Analysis and evaluation of the effects of social and environmental policy issues on environmental policy using the method of trend analysis

Within the framework of a service contract for the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt – UBA), adelphi research GmbH and iit are developing a method for in-depth trend analysis to be applied to two dynamically developing topics. The aim is not only to identify trends relevant to environmental policy, but also to evaluate their direct and indirect effects on the environment. Initially, the project will focus on the methodological-conceptual development of a standardised procedure for describing trends and determining the environmental impact and relief factors of current technical and socio-economic developments. In coordination with the client, two current and environmentally relevant "megatopics" are selected from a portfolio of topics in order to apply the developed method. The results are two detailed trend reports. The first megatopic dealt with in this form is 3D printing as a new paradigm of manufacturing and thus of value creation. The second megatopic, Consumption 4.0, examines how digitisation is changing consumption. The iit is responsible for the analysis of the megatopics, their structure ("trend anatomy") and the correlation with internal and external factors.