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Last changed: 05/03/2010
Efforts in environmental protection may not let up. “We must now lay the groundwork for necessary ecological restructuring of the economy. The area of climate protection in particular cannot afford to set its sights on short-term success alone.”, said UBA President Jochen Flasbarth on the occasion of the presentation of the new UBA annual “What matters 2010”.
The report ”Data on the Environment” is published every four years. It takes stock of the development of the state of the environment in Germany, highlights environmental improvements and shows where action is still needed.
The aim of CCS technology is to reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions. In a background paper, UBA has formulated requirements for safe and environmentally sound carbon capture, transport and underground storage.
A wide variety of chemicals is used in the manufacture of shoes and textiles, which may result in severe pollution when wastewater treatment is deficient. Also, this branch of industry has repeatedly made the headlines with poor work conditions. A feasibility study commissioned by UBA identified retailers and branded producers as key actors in promoting adoption of environmental and health standards by suppliers in developing countries and emerging market economies. Its aim was to explore just how ”Best Available Techniques” (BAT), the European environmental standards, can be established across the supply chain.
Some canned PU foams contain HFCs as propellants, and these fluorinated gases have a substantial global warming potential. Since 4 July 2008, the use of these gases has been subject to restrictions, under EU Regulation No 842/2006, except where national safety standards cannot be met using other propellants (hydrocarbons). A study commissioned by UBA concludes that this is now only the case for the use of canned PU foams in coal mining.
In the current trading period an annual volume of over 40 million emission allowances (EUAs) is sold by the German Federal Government on different stock exchanges. Starting in 2010 that amount will have to be auctioned, and in 2013 auctioning will become the basic allocation principle throughout the EU. This paper discusses methodological and institutional issues concerning the design of an auctioning scheme in Germany.
23 new worksheets for primary-level pupils are now available free of charge at BMU, covering such subjects as indoor air, noise, bathing water, radiation, climate change and household chemicals. Developed by BMU and UBA, the worksheets help pupils learn about the subjects in a realistic and fun way, with experiments observations and engaging all their senses.
Unborn children and infants are often more susceptible towards environmental influences. What measures can expecting mothers or young parents take to protect the health of the unborn child or infant? The brochure ”Start in Life” gives concise tips. It was published by the Federal Environment Agency and other federal institutions and is available free of charge.
The debate over economic growth and welfare and the link between the two has re-intensified both nationally and internationally. Deficits exist, for example, in the inclusion of the costs of environmental changes and of maintaining social cohesion, which gross domestic product (GDP) does not cover. A research project commissioned by UBA has analysed possible complementary indicators and proposes a “National Welfare Index” (NWI) composed of 21 sub-variables.
More renewable energies and energy efficiency, and an energy saving individual behaviour are key to reducing energy related CO2 emissions. A study carried out on behalf of the UBA analyses global energy scenarios and describes potential and costs of renewable energies and energy efficiency measures, concluding that it remains unclear why potentials are not utilised more strongly.
Serious efforts to mitigate climate change would reduce annual global economic performance by only around 1.5 per cent in this century. This means that the goal of limiting global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius can be achieved at moderate costs. This study shows that energy saving and use of renewable energy provide cost-efficient alternatives to the use of nuclear energy.
Global emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) will increase to 4 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalents by 2050 if no political mitigation measures are taken. The contribution of F-gases to global warming is projected to grow from 1.3% (2004) to 7.9% of total direct CO2 emissions. This is the result of a German study which underlines once more the urgent need for measures to reduce F-gas emissions.
A research project commissioned by the UBA analyses economic instruments designed to reduce emissions from seagoing ships. The results are presented in two studies. One deals with the extension of the EU emissions trading scheme to shipping, and the second study evaluates different market-based instruments for abatement of emissions from shipping, taking the Baltic Sea as pilot region.
The report on the WTO admissibility of border tax adjustments which was published by UBA in 2008 is now also available in English. Climate protection measures engender additional costs for EU-made products to which goods manufactured outside the EU are not subject. Border tax adjustments could offset these additional burdens and create a level playing field. Such border tax adjustments are admissible under WTO regulations.
The health risks posed by office devices with printing function, such as laser printers, copiers or fax machines, are currently a controversial issue. BAM has developed a test method to determine emissions of e.g. ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOC) or dust from monochrome and colour printers and copiers. Developed as a compliance verification method for the Blue Angel eco-label, this method has now been integrated into an international standard.
The present User Guide provides a systematic, soundly based instrument for controlling transport development planning which takes account of the complex relations between measures and effects. It makes it possible to arrive at a comprehensive description of the overall town planning and transport planning objective of ”sustainable mobility”, and to examine the route to achieving it.