Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

How can the Global Stocktake be leveraged for enhanced climate action?

Updated Second Edition

The study analyses strategies and offers recommendations for leveraging the Global Stocktake’s (GST) outcomes for national climate action, especially for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to ensure the results of the GST influence national political discourse. It proposes communication strategies tailored to the different stages of the NDC p...read more

Climate | Energy

Third-country carbon pricing under the EU CBAM

Approaches for and challenges of recognising domestic payments

In October 2023, the EU introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposing a carbon price on imports of selected goods to the EU market. This way, the CBAM complements the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). One question that arises for the implementation of the new instrument is how third-country carbon prices can be recognised and deducted from CBAM payments. The discussion...read more

Climate | Energy, Air, Agriculture

Nitrous oxide - the underestimated greenhouse gas

Anthropogenic N₂O emissions are increasing – As a result of climate change, additional nitrous oxide is being released from natural sources

This fact sheet summarizes the results and content of the status report from the project “Meta-analysis - Global nitrous oxide/N₂O-sources: Inventories, trends, consideration in IPCC scenarios”. The properties of nitrous oxide (N₂O) as a greenhouse gas with an impact on the climate and the different methods for accounting of nitrous oxide sources and sinks will be briefly described. Additionally,...read more

Climate | Energy

Reflecting the Global Stocktake mitigation efforts in NDCs

Discussion Paper

This discussion paper provides an overview how Parties could reflect explicitly in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) their contribution to the global efforts on mitigation that they agreed to during the Global Stocktake (GST) at UNFCCC COP28. A table provides an overview of measures that directly relate to the global efforts agreed in the Global Stocktake on mitigation and also list...read more

Transport

Digitalisation and automation of transport

Regulatory framework for sustainable development

Digitalisation in transport offers opportunities for connected and automated public transport and can contribute significantly to the development of sustainable mobility. However, if unregulated, digitalisation can counteract a modal shift and lead to additional journeys in private motorised transport, thus to an increasing demand for energy and resources.The brochure outlines possible development...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Waste | Resources, Health, Soil | Land, Agriculture, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Components for the Transformation into a Sustainable Food System

The publication summarizes three strategies for transforming the food system that have been outlined in the “STErn project”, namely the promotion of a more plant-based diet, the further development of the organic farming and food industry and the strengthening of regional value chains. Measures to implement these strategies are bundled into three overarching approaches and presented graphically in...read more

Chemicals, Soil | Land, Agriculture

Critical Evaluation of Effect Models for the Risk Assessment of Plant Protection Products

Mechanistic effect models (MEM) have become increasingly popular in the field of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products. However there remains numerous open questions to risk assessors, modelers, applicants and the public. This report provides a scientific evaluation of 11 MEM or MEM families. It also critically assesses their relevance for ERA (e.g. as a refinement tool)...read more

Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Pathways to a sustainable financial economy

The sustainability transformation of the financial sector is a key prerequisite for the transformation of the real economy. This report therefore comprises 15 proposals in four central dimensions towards a sustainable financial sector in Germany: transformatitive relevance, transparency on the sustainability of financial products, sustainability risk management, and impact measurement of sustainab...read more