Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) - Contribution to the discussion on its integration into national climate action strategies

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 the...read more

Klima | Energie

Aviation in the EU ETS and CORSIA in the ‘Fit for 55’ package

The EU agreement of June 2023

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on a series of legislative proposals as part of the 'Fit for 55' package, which are intended to align energy and climate policy instruments with the new climate target of reducing emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. This factsheet presents key aspects of the agreement on aviation in the framework of the...read more

Climate | Energy

Transformative mitigation actions as an outcome of the Global Stocktake

The Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement offers an opportunity to formulate specific messages for increasing climate change mitigation to inform Parties in updating and enhancing their actions. Based on available literature, an overview of key mitigation actions, including targets as well as potential and further characteristics, are provided. A compilation of key messages on climate change...read more

Waste | Resources, Agriculture, Water

Environmentally friendly handling techniques of fertilisers in ports

The study examines fertiliser loading in German ports and its potential impact on the environment. The aim of this study is to examine the loading of fertiliser in Germany's ports with regard to a possible environmentally hazardous discharge of fertiliser into water bodies, to identify the best available technology or the best available environmental practice, and subsequently to develop practicab...read more

Chemicals, Health, Water

Literature review and assessment of available toxicological data for PFAS

In the present study, a search was carried out on the current toxicological and epidemiological data on 20 perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS, C4-C13 carboxylic and sulfonic acids) regulated in the Drinking Water Ordinance as well as 4 substitutes (GenX, ADONA, 6:2 FTSA, C604). The aim was to prepare this data as a basis for the toxicological assessment of the substances with regard to their oc...read more

Climate | Energy, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Qualitative and quantitative modelling of the efficacy of policy instruments

Opportunities and limitations for applicability to the field of climate change adaptation

This study presents the results of a comprehensive research of qualitative and quantitative modelling approaches to analyse the efficacy of policy instruments for complex problems and including social aspects. In addition to reviewing existing modelling approaches (e.g. System Dynamics and Agent-based Modelling), this study addresses the opportunities and limitations of applying the findings to th...read more

Soil | Land, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Land use monitoring and land take in international comparison

Methods and data

The high land take rate is a problem throughout Europe. The EU demands that land take will be reduced to net zero until the year 2050 (no net land take target). However, land take in Europe is recorded at national level using different methods. Depending on whether the surveys are based on aerial photo data or cadastral data, the results differ significantly in some cases. In a research project by...read more

Chemikalien

Consideration of disinfection by-products in the environmental risk assessment of biocidal products

Inventory & development of recommendations for the assessment

The project compiled data on disinfection by-products (DBPs) as well as biocidal active substances from product types (PTs) 1-5, 11 and 12. DBP formation potential of each active ingredient was evaluated. In a modeling approach, distribution of selected DBPs and biocidal active substances for applications in solution and on surfaces was estimated. The formation of approximately 60 DBPs was investi...read more