Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Chemicals, Soil | Land

Correctly assessing the performance and threats of microorganisms in agricultural soils – identifying meaningful endpoints under field-relevant pesticide, biocide and pharmaceutical exposure

The aim of the MICROSOIL project was to identify meaningful endpoints for assessing the effects of plant protection products, veterinary pharmaceuticals and biocides on microorganisms in agricultural soils.The current risk assessment for plant protection products (PPPs) considers the effects of PPPs on nitrogen turnover by microorganisms in test soils according to the OECD 216 testguideline. Howev...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Ability of politicians to act

Climate protection in the era of the polycrisis

Whether geopolitical polycrisis, progressive social fragmentation, changes in public communication and debates, increasing criticism of transformational governance, but also positive glimmers of hope such as the emergence of new governance approaches that are becoming increasingly digital, polycentric and transformative: the trend study analyses these five trends that could complicate or improve p...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Material Prosperity and Climate Protection

Key Trends and Their Implications for Climate Policy

The study analyses which key trends in the economy and society influence the material foundations of prosperity in Germany. It also shows how the key trends represent both opportunities and risks for climate protection. Among other things, it focuses on the growing climate impact costs for private households, the increasing pressure to invest in the expansion of resilient infrastructure and the re...read more

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

Environmental Awareness in Germany 2024

Survey report

The study on environmental awareness in 2024 shows that protecting the environment and climate continues to be a high priority for the majority of people in Germany. However, the importance of this issue has decreased since 2022. Many consider the situation in the health and education sectors and economic development, for example, to be more urgentWith regard to the consequences of climate change,...read more

Chemicals

How rapidly do per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulate in different environmental compartments?

Monitoring of samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are one of the predominant groups of organic contaminants in the environment and in biota. Their persistence, along with their widespread use, has led to both diffuse contamination of the environment and a very large number of locally highly contaminated hot spots. In this project, a comprehensive dataset on PFAS contamination of food webs in Germany was...read more

Climate | Energy

Submission under the United Nations Framework Convention 2025

National Inventory Report for the German Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2023

As a Party to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (⁠UNFCCC⁠), since 1994 Germany has been obliged to prepare, publish and regularly update national emission inventories of greenhouse gases. Pursuant to Decision 24/CP.19, all Parties listed in ANNEX I of the ⁠UNFCCC⁠ are required to prepare and submit annual National Inventory Reports (NID) containing detailed and complete information on...read more

Climate | Energy, Water, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Nationally Determined Contributions and national greenhouse gas reporting

Ad-hoc paper as part of the research project FKZ 3722 42 510 0

This paper examines the integration of "Blue Carbon Ecosystems" (BCEs) such as mangroves and salt marshes into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Inventory Reports (NIRs). While developing countries are increasingly including BCEs in their NDCs, reporting in NIRs remains insufficient. Only seven countries account for BCE, with mangroves being the most commonly included. Report...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

EU Cohesion Policy post 2027

Proposals for a transformative EU regional policy

Europe’s green transformation can only succeed if all regions are able to realize their full potential. Cohesion policy should continue to play a key role in this beyond 2027. Our recommendations for EU cohesion policy from 2028 onwards include a forward-looking and targeted policy approach, future-oriented investments, the promotion of natural capital, placing regions at the core, stronger partic...read more