A future-oriented environmental policy requires a comprehensive, balanced and scientifically sound presentation of regulatory impacts on both the national and European level. This is because a comprehensive and objective presentation of regulatory impacts is foundational in ensuring that interests such as environmental protection or social justice are given appropriate weight in the democratic opinion-making process.

In order to arrive at a practice of regulatory impact assessments in Germany that ensures a balanced and comprehensive consideration of environmental impacts and at least meets the requirements of the EU impact assessments, UBA recommends some reforms described in this position paper.