diff --git a/codeblock-var-replace/Makefile b/codeblock-var-replace/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3ffd965b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codeblock-var-replace/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+DIFF ?= diff --strip-trailing-cr -u
+
+.EXPORT_ALL_VARIABLES:
+
+BANANA = eat a banana
+
+
+test: sample.md
+	@pandoc --lua-filter=codeblock-var-replace.lua --to=native $< \
+	    | $(DIFF) expected.native -
+
+expected.native: sample.md
+	pandoc --lua-filter=codeblock-var-replace.lua --output $@ $<
+
+expected.json: sample.md
+	pandoc --lua-filter=codeblock-var-replace.lua -t json --output $@ $<
+
+
+.PHONY: test
diff --git a/codeblock-var-replace/README.md b/codeblock-var-replace/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19780769
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codeblock-var-replace/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# codeblock-var-replace
+
+Filter to replace variables in code blocks with values from environment
+or meta data. All variables in the form `${namespace:name}` in a code
+block with a class `.var-replace` are replaced.
+This is very useful in conjuction with a downstream filter `include-files.lua` filter.
+
+## Variables
+
+A variables needs to be of the form `${namespace:name}` where
+`namespace` is currently one of `env`,`meta` with the following replacement behavior:
+
+- `env` : Substituting the environment variable `name`.
+- `meta` : Substituting the **stringified** variable `name` from the meta data block.
+
+## Example
+
+Note that meta data is parsed as markdown, therefore use a
+general code blocks `` `text` ``:
+
+    ---
+    author: "`The fearful bear`"
+    title: Thesis
+
+    monkey: "`Hello:  I am a monkey`"
+    "giraffe and zebra" : "`cool and humble  !`"
+    mypath: "`chapters:   1/A B.txt`"
+    food: "chocolate"
+    ---
+
+    ## Replace
+
+    ``` {.var-replace}
+    ${meta:monkey} and ${env:BANANA}
+
+    Zebras and giraffes are ${meta:giraffe and zebra}
+
+    ${meta:author} thanks for everything in '${meta:mypath}'
+    and of course eat some ${meta:food}
+    ```
+
diff --git a/codeblock-var-replace/codeblock-var-replace.lua b/codeblock-var-replace/codeblock-var-replace.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dbb8b0c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codeblock-var-replace/codeblock-var-replace.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+--- codeblock-var-replace.lua – replace variables in code blocks
+---
+--- Copyright: © 2019–2020 Gabriel Nützi
+--- License:   MIT – see LICENSE file for details
+
+local sys = require 'pandoc.system'
+local utils = require 'pandoc.utils'
+
+-- Save env. variables
+local env = sys.environment()
+
+-- Save meta table and metadata
+local meta
+function save_meta (m)
+  meta = m
+end
+
+--- Replace variable with values from environment
+--- and meta data (stringifing).
+local function replace(what, var)
+  if what == "env" then
+    return env[var]
+  elseif what == "meta" then
+    local v = meta[var]
+    if v then
+      return utils.stringify(v)
+    end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
+--- Replace variables in code blocks
+function var_replace_codeblocks (cb)
+  -- ignore code blocks which are not of class "var-replace".
+  if not cb.classes:includes 'var-replace' then
+    return
+  end
+
+  cb.text = cb.text:gsub("%${(%l+):([^}]+)}", replace)
+  return cb
+end
+
+return {
+  { Meta = save_meta },
+  { CodeBlock = var_replace_codeblocks }
+}
diff --git a/codeblock-var-replace/expected.native b/codeblock-var-replace/expected.native
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..835a311c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codeblock-var-replace/expected.native
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[Header 2 ("replace",[],[]) [Str "Replace"]
+,CodeBlock ("",["var-replace"],[]) "Hello:  I am a monkey and eat a banana\n\nZebras and giraffes are cool and humble  !\n\nThe fearful bear thanks for everything in 'chapters:   1/A B.txt'\nand of course eat some chocolate"]
diff --git a/codeblock-var-replace/sample.md b/codeblock-var-replace/sample.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7ef5b9be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codeblock-var-replace/sample.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+---
+author: "`The fearful bear`"
+title: Thesis
+
+monkey: "`Hello:  I am a monkey`"
+"giraffe and zebra" : "`cool and humble  !`"
+mypath: "`chapters:   1/A B.txt`"
+food: "chocolate"
+---
+
+## Replace
+
+``` {.var-replace}
+${meta:monkey} and ${env:BANANA}
+
+Zebras and giraffes are ${meta:giraffe and zebra}
+
+${meta:author} thanks for everything in '${meta:mypath}'
+and of course eat some ${meta:food}
+```