Publications

The city suburbs are becoming EXURBS; the centre of life for millions of people and the intermediate space between cities and countryside is developing dynamically. Living "in the green countryside" is in high demand. Digitisation and the coronavirus pandemic have further bolstered suburbanization.

The criteria for the assessment of ⁠PBT substances were developed for neutral organic substances. Many chemicals are, however, charged under environmentally relevant pH conditions. The influence of a charge in molecule on its potential to degrade in the environment is unclear and therefore the research question of this project.

In view of the ever-increasing progress of climate change, the importance of climate risk assessments is growing. They play a major role at the municipal level in particular (cities, distriscts, municipalities), because it is here that precautionary action must take place in the face of the dangers of the climate crisis.

The EU Commission has proposed to reduce emissions in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) by 61 % up to 2030. Apart from the cap, the market stability reserve (MSR) regulates supply and scarcity on the carbon market. This report looks at different options to rebase the cap and to adjust the MSR parameters.

Animals and plants should be better protected and habitats be restored. Main environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea such as excess nutrients, contaminants, marine litter, underwater noise and the impacts of fishing and other activities at sea are to be further reduced.

Wind turbines are important for a sustainable energy supply. Noise from these turbines is often discussed in politics, the media and the public. Amplitude-modulated noise, which is perceived as " whooshing ", is also a topic of discussion.

Petroleum and coal (PetCo) based substances are usually of complex composition. This makes their analytical characterisation challenging. The aim of this project was to develop an analytical concept to be applied on a selection of five PetCo products, to identify those constituents or constituent groups that might be of concern for the environment and human health.

This report offers a stocktaking of conflict sensitivity and adaptation in theory and practice.

In preparation for the upcoming revision the German Environment Agency (UBA) from a scientific point of view has assessed the possibility to meet the proposed WHO Guidelines Levels, the applicability of improved chemical transport models and advanced monitoring methods for air quality assessment as well as concepts for a better protection of ecosystems from air pollutants.

Germany is obligated to report its national emissions of greenhouse gases, annually, to the European Union and the United Nations. Over 80 % of the greenhouse-gas emissions reported by Germany occur via combustion of fossil fuels. The great majority of the emissions consist of carbon dioxide.

The report develops an assessment framework that policy makers can use to determine whether offsets can add value while ensuring the environmental integrity of a compliance system.

The report examines the role offset approaches can play in the post-2020 climate regime. For this purpose, the report first develops a conceptual approach and a normative vision of what should be viewed as successful offset use. It then proposes tools to operationalize this vision. Lastly it derives overarching policy recommendations for the integration of offsets in carbon pricing systems.