Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

Trading activities and strategies in the European carbon market

Final report

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The European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) constitutes a central European climate policy instrument. Since its start of operation in 2005, the carbon market has grown considerably in terms of trading volume and also with regard to the various players being active. This report aims to give an insight on the specific trading behaviour of market participants from the energy and financial sector b...read more

Waste | Resources

EU Single-Use Plastics Directive - analysis of provisions and potential measures regarding extended producer responsibility

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The study was to undertake a legal analysis of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions of the EU Directive 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (Single-Use Plastics Directive, SUPD) with a view to its implementation in Germany. In a first step the EPR concept of the SUPD is compared with the EPR concept in other pieces of EU waste law...read more

Chemicals, Agriculture

The use of biocides in animal housings: elaboration of recommendations for the application of biocidal products for veterinary hygiene (PT 03) and for the control of arthropods (PT 18) with regard to the environment

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Biocides that are released into the environment can have unintended negative environmental effects. The aim of this project was to analyse the current agricultural practice related to the use of disinfectants (PT 03) and insecticides (PT 18) in animal husbandry. Based on the results, recommendations for the application of biocidal products in livestock farming were developed to minimise possible r...read more

Chemicals, Health, Water, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Screening study on hazardous substances in marine mammals of the Baltic Sea

Wide-scope target and suspect screening

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Seals and whales are at the end of the food chain and are thus exposed to a high bioaccumulation of pollutants. The aim of the project under the German HELCOM Chairmanship 2020 - 2022 was to screen for potentially hazardous novel contaminants in marine mammals from the Baltic Sea using state-of-the-art analytical methods for wide-scope target and suspect screening. For this purpose, 11 pooled live...read more

Agriculture

How much climate action is offered in the first pillar of the CAP?

An analysis and policy recommendations

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This policy paper commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency examines the greenhouse gas reduction potential from the measures of the first pillar (GAEC standards and eco-schemes) of the Common European Agricultural Policy 2023-2027. The results are based on a study that will be published in the first half of 2022.read more

Waste | Resources

Evaluation of the collection and recovery of selected waste streams for the further development of circular economy

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It was checked whether and how with selected waste streams - especially old tires and old textiles - resource conservation and environmental relief potentials can be realized through improved collection and recycling. Bulky waste, mattresses, furniture, carpets, artificial turf and diapers were also considered. Measures were derived to improve the prevention, preparation for reuse and recycling of...read more

Chemicals

Sind Stoffe persistenter als die Testsysteme glauben lassen?

Überprüfung der Testsysteme zur Persistenzbewertung am Beispiel der Hydrolyse

Influence of particles being present in aquatic environments on the hydrolytic degradation of organic substances

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Hydrolysis is an abiotic degradation process that influences the fate of many water-soluble substances in the environment. The ability of chemicals to undergo hydrolysis is currently tested in purified lab water in accordance with OECD guideline 111. It has been suggested that the addition of particles such as sediment or microplastic fibers i.e. may result in a change in the rate of hydrolysis. T...read more

Air, Health, Transport

Air Quality 2021

Preliminary Evaluation

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This evaluation of air quality in Germany in the year 2021 is based on preliminary data which has not yet been conclusively audited from the air monitoring networks of the federal states and the UBA, valid on 31th January 2022. Due to the comprehensive quality assurance within the monitoring networks, the final data will only be available in mid-2022. The currently available data allows for a gene...read more