Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Rio+20: Financial Resources for Improved International Environmental Governance

In the run-up to the Rio+20 summit, which takes place in June 2012, this study investigates the current system for financing international environmental governance (IEG). The current architecture for IEG finance consists of a growing number of bilateral and multilateral actors, funds and financial mechanisms which leads to incoherence, inefficiencies and extra burdens on recipient countries. The r...read more

Economy | Consumption

Economic Valuation of Environmental Damage – Methodolocical Convention 2.0 for estimates of environmental costs

The economic valuation of environmental damage makes it possible to estimate the economic benefit of environmental policy measures and to call attention to the costs of failure to protect the environment. The Methodological Convention 2.0 of the German Federal Environment Agency lays a sound foundation for this evaluation. It clearly identifies the normative judgments and measures underlying the v...read more

Waste | Resources, Agriculture

The legislative proposals for the reform of the CAP

Good initiatives but not good enough for the environment

The EU Commission proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2014-2020 aim at contributing to improved integration of agriculture, environmental protection and climate mitigation (integration scenario). Overall, they are to give more weight to the principle of “public money for public goods” and thus reinforce the legitimacy of the continued substantial expenditure on the...read more

Water, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Support to the introduction of ecological management of water protection zones as a first step to the introduction of water safety plans in small scale water supply systems in the Dusheti and Marneuli districts in Georgia

Advisory Assistance Programme for Environmental Protection in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia

Georgia is a country with a surface area of 69,700 km2 and a total population of 4.4 million people (2008). 48% of the population lives in rural areas. The latest WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme data showed that in 2008, 92% of the urban population in Georgia used water piped on premises, while this indicator is 51% for rural population. 45% of the rural population used other improved water...read more

Chemicals

Analysis and Strategic Management of Nanoproducts with Regard to their Sustainability Potential

Nano-Sustainability Check

As part of the current debate on the opportunities and risks of nanotechnological applica-tions, the debate on possible contributions to sustainable development is becoming increas-ingly controversial. It should rather be conducted on a more objective level. This objectifica-tion, however, can only be achieved on a case-specific basis, performing – as quantitatively as possible – a risk-and-benefi...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption

Energy Management Systems in Practice

ISO 50001: A Guide for Companies and Organisations

By 2020, Germany aims to reduce its primary energy consumption by 20 per cent on 2008, and by 50 per cent by 2050. It won’t be possible to achieve this goal without a significant increase in energy efficiency. The ISO 50001 standard, which was published in June 2011 and replaces the European EN 16001 standard, defines the first international standards for an energy management system. The preceding...read more

Chemicals

Fate and behaviour of TiO2 nanomaterials in the environment, influenced by their shape, size and surface area

The focus of this report is the determination, fate and behaviour of nanoscaled Titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the environment. Nanoscaled TiO2 is an industrial product being used in various applications such as sunscreens, coatings and paints which make a release into the environment likely. To be able to assess possible impacts of nanomaterials like TiO2 corresponding test procedures, here specifica...read more

Chemicals

Development of a Practical Guide for Determination of Conditions of Safe Use of Chemicals with the Aid of Scaling

Scaling in the context of ⁠REACH⁠ implies the application of simple mathematics to examine whether chemicals are used in a safe way, even when certain conditions of use deviate from the exposure scenario. Scaling offers downstream users the opportunity in selected cases to demonstrate at little cost that their specific conditions of use comply with an exposure scenario. - The Practic...read more