Publications

Achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement requires increased global climate action, especially towards the transition of the energy sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly and fiercely changed social life around the world. Besides the diverse, in part drastic negative consequences, the crisis has also produced situations and pictures that seem utopian in “normal” times. Some of these impacts will soon fade away, others are very likely to continue in the longer term.

Chemical recycling is discussed as an alternative or addition to mechanical recycling of plastic waste, which is considered to have both the possibility of removing pollutants and the potential of using waste that is difficult to recycle or heavily contaminated.

What relevance does economic growth have for achieving environmental policy goals? The report analyzes the arguments of various positions in this discourse and formulates an ideal-type " precautionary post-growth position". It also presents causes of economic growth and identifies social areas whose function could depend on economic growth.

The project “PBT - Quo vadis?” includes an examination of the concept currently valid under REACH for evaluating the PBT properties of chemicals from a scientific and regulatory point of view. A main focus of the examination was on chemicals which, despite their worrying properties, have not yet been covered by the PBT concept.

The report describes the scientific background and motivation to develop an OECD Guidance Document on the determination on dissolution and dispersion stability of nanomaterials in the environment. It presents the process and approach to develop the GD and summarizes its relevance for risk assessment and regulation of nanomaterials. The “OECD Guidance Document No.

This position paper shows why the German transport system is in urgent need of reform, not only from an environmental but also from a societal point of view. Households with low incomes, women, children or elderly people are disproportionately affected by transport-related emissions, although they contribute comparatively little to the stress caused by transport.

Electricity generation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in many countries. Most emissions trading systems (ETS) therefore address emissions from electricity generation. The de-sign of an ETS and the structure and regulation of the electricity sector have a large impact on the environmental effectiveness and the quality of the carbon price signal.

Electricity generation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in many countries. Most emissions trading systems (ETS) therefore address emissions from electricity generation. The design of an ETS and the structure and regulation of the electricity sector have a large impact on the environmental effectiveness and the quality of the carbon price signal.

The subject of this project was the preparation of substance reports for five substances relevant for building products emissions. For these substances, the toxicological data basis were researched, 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.

The global climate crisis calls for swift and bold implementation of climate mitigation measures globally and domestically.

The waste prevention program (WPP) from 2013 must be evaluated every 6 years and updated if necessary. The review and evaluation of the implementation of the WPP took place within the scope of the project.