Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Focus on the future: Meat of the future

Trend report for assessing the environmental impacts of plant-based meat substitutes, edible insects and in vitro meat

Meat consumption has come under criticism in recent years. Meat substitutes are becoming increasingly popular in Germany and could be an alternative. In a study entitled "Meat of the Future", the UBA has now examined the effects of the three emerging meat alternatives - plant-based meat substitutes, edible insects and invitro meat - on the environment and health, and what role they could play in t...read more

Climate | Energy

Making the EU climate governance fit for net zero

An analysis of the current landscape of relevant EU climate policy processes and recommendations for alignment with the climate neutrality objective

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 under the E...read more

Climate | Energy

Carbon Pricing Potential in East and South Asia

Jurisdiction factsheets and clusters

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. However, the potential for jurisdictions to introduce carbon pricing instruments varies considerably owing to differences in political, legal, economic, technical, and...read more

Verkehr

Reshaping mobility

A tax and duty concept for climate-friendly and socially fair transport up to 2050

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.How this can be achieved is shown in the study ‘Reshapin...read more

Climate | Energy

Influence of market structures and market regulation on the carbon market: Insights from selected emissions trading systems

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

Chemicals, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Transport

Towards a Green Economy

Successfully shaping structual change

This document presents central messages and recommendations for successfully shaping structural change towards a Green Economy. The document is a result oft he RFEOPLAN-project „Ökologischer Strukturwandel“ (FKZ 3716 14 101 0). Its intended audience are experts and interested laypersons. In addition to general information regarding ecological structural change, especially the automotive industry a...read more

Chemicals, Waste | Resources, Water

Best available techniques for PFOS substitution in the surface treatment of metals and plastics and analysis of alternative substances to PFOS when used in equipment for chromium plating and plastic etching

In the project, it was determined that approximately 1000 plants for chromium plating and pickling of plastics are operated in Germany, in which PFOS has been mainly substituted by 6:2 FTS. Many process alternatives already exist for the use of wetting agents or Cr(VI). The results of the project can be used, among others, for the reporting obligations under the POPs Regulation and the exchange on...read more

Climate | Energy, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Towards a joint implementation of the 2030 Agenda / SDGs and the Paris Agreement

Conceptual and analytic paper

With this paper the state of research on the joint implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement is analysed. Factors that negatively influence the development of effective solutions are included. Criteria for assessing policy integration are elaborated, as well as practical categories of integration (cognitive capacity development, inter-institutional coord...read more