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

Heads

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

Miranda Böttcher

Ambiguity in Ocean Governance
- German
The Advisory Opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Climate Change

SWP Comment 2026/C 24, 17.06.2026, 4 Pages

doi:10.18449/2026C24
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

External publications

- Miranda Böttcher
- Rakhyun E. Kim
Pollution or Protection? ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change's relevance for marine carbon dioxide removal

in: International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 12.06.2026

doi:10.1007/s10784-026-09727-y
- Murali Thoppil
- Natasha Martirosian
- Carol Morris, et al
- Nicoletta Brazzola
Biochar Carbon Removal Standards: A Comparative Assessment of the EU CRCF, ICVCM and Article 6.4

CO2RE Report, Oxford, June 2026
- Morgan Edwards
- Oliver Geden
- Matthew Gidden
- William Lamb et al. (eds.)
The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal 3rd Edition 2026

Oxford, June 2026, 295 pages

doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/ZRD65
- Katie Lebling
- Elina Brutschin
- Oliver Geden
- Leona Tenkhoff
- Carley Reynolds
- Alexis Dunand
- Lisa Voigt
- Nicoletta Brazzola
- Nico Fairbairn
- Gregory Nemet
Chapter 5: Policymaking and governance

in: Morgan Edwards, Oliver Geden, Matthew Gidden, William Lamb et al. (eds.), The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal 3rd Edition 2026, Oxford, June 2026, pp. 107-132

doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/62548
- Oliver Geden
- Matthew Gidden
- Morgan Edwards
- Annette Cowie
- Stephen Smith
- Leona Tenkhoff
- Paul Zakkour
Chapter 1: Introduction

in: Morgan Edwards, Oliver Geden, Matthew Gidden, William Lamb et al. (eds.), The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal 3rd Edition 2026, Oxford, June 2026, pp. 17-33

doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/5K2SF
- 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

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