Welcome to the new issue of ‘The Latest from UBA’!
New findings should give us pause for thought: according to a representative survey commissioned by the UBA, young people in Germany are increasingly pessimistic about the future of the environment and climate, as well as about Germany’s social cohesion. Read more about this in this edition of the newsletter.
We also present, amongst other things, two new OECD test guidelines and a new guide to climate management in companies, and explain how the EU can strengthen its Post-2030 Climate Agenda and why the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ – PFAS – can often be replaced in medicines.
We hope you find it an interesting read
Your UBA Press and Public Relations team
Young people in Germany are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the future
Young people’s outlook on the future is becoming increasingly pessimistic.
Source: Stocksnap / Pixabay
This is shown by the latest findings from the UBA’s “Future? Ask Young People!” series of studies, for which more than 1,300 young people aged between 14 and 22, selected to be representative of the population in Germany, were surveyed in December 2025. Their outlook on the future of the environment and climate is similarly negative to that of previous years: 69 percent of those surveyed are pessimistic. Meanwhile, 73 percent of young people are pessimistic about Germany’s social outlook; in the 2021 survey, this figure stood at 54 percent.
When it comes to satisfaction with the actions of various stakeholders regarding environmental and climate protection, the survey reveals that only 26 percent of respondents believe the Federal Government is doing enough – 69 percent believe it is not doing enough. The picture is similar when it comes to industry and business, as well as individuals: only 30 percent consider the commitment of both groups to be sufficient. Seventy percent of those surveyed would like to see greater political attention paid to young people’s demands on climate issues.
“The growing pessimism among young people should give us pause for thought,” says UBA President Dirk Messner. “Our task is, and always will be, to offer the next generation a future worth living by leaving them a planet in good condition. A key factor in achieving this is to involve young people even more closely in environmental policy. They are quite rightly calling for this.”
The issue of “environmental and climate protection” is important for 73 percent of those surveyed. However, the proportion of young people who rate the issue as “very important” has fallen from 50 percent to 30 percent since 2021. Other issues, such as ‘crime and public safety’ (rated ‘very important’ by 54 percent) and ‘social justice’ (rated ‘very important’ by 53 percent), have come to the fore for many.
The German Environment Agency (UBA) has published its scientific opinion on the EU's climate policy ambition — outlining what it will take to achieve the EU climate targets and make Europe's path to climate neutrality credible, coherent, and fair.
In the first half of 2026, around 57 percent of the electricity consumed in Germany came from renewable energy sources. This is shown by new data from the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat). According to the figures, around six per cent more electricity was generated from wind, hydro, solar and bioenergy than in the same period the previous year.
In 2025, Germany's 1,794 stationary industrial and energy installations emitted around 264 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents under the European Emissions Trading Scheme 1 (EU ETS 1). This is around 3.2 per cent less than in the previous year. In 2024, the decline in emissions from stationary installations was still 5.5 per cent. Emissions from aviation fell by 2.2 per cent in 2025.
Reporting, accounting and financing of Blue Carbon measures
The publication explores the climate mitigation potential of Blue Carbon ecosystems (BCEs) like mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes. It investigates how to protect and enhance these natural carbon sinks through improved financing, accounting, and reporting mechanisms. At its core, challenges and opportunities for integrating BCEs into climate strategies, particularly in terms of carbon…
This report examines how Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) can be implemented and strengthened in Germany. Rooted in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, ACE emphasizes education, public awareness, participation, and access to information as key to effective climate action. International practices are reviewed, and Germany’s current status is analyzed through expert interviews and research. While…
This study evaluates the extent to which the mitigation-related outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement have been integrated into subsequent Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It specifically examines whether Parties are explicitly referencing the GST as a guiding framework or are merely aligning with its thematic areas (e.g. renewable energy, fossil fuel…
In the context of the ETS review starting in July 2026, the European Commission is expected to propose the integration of permanent carbon dioxide removals (CDR) into the EU Emissions Trading System 1. While beneficial, this integration also raises concerns due to several risks including mitigation deterrence, market uncertainty, and sustainability impacts. This report identifies and briefly…
Analysis of current and future EU ETS 1 extensions for maritime
This publication presents a scenario-based modelling assessment of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS 1) and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation (FEUM), evaluating their individual and combined impacts on the decarbonisation of the European maritime transport sector. Using the PRIMES Maritime and PRIMES-TREMOVE models, the study quantifies emissions, energy use, fuel mix, and system costs across…
Following the amendment of the European Climate Law, the European Union (EU) may use a limited volume of Article 6 credits to meet its 2040 climate target. If a share of these credits enters the EU Emissions Trading System 1 (EU ETS 1), this paper argues that indirect integration through an intermediary mechanism would be preferable to direct use by regulated entities. It then assesses four…
The next ERA-ENVHEALTH network’s Open Conference will take place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at the Federal Press Offfice in Berlin and online. The event will be hosted by the German Environment Agency (UBA). Under the theme “One Health for Sustainable Cities”, the conference aims to share and discuss relevant research results with network partners and a broader European audience.
Certain medicines contain per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, known as PFAS, which are increasingly harming the environment due to their persistence. A new study commissioned by the German Environment Agency (UBA) shows that many PFAS active ingredients used in medicines can be replaced by alternative active ingredients.
The next step towards implementing the requirements for environmental risk assessment of nanomaterials: The new standard test method investigates the solubility and dissolution rate of nanomaterials under relevant environmental conditions. It therefore represents an important new building block for an appropriate environmental risk assessment within the framework of chemical safety regulations.
On 14–15 October 2026, the German Environment Agency (UBA) and the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) will bring together around 180 leaders from industry, policymaking, finance, academia and civil society in Dessau-Roßlau to shape the future of Europe's chemical industry.
The report proposes an integrated, tiered assessment strategy for aquatic and terrestrial bioaccumulation, combining in silico, in vitro, and invertebrate approaches to minimise vertebrate testing while maintaining the current level of environmental protection. 26 representative substances across diverse chemical classes were evaluated using fish, Hyalella azteca and in vitro hepatic…
Effect of pH on the toxicity and bioaccumulation of ionic substances
The report investigates how pH influences the toxicity and bioaccumulation of ionizable chemicals in aquatic environments. Ionizable substances switch between neutral and ionic forms, depending on the pH, which directly affects their uptake and toxicity. Using zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) as a model, the study showed that both neutral and ionic species contribute to toxicity in a similar manner…
Recommendations and examples for practical application
Children, adolescents, and people aged 60 and over walk more frequently than other age groups. They also make greater use of bicycles and public transport. In doing so, the youngest and the oldest generations demonstrate environmentally friendly mobility behavior. At the same time, however—as pedestrians and cyclists—they are more frequently involved in traffic accidents. The objective must be to…
A new guide from the German Environment Agency provides a well-founded and practical description of how companies can establish a climate management system to reduce their climate impacts and climate risks in a systematic, transparent and credible manner.
This report presents the findings of the project “Analysis of the competitive Situation and the Carbon Leakage risk in European industries”. The aim of the project was to examine how new climate policy developments at the time were affecting the established debate on carbon leakage, and what policy measures required to address these developments. In addition to a literature review and a…
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) levels carbon costs between EU and imported products but does not address export carbon leakage. As free allocation under the EU ETS is phased out, EU exporters face rising carbon costs, potentially reducing competitiveness in markets with weaker climate policies. This paper develops an assessment framework based on five criteria and applies it to four…
Expert report supporting standardization activities for the revision of international accounting standards
The report highlights the close link between greenhouse gas accounting for organizations and products. It is primarily intended for experts in greenhouse gas accounting and members of relevant standards-setting bodies. Meaningful greenhouse gas inventories must, above all, clearly define the scope and objective of the inventory and disclose the accounting methods used. For selected methodological…
ICP Modelling & Mapping, Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)
The publication examines how nitrogen pollution affects ecosystems and biodiversity across the UNECE region, using harmonized Critical Load maps, national data, and scenario modelling. It evaluates which ecosystems remain at risk under future emission pathways and whether the 2040 biodiversity risk-reduction target is achievable. The publication is aimed at scientists, policy makers, and informed…
The project used high-resolution spatial and temporal simulations of the ERGOM-MOM 3D ecosystem model to review existing nutrient reduction targets for the Western Baltic Sea. Scenario simulations were used to assess the effects of reduction measures on improving water quality. In addition, the simulation results were used to evaluate the spatial extent, temporal duration and variability of past…
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires a regular assessment of the eutrophication status of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The basis for the assessment for Germany is the reference condition based on historical nutrient inputs around 1880. In the project, the MoRE (Modelling of Regionalised Emissions) nutrient input model was used to implement a consistent historical nutrient input…
Earthworms are an important indicator of soil fertility. They aerate the soil, promote root growth, improve water absorption, produce humus and contribute to soil fertility: the new standard test method examines the impact of chemicals on individual species and the earthworm community in field trials.
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