Publications

The subject of this project was the preparation of substance reports for five substances or substance groups relevant for building products emissions. For these substances, the toxicological data basis were compiled and evaluated, and EU-LCI values were proposed. The EU-LCI values allow the harmonisation of the health assessment of building products emissions throughout Europe.

Within the framework of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS), the Federal government presents the 2023 (third) Monitoring Report on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change.

At the end of September 2023, the World Conference on Chemicals (ICCM5) decided on the follow-up framework for SAICM by adopting the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC). The GFC aims to ensure the sustainable use of chemicals worldwide throughout their entire life cycle, including the products and waste produced from them.

The existing award criteria for the Blue Angel eco-label for textiles (DE-UZ 154) have been reviewed as part of a revision and, in addition to expanding and further specifying the scope, have been specifically further developed in individual requirement areas.

Solar radiation modification is highly controversial. The implementation of invasive geoengineering technologies would entail serious and largely unforeseeable ecological, and geopolitical risks. Considerable scientific disagreement exists around the extent of the risks, how they relate to increased risks of climate change, and whether uncertainties could be resolved.

When public contracts are awarded, a significant contribution can be made to the protection of natural resources. However, sometimes there is uncertainty about fire protection requirements for products such as textiles, furniture, or mattresses in the public sector and, if applicable, how the required fire protection can be implemented in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

In October 2023, the EU introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposing a carbon price on imports of selected goods to the EU market. This way, the CBAM complements the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). One question that arises for the implementation of the new instrument is how third-country carbon prices can be recognised and deducted from CBAM payments.

This fact sheet summarizes the results and content of the status report from the project “Meta-analysis - Global nitrous oxide/N₂O-sources: Inventories, trends, consideration in IPCC scenarios”. The properties of nitrous oxide (N₂O) as a greenhouse gas with an impact on the climate and the different methods for accounting of nitrous oxide sources and sinks will be briefly described.

This discussion paper provides an overview how Parties could reflect explicitly in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) their contribution to the global efforts on mitigation that they agreed to during the Global Stocktake (GST) at UNFCCC COP28.

Digitalisation in transport offers opportunities for connected and automated public transport and can contribute significantly to the development of sustainable mobility. However, if unregulated, digitalisation can counteract a modal shift and lead to additional journeys in private motorised transport, thus to an increasing demand for energy and resources.

The publication summarizes three strategies for transforming the food system that have been outlined in the “STErn project”, namely the promotion of a more plant-based diet, the further development of the organic farming and food industry and the strengthening of regional value chains.

Mechanistic effect models (MEM) have become increasingly popular in the field of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products. However there remains numerous open questions to risk assessors, modelers, applicants and the public. This report provides a scientific evaluation of 11 MEM or MEM families. It also critically assesses their relevance for ERA (e.g.