Publications

Life cycle assessments (LCA) are an essential tool to explore the environmental impacts associated with a product or service over the course of the entire life cycle. For accurate modelling, data on all relevant potential environmental impacts should be included in an LCA. To consider land in the context of an LCA, the quality of the land used to supply a product or service is a key factor.

This policy paper commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency examines the greenhouse gas reduction potential from the measures of the first pillar (GAEC standards and eco-schemes) of the Common European Agricultural Policy 2023-2027. The results are based on a study that will be published in the first half of 2022.

It was checked whether and how with selected waste streams - especially old tires and old textiles - resource conservation and environmental relief potentials can be realized through improved collection and recycling. Bulky waste, mattresses, furniture, carpets, artificial turf and diapers were also considered.

Hydrolysis is an abiotic degradation process that influences the fate of many water-soluble substances in the environment. The ability of chemicals to undergo hydrolysis is currently tested in purified lab water in accordance with OECD guideline 111. It has been suggested that the addition of particles such as sediment or microplastic fibers i.e.

This evaluation of air quality in Germany in the year 2021 is based on preliminary data which has not yet been conclusively audited from the air monitoring networks of the federal states and the UBA, valid on 31th January 2022. Due to the comprehensive quality assurance within the monitoring networks, the final data will only be available in mid-2022.

Reaktiver Stickstoff gelangt aus unterschiedlichen, anthropogenen Quellen in die Umwelt und führt dort zu vielfältigen Risiken für Mensch, Ökosysteme und Klima. Die 8. Globale Stickstoff-Konferenz an der Schnittstelle zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik wurde vom 31.5.2021 bis 3.6.2021 gemeinsam von UBA und BMU als virtuelle Veranstaltung durchgeführt.

Treated seeds imported from the EU can be sown in Germany, even if they were treated with plant protection products that are not authorized in Germany. This possible deficit in legislation, not preestimated during the negotiations for the EU regulation, results in a gap in the current environmental risk assessment and risk mitigation of seed treatments.

Worldwide, about half a million sites of companies and other organisations have an environmental management system according to ISO 14001. Against this background, it was examined how in future a systematic management of climate-related risks can be promoted or even ensured with standards for environmental management systems.

Meat consumption has come under criticism in recent years. Meat substitutes are becoming increasingly popular in Germany and could be an alternative.

The paper “Making EU Governance Fit for Net Zero” analyses the current landscape of climate policy governance against eight core parameters at EU level and for Member States, and identifies a number of remaining weaknesses.  Improvements should address several key processes, such as updating of the NECPs in 2023-2024 and of national LTSs and the new progress and consistency assessments und

The effectiveness of carbon pricing as a market-based policy tool with economy-wide transformation potential has increasingly rendered it the instrument of choice among policy makers responding to challenges posed by climate change.

Mobility must be redirected to make a fundamental contribution to achieving climate targets. For more justice, social compatibility must be established and existing injustices and climate-damaging privileges must be eliminated. The change in transport and mobility must be taxed in such a way that Germany retains its financial capacity to act.