Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Waste | Resources, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Limits to Consumption

Sustainable Consumption Considering Planetary Boundaries

The concept of ‘Planetary Boundaries’ quantifies the limits on the Earth system. The report explores the question on how consumption patterns could look like which are globally transferable, compatible with German consumption levels and remain within planetary boundaries. The report examines this question based on average consumption patterns in Germany. It develops and outlines six exemplary cons...read more

Climate | Energy

The Research & Funding Landscape of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM)

For many years, research into SRM was only publicly funded to a limited extent. Private funding, mainly from philanthropic institutions, was the main source. More recently, growing interest from both the public and private sectors has been reported, although concrete data on expanded funding streams is limited and the overall scale and direction of this investment remains unclear This factsheet at...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Air, Transport, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Heavy Freight. Big Challenge. One Goal.

Environmentally sustainable freight transport: international, national, local

Freight transport keeps the world running. In Germany freight transport has grown massively these past 30 years, by 75 %. Its climate-harming emissions are nowadays 25 % higher. Continuously high burdens of air pollution, noise and land consumption represent the downside of freight transport.The German Environment Agency (UBA) with this brochure attempts to present a vision for an environmentally...read more

Climate | Energy

Targeting Climate Politics

Geoengineering, Governance, and Global Goals

This final report of the project “Geoengineering: Mögliche Synergien und Effekte mit den Sustainable Development Goals”, outlines major questions around geoengineering technologies – both Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) – investigating its technical and environmental components as well as anchoring it in the context of a target-driven climate and sustainability...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Cost allocation and incentive mechanisms for environmental, climate protection and resource conservation along global supply chains - Business approaches and instruments of sustainable supply chain management

This report analyses and classifies the prevailing and emerging supply chain management practices for environmental protection in the supply chains of cotton, tin, natural rubber, coffee and iron ore/steel. To provide the background for this analysis, it contains an inventory of operational approaches to and instruments for sustainable supply chain management at the company level. In addition, the...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Health, Noise

Annoyance and sleep disturbance due to noise from air-source heat pumps and air conditioners

This report presents the results of a research project that investigated the influence of noise from air source heat pumps and air conditioners on sleep quality, daytime functioning and mood in two laboratory studies. It was found that typical noises from air-source heat pumps and air conditioners can affect sleep, concentration and mood in more than 40 test subjects. These results make it clear t...read more

Chemicals, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Consumer Survey on Biocidal Products and Environmental Risks

Biocides are used against various harmful organisms and can pose a potential risk to the environment. Risk mitigation measures provide necessary information on how to use biocidal products safely, especially for consumers products.During the online survey conducted in Germany in 2022 participants were asked how comprehensible and practicable they rate instructions found on biocidal products. The f...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Noise

Energy and transport vulnerability of households in the context of emissions trading: An analysis for 10 EU Member States

Energy and transport poverty and vulnerability are a central building block in the debate around many energy and climate policy issues and have gained firm hold in EU directives, regulations and documents. National governments need to establish indicators for both energy and transport poverty and vulnerability, to fulfil reporting requirements to the EU and to develop and target suitable policies...read more