What we do
The Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) is a Pan-European think tank exploring sustainable development options for European societies. It was set up in September 1999. As part of it SERI Germany e.V. was founded in 2005.

 

Sustainability strategies must be integrated or they are not sustainable. SERI therefore takes a comprehensive view of sustainability both empirically and in its policy recommendations. Comprehensive means:
SERI integrates the ecological objective to reduce environmental space use with elaborated economic, social and institutional sustainability strategies.
SERI develops strategies on the macro, meso, micro and meta levels of economies/societies. SERI looks at the impact of activities and policies in Europe on other parts of the world. SERI's work is based on methodological pluralism.

On the other hand we are far from working on everything important in the field of sustainable development. While integrating ecological, social, economic and institutional dimensions, SERI focuses the notion of environmental space (in terms of resources, energy and land-use) and the measurability of social and economic dimensions of SD. Indicator-based policies are therefore important for our recommendations.

How we do it
We are a virtual internet based institute. From our pool of staff and members comprising a broad spectrum of qualifications we can select appropriate teams for each project.

The research carried out by members of SERI supports the dialogue within European civil society. It specifically aims to further develop the exchange of ideas between environmental citizens organisations, governments, trade unions and industry. SERI member offices are in Vienna, Austria and Cologne, Germany. The affiliated academics and researchers live throughout Europe. The policy dialogues that SERI initiates are supported by this webpage, conferences, meetings as well as publications.

The Sustainable Europe Research Institute

•	investigates environmental, economic, social and institutional conditions for sustainable development
•	develops and disseminates information on through-put limits and makes possible steps towards sustainability apparent
•	develops scientifically accurate and practical policy solutions, which allow sustainable development to become a reality in Europe (and beyond). SERI addresses all relevant agents: businesses, households, civil society agents, administrators and politicians.