Publications

In the light of the upcoming phase 4 of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS, 2021-2030), the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation and the Accreditation and Verification Regulation are currently under review.

Today more than 45 % of all energy-related CO2 emissions come from burning coal. Thus, reducing CO₂ emissions from coal use is a necessity for reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement. This will not only pose challenges for coal consumers (restructuring of the energy system), but also for countries whose economy is strongly depending on the production of coal.

This report contains a summary of the international deep sea mining expert workshop „A benefit sharing mechanism appropriate for the Common Heritage of Mankind”.

The novel sewage sludge ordinance entered into force on 03/10/2017. Therefore for wastewater treatment plants with more than 100,000 respectively 50,000 populations equivalents the utilization of sewage sludge on soil is only possible until 2029 respectively 2032. Afterwards phosphorus recovery is mandatory for sludge with minimum 20 g phosphorus/ kg as well as for sewage sludge ashes.

With this strategic research agenda, UBA identifies future research priorities for the development of urban areas which are based on environmental quality goals. Interfaces between disciplines and knowledge gaps in environmentally-oriented, socially responsible and health-promoting urban development are identified.

On the example of the Indian cities of Bangalore, Bhopal and Haridwar, it is explained which climate protection potential the introduction of integrated waste management in emerging and developing countries holds. In order to complement the final report, this annex report compiles the detailed assessment on the three cities with regard to the status quo of their waste management in the yea

On the example of the Indian cities of Bangalore, Bhopal and Haridwar, it is explained which climate protection potential the introduction of integrated waste management in emerging and developing countries holds. In order to describe the waste management systems of the 3 cities, unavailable data was completed by local expertise and assumptions.

Volatile organic hydrocarbons, which are released to the atmosphere by plants (biogenic VOC, BVOC), have large influence on atmospheric chemistry and thus air quality. They are beside nitrogen oxides and anthropogenic VOC eminent precursors for tropospheric ozone and may also foster the creation of aerosols.

UBA's biannual "What Matters" magazine covers current topics in environmental protection. The first edition of 2019 “Healthy Air” takes an in-depth look at how clean the air surroundig us actually is, which pollutants can be found and how we measure them. We also look at health aspects and how public health helps policy makers by calculating and comparing relevant risk factors.

In the project experts have developed sub-criteria and indicators for the internationally agreed five sustainability criteria for Chemical Leasing. From this, both an indicator checklist and the electronic instrument SMART 5 were developed. The checklist allows a qualitative assessment.

The Position paper begins by discussing options on how to further develop EU soil protection law. Compared to the status-quo, strengthening the existing soil protection legislation at EU level would preserve transboundary ecosystem services of soils and also help to effectively implement the ‘land degradation neutrality’ objective.

The study investigates spatial and temporal trends of airborn deposition of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium and zinc in Germany using modelled and measured data, among these results of bioaccumulation surveys. A risk assessment is provided by comparing the results with environment quality targets and criteria from regulations.