Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Chemicals, Economy | Consumption, Soil | Land, Water

Reducing the input of chemicals into waters: trifluoroacetate (TFA) as a persistent and mobile substance with many sources

Trifluoroacetate (TFA) is a mobile and persistent substance that is primarily introduced into the water cycle through the degradation of various fluorochemicals and remains in the environment in the long term. TFA can be detected in many water bodies in relatively high concentrations with some regional hotspots. This background paper presents current data and estimates on sources, input pathways,...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Transport

Implementation and Development of GLI:X Green Logistics Indicators in South Africa

The GLI:X Green Logistics Indicators project has been established over several stages since 2016. Together with the province of Gauteng in South Africa, the project has succeeded in developing an indicator system for the measurability of green, socially responsible, and efficient freight logistics in the province in a cooperative dialog-oriented process. The aim of the present project was to build...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption

A Front-Runner Approach for EU product policy

Impulse for raising untapped energy saving potentials

This paper presents an initial outline of a policy approach called “EU front-runner approach”. It aims at installing a regulatory framework which enables a semi-automated, progressive adaptation of ecodesign minimum requirements for products. It builds on performance levels of the best products available on the market by aggregating information in a database. The application of the “EU front-runne...read more

Climate | Energy

Renewable energies in Germany

Data on the development in 2021

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Affairs, the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) takes stock of the use of renewable energies and annually prepares an official estimate of the development of renewable energies for the previous year. This background paper describes the initial findings for the electricity, heat and transport sectors, supplemen...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Soil | Land, Transport

EXURB Environmental – Sustainable interlinking of housing, work, recreation and mobility

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 brochure deals with the question of how a sustainable development between the city and the surro...read more

Chemicals

Refinement of the P assessment of ionisable substances: Distribution and degradation of anionic, neutral and cationic organic chemicals in water-sediment systems

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. The results show that especially a positive charge can strongly influe...read more

Climate | Energy

Climate Risk Assessments at the Municipal Level

Recommendations for the Implementation of ISO 14091

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 recommendations in this papier provide support for the preparation and im...read more

Climate | Energy

Rebasing the Cap and strengthening the Market Stability Reserve in the EU ETS until 2030

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. It analyses the effects on total allowance supply and on the total number of allo...read more