Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Waste | Resources

Environmental Criticality of Raw Materials

An assessment of environmental hazard potentials of raw materials from mining and recommendations for an ecological raw materials policy

Within the project OekoRess II, more than 50 mineral raw materials were evaluated with regard to the environmental hazard potential of mining using and further refining the methodology developed in the predecessor project OekoRess I.The evaluation system consists of eight indicators on geological, technical and site-related environmental hazard potentials of mining, two supplementary indicators on...read more

Soil | Land

Improving international soil governance - Analysis and recommendations

This study – provided by the Ecologic Institute Berlin and the Öko-Institute Berlin in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Sebastian Oberthür - develops options for the German government to improve international soil governance in the short, medium and long term. The study first takes stock of existing international instruments and institutions with regard to soil protection which could currently be descri...read more

Climate | Energy

Essential Elements of Robust MRV-Systems and Analysis of Their Relevance for Linking Emissions Trading Schemes

The present study is a contribution to the linking discussion of emissions trading systems. Between 2012 and 2016, the comparability of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of established emissions trading systems, carbon tax systems and pure monitoring systems was analysed, inter alia based on the California Cap-and-Trade Program, Target Management System / Korea ETS, Shanghai-ETS, Carbon...read more

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

Sustainable Pathways out of the Corona Crisis

The German Case

The Covid 19 pandemic is causing considerable social and economic disruption worldwide. Short and midterm financial support measures for mitigating the acute consequences of the pandemic must be structured in a way, that they support the needed longterm changes towards a sustainable and climate-neutral society. The UBA position paper proposes an action plan for Germany, that takes into account the...read more

Economy | Consumption

Guide on Green Public Procurement of Software (2020)

Software plays an important role in determining the environmental impact of ICT products. It has a measurable impact on computer-hardware energy consumption and increasing requirements can make it necessary to replace computer hardware prematurely – a phenomenon known as software obsolescence. This Guide on Green Public Procurement of Software presents a set of criteria and proposes methods for im...read more

Air

Consideration of methane emissions in the modelling of ozone concentrations in chemical transport models

Methan ist ein besonders wirksames Treibhausgas sowie ein Vorläufer von bodennahem Ozon, einem Schadstoff, der die menschliche Gesundheit und Ökosysteme belastet. Die Methankonzentrationen sind derzeit etwa dreimal höher als in vorindustriellen Zeiten und steigen weiter an.Aufgrund der relativ langen Lebensdauer von Ozon in der Troposphäre müssen Chemie-Transport-Modelle Informationen über die Ozo...read more

Air

Reactive nitrogen flows in Germany 2010-2014 (DESTINO Report 2)

The introduction of reactive nitrogen into the environment affects the air and groundwater quality, the good condition of land and marine ecosystems, as well as climate and biodiversity. Reducing nitrogen emissions is therefore a key task of environmental policy. The report shows the relevant sources, sinks and flows of the nitrogen cycle in Germany. A total of around 150 flows of ammonia, nitroge...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption

Energy management systems in practice

From energy auditing to an ISO 50001 management system: Guide for companies and organizations

By 2050, the European Union aims to become climate neutral. The achievement of this goal will require, among others, a massive boost in energy efficiency. Companies and other organizations can make a significant contribution to climate protection through systematic and long-term energy management. Since its publication in 2011, ISO 50001 became the most important international standard for energy...read more