Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Economy | Consumption, Waste | Resources

Synopsis of system approaches to environmental research - German contribution to ecosystem management

In order to enable the conceivement and enforcement of efficient measures for environmental precaution and protection, it is necessary to undertake an environmental systems analysis. Against the background of this assumption, a concept for a federal ecosystem research program has been initiated by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in 1978. Cooperating on this project was the Federal Ministry of...read more

Water

Nutrient Emissions into River Basins of Germany on the Basis of a Harmonized Procedure

The model MONERIS (MOdelling Nutrient Emissions in RIver Systems) was developed and applied to estimate the nutrient emissions into river basins of Germany by point sources and various diffuse pathways. The model is based on data of river flow and water quality as well as a geographical information system (GIS), which includes digital maps and extensive statistical information. (Shopping order as...read more

Economy | Consumption, Agriculture

Economic Impact of the Spread of Alien Species in Germany

This research will not be restricted solely to the biology and remediation of invasive species, but will also evaluate their adverse health effects and economic impact.read more

Climate | Energy

Hydroelectric Power Plants as a Source of Renewable Energy

- legal and ecological aspects -

Already in 1990 the German Government decided, as its contribution to the limitation of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% by 2005 – base year 1990 – and to limit or reduce other greenhouse gases. In order to achieve its national climate protection goal, the Government developed a national climate protection strategy and a comprehensive package of measures that mean...read more

Water

Water Safety (Berlin, 28. - 30. April 2003) Conference Abstracts

Since pioneers such as John Snow and Robert Koch first established water as major route of disease transmission in the late 19th century, many countries have attained a high level of drinking-water safety. Nonetheless, these continue to struggle with some disease agents found in water, due to new pathogens evolving or being discovered, new chemicals being developed and found in water, and due to t...read more

Climate | Energy, Air, Transport

Reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector

A status report by the Federal Environmental Agency

Unlike in other sectors, CO2 emissions from transport rose between 1990 and 2000 by more than 12%. The primary reason is the increased transport volume: between 1990 and 2000, the increase in freight transport alone was around 41%. During the same period, the increase in passenger transport, measured in passenger kilometres, was around 22% [VIZ, 2001/2002]. It was not until after 1999 that there w...read more

Waste | Resources, Soil | Land

Assessing the bioavailability of contaminants in soils: a review on recent concepts

This literature study, financed by the Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) of Germany, examines recent concepts on the bioavailability of contaminants in soil. It is focused on theoretical concepts and methods appropriate for identifying bioavailable fractions of contaminants.  read more

Water

Assessment Criteria for Eutrophication Areas

-Emphasis German Bight-

The German Bight is characterised by mean residence times of 33 days in the inner Bight and of 67 days in the larger German Bight area. The shallow Bight (mostly < 40 m depth) receives large amounts of nutrients from the rivers Elbe, Weser and Ems, from transboundary transports along with the coastal current and from the atmosphere. Nutrient river loads, reached annual means of 280 % for TN and...read more