Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy, Water

Analysis of Polyquaternium Compounds in Environmental Samples through Non-Target Screening

Polyquaternium (PQ) compounds are water soluble polymers which are widely used in high volumes, e.g. in body care products. They are assumed to be persistent in the environment and to be toxic to aquatic organisms. Information on their occurrence and environmental concentrations is essential to assess the risk these chemicals may pose and determine if regulatory action is required. In this study i...read more

Economy | Consumption, Waste | Resources, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Digitalisation

Product Information 4.0

Extension of legal information requirements for products and digital implementation by the example of energy-related products and textiles

The project lays the groundwork for a European digital product passport by expanding legal information requirements, developed in collaboration with stakeholders using textiles and energy-related products as examples. It explores how key product data can be digitally tracked, combined, and made accessible across the life cycle. Existing tracking approaches and information flows are identified and...read more

Climate | Energy

Evaluation of the KlimAdapt project

With a focus on the German Climate Preparedness Portal

After five years of operation, a comprehensive evaluation of the KlimAdapt project, consisting of the German Climate Preparedness Portal (KLiVO-Portal) and its accompanying network, was carried out in 2024. The aim was to examine the impact and use of the portal, particularly from a user perspective. The evaluation is divided into five main questions, which were answered through a secondary analys...read more

Water

Towards a standardised approach to Regional Enviromental Management Plans in the Area

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) aims to develop Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) in marine regions where there is an interest in deep-sea mining. The REMPs will be a sectoral management tool and offer the opportunity to implement an ecosystem-based management approach. The presented study aims to contribute to this discussion by recommending a standardised approach for the...read more

Water

The benefit sharing regime of the International Seabed Authority

The member states of the International Seabed Authority are currently negotiating a comprehensive code for deep seabed mining in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. This study aims to take a holistic approach to the problems of equitably balancing the economic and financial benefits that may arise under the law of the sea. We present the legal requirements, analyse the issue of benef...read more

Water

Test mining in the Area: Legal, regulatory, environmental governance and scientific perspectives

The International Seabed Authority, ISA, controls the areas beyond national jurisdiction and its mineral deposits and has the obligation to effectively protect the marine environment from the potentially harmful effects of exploration and extraction activities. What is required is appropriate mining techniques and that tests are carried out to ensure that there will be no adverse effects. In the c...read more

Chemicals

Standardization of Methods on the Fate and Behavior of Nanomaterials in Environmental Media - Dissolution and Dissolution Rate

This report describes the scientific background, relevant preliminary considerations and experimental work performed for the development of a future OECD Test Guideline on determining solubility and dissolution rate of nanomaterials in aqueous environmental media. It gives insight into the derivation of the various test approaches considering relevant environmental conditions and the validation of...read more

Climate | Energy, Agriculture

Report on typical GHG emission values for the cultivation of agricultural raw materials for NUTS 2 regions or a more disaggregated level in Germany according to RED II

This report explains the calculation of the updated typical greenhouse gas emission values for the cultivation of agricultural raw materials for NUTS 2 regions in Germany and presents the results. The calculations for eleven energy crops are based on updated input variables consisting of standardized factors and comprehensive data sources such as yields, fertilizer consumption and diesel consumpti...read more