Research Cluster Climate and Energy Policy

The Research Cluster analyses the climate and energy policy of the European Union, the processes under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, cooperation in plurilateral initiatives and developments on global energy markets.

Projects

Head

Dr. Susanne Dröge

Head

susanne.droege@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Climate policy
- EU climate policy
- Energy policy
- Environmental policy
- Risk governance
- United Nations
Dr. Oliver Geden

Head

oliver.geden@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- EU, Europe
- Energy, climate, environment
Projects

Researchers

Ole Adolphsen

Associate

ole.adolphsen@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Energy, climate, environment
- UN, global governance, int. law
Projects
- International Climate Policy and Multilevel Governance (Ariadne)
Dr. Miranda Böttcher

Associate

Miranda.Boettcher@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Climate policy
- Foresight
- Sustainability governance
Projects
- Marine CO₂-Removal: Scenarios and Governance (ASMASYS II)
Dr. Nicoletta Brazzola

Associate

nicoletta.brazzola@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- EU, Europe
- Energy, climate, environment
Projects
- CDR policies for the next decade of EU climate governance (CDRnext)
Jule Könneke, M.A.

Associate

jule.koenneke@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Energy, climate, environment
- UN, global governance, int. law
Projects
- German climate diplomacy in the context of the European Green Deal
Dr. Jacopo Maria Pepe

Associate

jacopo.pepe@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
Leona Tenkhoff

Associate

leona.tenkhoff@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Energy, climate, environment
- Europe
- Climate policy
- EU climate policy
Projects
- State of CDR Report

Research Support

Leonie Oechtering

Student Assistant

leonie.oechtering@swp-berlin.org
Areas of Expertise
- Energy, climate, environment

Projects

The research project accompanies the German government’s “climate foreign policy” strategy from its inception to its implementation.
The aim of the ASMASYS II project is to develop and assess marine CO₂ removal (mCDR) scenarios. Particular attention will be paid to assessing the future political feasibility of such scenarios.
The project analyses current developments and challenges in international climate cooperation as well as their implications, options and priorities for German and EU climate diplomacy
The project analyses current developments and challenges in international climate cooperation as well as their implications, options and priorities for German and EU climate diplomacy
The »State of Carbon Dioxide Removal« report is a global, independent scientific assessment of carbon dioxide removal research, development, demonstration, deployment, perceptions, scenarios and policymaking.
UPTAKE aims to facilitate the sustainable upscaling of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods by developing a set of robust strategies through technical, theoretical, and practical analysis accompanied by interactive dialogue within a CDR stakeholder forum.

International Climate Policy and Multilevel Governance (Ariadne)

The research project accompanies the German government’s “climate foreign policy” strategy from its inception to its implementation.
Marine CO₂-Removal: Scenarios and Governance (ASMASYS II)

The aim of the ASMASYS II project is to develop and assess marine CO₂ removal (mCDR) scenarios. Particular attention will be paid to assessing the future political feasibility of such scenarios.
CDR policies for the next decade of EU climate governance (CDRnext)

The project analyses current developments and challenges in international climate cooperation as well as their implications, options and priorities for German and EU climate diplomacy
German climate diplomacy in the context of the European Green Deal

The project analyses current developments and challenges in international climate cooperation as well as their implications, options and priorities for German and EU climate diplomacy
State of CDR Report

The »State of Carbon Dioxide Removal« report is a global, independent scientific assessment of carbon dioxide removal research, development, demonstration, deployment, perceptions, scenarios and policymaking.
Upscaling of Carbon Dioxide Removal (UPTAKE)

UPTAKE aims to facilitate the sustainable upscaling of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods by developing a set of robust strategies through technical, theoretical, and practical analysis accompanied by interactive dialogue within a CDR stakeholder forum.

SWP Publications

Jacopo Maria Pepe

Energy Policy at a Geoeconomic Zeitenwende: The EU between Market and Power
in:
- Hanns Günther Hilpert
- Sascha Lohmann (eds.)
The Return of Power Politics to the Market: Theory and Practice of the Geoeconomic Zeitenwende
- German
Contribution to a Research Paper 2026/RP 07, 15.04.2026, 109 Pages, pp. 49–54
- Ole Adolphsen
- Sonja Thielges
European Climate Policy Against US Headwinds: In Search of Strong Climate Partnerships
in:
- Barbara Lippert
- Stefan Mair (eds.)
With, Without, Against Washington: Redefining Europe’s Relations With the United States
- German
Contribution to a Research Paper 2026/RP 05, 27.03.2026, 81 Pages, pp. 62–66
- Jule Könneke
- Ole Adolphsen
The Limits of Multilateral Climate Policy
- German
COP30 and the Conflict Between Petrostates and Electrostates

SWP Comment 2026/C 05, 03.02.2026, 8 Pages

doi:10.18449/2026C05
- Leona Tenkhoff
- Lisa Voigt
The Tropical Forest Forever Facility and Its Role in International Forest Finance
- German
SWP Comment 2026/C 01, 12.01.2026, 6 Pages

doi:10.18449/2026C01
- Oliver Geden
- Andy Reisinger
Overshoot: Returning to 1.5°C Requires Net-negative Emissions Targets
- German
SWP Comment 2025/C 47, 19.11.2025, 4 Pages

doi:10.18449/2025C47
- Holly Jean Buck
- Alaa Al Khourdajie
- Shinichiro Asayama
- Oliver Geden
Four scenarios for an IPCC navigating Artificial Intelligence

Research Division EU/Europe, Working Paper Nr. 08/2025, September 2025, 15 pages
- Download (PDF) | 561 KB

External publications

- Tatjana Zurbriggen
- Nicoletta Brazzola
- Adrian Odenweller
- Falko Ueckerdt
- Joeri Rogelj
Short-term action is key for gigaton-scale Direct Air Capture by 2050

in: Nature Communications, 17, May 2026

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-72691-3
- Miranda Böttcher
- Lina Röschel
- Neil Craik
- Barbara Neumann
Marine carbon dioxide removal: an emerging topic for ocean governance and the sustainability agenda

in: The Elgar Companion to Ocean Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals, 12.05.2026

doi:10.4337/9781803923574.00031
- Sarah Jackson
- Jule Könneke
Uncertain times demand clear signals: Why the Petersberg Climate Dialogue matters

in: Table.Briefings, April 22, 2026
Miranda Böttcher

Foresight Workshop Report: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Scenarios for Germany in 2040

in: ASMASYS – Assessing Marine Carbon Removal:Synthesis, Scenarios and Governance (Milestone 1.1.1), 2026

doi:10.3289/CDRmare.62
- Holly Jean Buck
- Alaa Al Khourdajie
- Shinichiro Asayama
- Oliver Geden
Potential futures for the IPCC’s approach to artificial intelligence

in: Communications Earth and Environment 7, 372, April 2026

doi:10.1038/s43247-026-03514-y
Felix Schenuit

Defending Net-Zero: A New Role for Carbon Dioxide Removal

Zentrum für Liberale Moderne, Policy Brief, 02.04.2026

The Climate Policy and Politics dossier

Most publications compiled in our »Climate Policy and Politics« dossier are from members of the Research Cluster.

Areas of Expertise

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The Climate Policy and Politics dossier