Climate Protection Law and Environmental Energy Law
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The challenge is twofold – greenhouse gas emissions have to be reduced even more drastically (mitigation) and at the same time humans and the environment have to adapt increasingly to the consequences of global warming (adaptation).
The department is conducting research in both of these topics. In the area of climate change mitigation, our research focuses mainly on: land-related aspects of renewable energies, planning control, the sustainable production of bioenergy and REDD+ as an international instrument for climate protection through forest conservation. In the area of climate change adaptation, the department is investigating whether existing environmental legislation can effectively meet these challenges and to what extent the law can enhance the resilience of the assets it protects.
In the area of environmental energy law, the research focuses on regional planning law and the relevant procedural law. The emphasis here is on so-called network planning, i.e. planning processes for the expansion of the power grid, as well as the planning of wind energy as a key space-consuming technology in the field of renewable energies. The ultimate goal is to make reliable statements about how a regional planning law that can accommodate acceleration and expansion as well as high environmental protection requirements and the rights and interests of individuals affected by the plans should be designed.
Selected projects
Governing multi-scale heterogeneities to activate natural carbon sink potentials (GONASIP)
Transforming Energy Landscapes (platform project − PP 6.2)
Action Programme for the Implementation of the Integrated Nitrogen Strategy
Integrated UFZ project EnergyLandUse: Land use aspects of transforming the energy system. Sustainable options for a renewable energy era
Europe Adapts to Climate Change − Comparing National Adaptation Strategies (PEER network)