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Advanced materials promise technical solutions to support sustainable transformation. They play an important role for a variety of environmental topics worked on at UBA, such as energy transition, circular economy and chemical safety. Various sectors can benefit from the use of advanced materials, but they can also face challenges. The UBA position paper describes the area of tension between t... read more

With this position paper, the UBA proposes strategic measures and targeted climate policy instruments for achieving a reduction in coal-fired power generation for the period up until 2030. To achieve a disproportionately high reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the energy sector as a contribution to achieving the climate protection targets by 2020, the UBA recommends to limit coal-fired p... read more

In addition to environmental and climate policy objectives, the Circular Economy is also essential for strengthening the security of supply and for achieving further economic and socio-economic goals. Recycling is one of the key factors along with a range of other approaches and strategies (e.g., longevity, Intensity of use, and the sharing economy). In order to assess the contribution and the... read more

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... read more

This position paper shows why the German transport system is in urgent need of reform, not only from an environmental but also from a societal point of view. Households with low incomes, women, children or elderly people are disproportionately affected by transport-related emissions, although they contribute comparatively little to the stress caused by transport. In addition, households with h... read more

The UBA position paper assesses the usefullness of carbon capture and storage (⁠CCS⁠ for short) as a climate protection instrument. It describes guidelines for sustainable use, as well as the necessary monitoring and risk prevention. The effects of CCS on human health and the environment are also considered. According to the paper, CCS cannot replace greenhouse gas reductions and... read more

By 2020, the Parties to the Paris Agreement should communicate or submit new, updated nationally determined contributions (NDC). For this exercise, the findings of the IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.5°C” are especially relevant. In this light, a position paper of the German Environment Agency outlines how climate policy could be calibrated towards limiting warming to 1.5°C. read more