Publications

The circular economy is a transformation towards an economy that is resource-efficient, climate-neutral and resilient. Experts from the German Environment Agency and the German Raw Materials Agency systematically analyse available data on metal material cycles, focusing on secondary raw materials, recycling metrics, and material qualities.

The aim of the research project was to investigate the relevance of spatial distributed leaching modelling (SDLM) for the national groundwater exposure assessment in the context of authorisation of plant protection products.

Textiles are a priority product group under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) due to their significant environmental impact. The aim of the study was to develop suggestions regarding ecodesign requirements and to explore how these can be communicated through an ecodesign label.

To assess the risks posed by legacy munition contamination, preliminary quality standards for TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) were developed for the protected resources of pelagic communities in freshwater and seawater, for human health via seafood consumption, and for drinking water.

The two-volume policy report is the first comprehensive legal assessment, which systematically compares national legal frameworks for munitions in the Baltic Sea Region and derives tangible proposals for EU-wide harmonisation.

The EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework offers an opportunity to align funding with competitiveness and resilience goals. The current proposal suggests a weakening of the environmental and climate priorities. This policy brief advocates for a future-oriented MFF that embrasses resilience, climate change, environment and green innovation.

With the new version of "The Handbook on Environmental Value Factors – Methodological Convention 4.0", UBA provides a comprehensive update of its environmental value factors for Greenhouse gases and other pollutants and a number of economic activities. The new handbook replaces the Methodological Convention 3.2. 

In environmental risk assessments for veterinary medicines, FOCUS models are applied to calculate the concentration in groundwater and surface water. The report suggests harmonised input parameters applicable to veterinary medicines and aids in the analysis of results. It also contains a manual for performing FOCUS simulations.

The aim of the project was to validate an extended one-generation reproduction test with zebrafish (ZEOGRT).

The level of ambition of Parties' current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is insufficient to ensure that climate change remains within the internationally agreed limits. One way to close this ambition gap is through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Broad and ambitious climate action is urgently needed since the Paris Agreement’s goals are still out of sight. While globally aligned and joint climate policy measures would be the best solution to avoid carbon leakage, in their absence, alternative measures can address carbon leakage risks. However, they can also result in fragmentation and inefficiencies.

This publication analyses the advantages and disadvantages of carbon credits compared to other financing instruments for protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems. Nine instruments are examined, including emission credits, biodiversity certificates, development cooperation, and blue bonds.