Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

Renwable energy and the clean development mechanism

Potential, Barriers and Ways Forward

The number of countries where RET have seen significant market growth is steadily increasing. However, in most countries of the world, dissemination of new renewable energy technologies is still very limited. A range of barriers – financial, economic, institutional, political and technical – impede implementation. read more

Chemicals

Effects of Molecular Size and Lipid Solubility on Bioaccumulation Potential

Literature Study

Einfluss der Molekülgröße und der Lipidlöslichkeit auf das Biokonzentrationspotential von UmweltchemikalienDie Identifizierung persistenter, bioakkumulierender und toxischer (PBT) und sehr persistenter und hoch bioakkumulierender (vPvB) Stoffe ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil von ⁠REACH⁠. Die Datenlage für die Identifizierung dieser Eigenschaften ist für Stoffe, die in Tonnagen bis 10 t...read more

Chemicals, Health

Phtalates - Useful plasticisers with undesired properties

What are phthalates and what is their use? Phthalates are primarily used as plasticisers for soft PVC. The chemical industry in Western Europe produces around one million tons of phthalates annually. More than 90% go into the production of soft PVC. read more

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

Monitoring and evaluation of policy instruments to support renewable electricity in EU Member States

Final Report

Since the publication of the White Paper "Energy for the future" (EC, 1997) and the adoption of the Directive 2001/77/EC (EC, 2001) on renewable energies in the electricity sector (RES-E), the EU renewable energy sector has developed in a dynamic way. All member states have introduced policies to support the market introduction of RES-E and most of them have started to improve the corresponding ad...read more

Chemicals, Economy | Consumption

Survey of Heavy Metal Content of Batteries

- Analysis of Representative Samples of Customary Batteries and Batteries Sold in Appliances

The aim of the project „Survey of Heavy Metal Content of Batteries – Analysis of Representative Samples of Customary Batteries and Batteries Sold in Appliances – Preparation of a Sampling Plan, Purchase of Samples and Analysis (Hg, Pb, Cd)“ was to describe the situation concerning the compliance of the existing limits for heavy metal content in commercially available batteries in Germany on the ba...read more

Economy | Consumption

Optimization of Precious Metals Recycling: Analysis of Exports of Used Vehicles and Used Electrical and Electronic Devices at Hamburg Port

In this study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Öko-Institute - with expert advice by Umicore Precious Metals Refining - analysed the export of used vehicles and electrical and electronic goods from Germany. This latest research project is based on the former study “Materials Flow of Platinum Group Metals” [PGM 2005]. Herein it was stated that an enormou...read more

Economy | Consumption, Health

Safe Construction Products for Health and the Environment:

How much testing is necessary to implement the EC Construction Products Directive?

In the first generation of harmonised standards and approval guidelines in accordance with the framework of the construction products directive, no requirements were included for the fulfilment of Essential requirement no. 3 Hygiene, Health and Environment. These requirements shall be included in the revision of the standards, i.e., in the second generation. For this purpose, the European Commissi...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Impacts of seismic survey activities on whales and other marine biota

International Workshop, Dessau, September 6-7, 2006

The international “Workshop on the Impacts of Seismic Exploration Activities – particularly on whales and other biota” organised by the German Federal Environment Agency in Dessau, Germany, on 6 and 7 September 2006 brought together a wide expertise. All participants appreciated the intensive exchange of scientific information particularly concentrated on academic seismic surveys and the Antarctic...read more