It defines policy engagement as interactions leading to changes in agendas, capacities, and decisions. Through 18 case studies, SEI identifies key pathways to impact—such as developing scientific evidence, using decision-support tools (e.g., LEAP and WEAP), and building networks with 'champions'. The analysis categorizes outcomes into changes in awareness/attitudes (Agendas), institutional strengthening (Capacities), and actual policy shifts (Decisions). It concludes that long-term relationships and a focus on solutions are more effective than short-term, output-driven engagement.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of European CO2 storage capacity, highlighting the North Sea Basin and the Norwegian shelf as the most prospective areas. It details storage potentials in saline aquifers, hydrocarbon fields, and storage reservoirs across various European regions, while also mapping stationary emission sources, noting that power generation is the dominant emitting sector.

The ENHANCE project (2017-2020) focused on integrating the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) into regional policies to drive the transition to a circular economy. By collaborating across six European regions, the project identified 24 good practices and implemented 31 actions, primarily focusing on regulatory reliefs and promotional incentives. Key achievements include the reduction of financial guarantees for waste companies in Estonia, tax reductions for EMAS organizations in Catalonia, and the integration of EMAS as an award criterion in Austrian green public procurement. The project engaged 375 stakeholders and concluded that stakeholder involvement and clear financial incentives are critical for the successful implementation of environmental policy instruments.

The report assesses green public procurement (GPP) in Tallinn, finding that while 17% of procurements are registered as green, 92% of these rely solely on ISO 14001 certification and do not meet EU GPP definitions. Key barriers include a lack of time, experience, and centralized information. The report recommends establishing a strategic framework, creating a GPP competence center within the procurement sector, and developing product-group-specific model criteria to increase the quality and quantity of sustainable purchases.

The document outlines eight categories of barriers to climate change adaptation—ranging from conflicting timelines and lack of resources to institutional constraints and climate skepticism—and provides a self-assessment questionnaire and a directory of resources to help local authorities implement adaptation measures.

The document identifies eight categories of barriers to climate adaptation: conflicting timescales/interests, leadership, resources, science, governance/institutional constraints, lack of awareness/communication, attitudes/values/motivations, and the adaptation process itself. It provides a self-evaluation survey for local authorities to identify their specific challenges and offers a curated list of resources and critical discussion questions to facilitate stakeholder engagement and problem-solving. Findings from CASCADE workshops indicate that spatial planners in the Baltic Sea Region perceive financial resource shortages as a primary barrier, while emergency management practitioners highlight climate skepticism as a significant challenge.

The document outlines specific legal and systemic barriers to environmental justice in four European nations, highlighting issues such as restrictive standing for NGOs, lack of judicial specialization, and ineffective injunctive relief.

The study finds that the composition of mixed municipal waste in Estonia has remained largely stable over the last decade, with biodegradable and packaging waste each making up approximately 32% of the total. While the share of plastic and bio-waste has slightly decreased, there is a significant increase in paper and cardboard packaging, reflecting a decline in the use of traditional waste paper like newspapers. Separately collected packaging containers suffer from high contamination rates (28% on average), particularly in rural areas. WEEE collected at civic amenity sites is dominated by large appliances, heat exchangers, and screens, which account for 89% of the total weight.

The authors contend that the EU suffers from diffuse accountability and a 'double deadlock' caused by a reliance on closed-door Franco-German agreements. They argue that Germany's role as a 'benevolent hegemon' is problematic because Berlin seeks to minimize costs and maximize control over debtor states while remaining reluctant to fully embrace its power. The text suggests that the only way to break this impasse is through 'transnational politics'—the creation of shifting alliances across national borders and the engagement of civil society—to replace the current 'constructive ambiguity' of European diplomacy.

The report finds that Estonia consumes approximately 19,530 tonnes of textiles annually, with 16% being used items. While separate collection has grown to 30% of new textiles placed on the market, about 50% of separately collected textiles are still handled as waste (landfilled or incinerated) due to a lack of domestic recycling capacity. Estonia is a major European importer of used textiles, often acting as a sorting hub for export to Africa and Pakistan.

The document establishes the framework for a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of Estonia's Transport and Mobility Development Plan for 2021-2030. It defines the SEA's purpose as identifying significant environmental effects, exploring alternatives, and finding mitigation measures to ensure the transport plan aligns with EU and Estonian environmental policies. The assessment covers a 10-to-15-year horizon and focuses on key environmental elements including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, water quality, and human health. The methodology involves a compliance analysis, an external effects analysis, and the proposal of mitigation measures. The document also lists the stakeholders involved and provides a timeline for the SEA process, which includes public consultation and inter-agency coordination.

The document argues that climate neutrality in Estonia by 2050 is feasible and likely profitable, provided the government implements early, ambitious investments and supportive regulatory frameworks. Key priorities include decarbonizing the energy supply by shifting away from oil shale, increasing energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transport, and leveraging natural assets for carbon sequestration in the LULUCF sector. The transition is estimated to cost EUR 17.3 billion between 2021 and 2050, with 76% of funding expected from the private sector. To ensure a just transition, the report emphasizes the need for targeted support in the oil-shale dependent North-East region and workforce retraining.

The report analyzes the bioeconomy landscape in Colombia, identifying a predominant 'bio-resources' vision that balances economic growth with environmental sustainability. Through a multi-stakeholder workshop, it explores sectoral visions for agriculture, biochemistry, bio-pharmaceuticals, and bioenergy, emphasizing the need for territorial development and the use of residual biomass. The document highlights critical sustainability gaps, including the risk of biodiversity loss if species are valued only for commercial advantage, the lack of formal land property rights for 60% of rural properties, and poor road infrastructure, with 75% of tertiary roads in poor condition. It concludes that a holistic, decentralized governance approach is necessary to align the bioeconomy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This report documents the results of a policy dialogue held on 28 March 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, focusing on the bioeconomy for sustainable development. The dialogue is part of a broader project supported by Vinnova to facilitate constructive discussions on bioeconomy development in national and regional contexts, specifically aiming to guide decision-makers toward cohesive governance of bioeconomy pathways with a focus on the Global South.

The author argues that Russia has shifted from viewing the EU as a model for modernisation to seeing it as a strategic challenger to its neo-imperialist vision. To counter Western influence and the 'eastward march' of Europe, the Kremlin employs a strategy of 'managing instability' through disinformation, cyberattacks, and the support of far-right political parties in Europe. While Russia seeks bilateral rapprochement with key powers like Germany and France to bypass sanctions and isolate Eastern European 'Russosceptic' countries, the author contends that Moscow's strategic goals remain unfulfilled and that it will continue to exploit Western electoral cycles to foment populism.