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Last changed: 19/02/2010
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.
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.
In Germany, area dedicated to settlement and transport continues to grow. One reason for this is that greenfield construction is particularly cost-effective for those involved. Yet, it also means high infrastructure costs to be borne by the public. The study suggests measures designed to make the costs of site development more visible and remove wrong incentives and to thus reduce land-take and the cost to the public.
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.
German firms have the lead in the global environmental protection market. With almost 19% of world trade and an export volume of 56 billion euros, Germany once again ranked first in world trade in 2006, before the USA (15 percent) and Japan (9 percent).
This study of German promotion policy analyses direct support programmes as well as various environmental policy instruments that affect innovation indirectly such as taxes and regulation. It is complemented by an analysis of best practice examples from abroad including California’s climate policy and Japan’s top-runner programme.
The flexible project-based Kyoto mechanisms JI (Joint implementation) and CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) can do much to support the international diffusion of climate-friendly technologies and thus increase the cost-efficiency of climate protection measures. A new study predicts a significant market growth for CDM and JI projects.
Aviation noise can be reduced by introducing landing charges based on aircraft noise emissions. A study carried out by Öko-Institut on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency makes practicable recommendations for an effective system of noise-based landing charges that should be taken up in future.
The Federal Environment Agency has commissioned a project to investigate the effects of the ecotax on companies and private households. Its outcome: The ecological tax reform has had the desired results. Contrary to the widespread criticism it has received from the private sector and politicians, the eco-tax has had positive effects on the environment and the economy.
Environmental management systems in operational management is on the advance in Germany. Nearly 10,000 businesses and organizations have opted for the European EMAS system, international ISO 14001 standards, or other environmental management systems—and the numbers are rising. The Federal Ministry for Environment and the Federal Environment Agency commissioned a new study to aid medium-sized companies in particular in choosing a system that is right for them.
The UBA is organising an international forum on ”greening real estate markets” in cooperation with the UNECE. It will take place 26/27 April 2010 and will be attended by the UNECE Executive Secretary and UBA’s President. Topics include the advantages of eco-construction for real estate markets and incentives governments can provide to encourage more environmentally sound building.
The report on environmentally harmful subsidies in Germany which was published by UBA in 2008 is now also available in English. Subsidies to the tune of €42 billion are harming the environment and thus thwarting environmental protection efforts. The adverse effects range from the advancement of climate change to negative impacts on water, soil and air quality and increased land use. The report shows how environmentally harmful subsidies can be reduced.
The European Commission has awarded the UBA the 2009 EMAS prize in the category ”public organisations” for its green procurement, such as the use of green electricity and recycled paper. UBA vice-president Dr. Thomas Holzmann was handed the prize on 19 November in Stockholm.
Measures to increase energy efficiency benefit both the climate and the job market. Investment in energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures will bolster the position of Germany as a business location in the long term. According to a new study, these measures could create some 630,000 new jobs by 2020.
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 discussions on the links between world trade, climate change and eco-innovation have only just begun. In a workshop these links were discussed from the perspective of an ecological industrial policy. You can find the workshop contributions in this report.
Environmental technology markets offer companies considerable future opportunities. Eleven case studies (in German with English-language summary) provide a detailed picture of specific environmental technologies and their development prospects. The studies analyse the competitiveness of German companies and the technologies’ innovation dynamics. They describe key actors and identify opportunities for strengthening the German and European innovation systems.
Experts of the firm Roland Berger Strategy Consultants expect 120 percent growth in environmental protection technology by 2020. The consultants surveyed over 90 top companies about market prospects in six branches: energy generation and storage, energy efficiency, mobility, waste management and recycling, water management, and efficient use of resources.
Many less developed countries have considerable, as yet untapped, potential for using renewable energies. A new study looks into the role the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can play in exploiting these potentials.