Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

System comparison of storable energy carriers from renewable energies

An essential prerequisite for a sustainable energy supply and greenhouse gas neutrality in Germany and worldwide is the complete conversion of the energy supply to renewable energies. Wind and sun are the sources with the greatest supply potential. However, these energy sources have a low energy density and are not uniformly available everywhere to the same extent. Therefore, a system is needed fo...read more

Water

Third assessment of the eutrophication status of German coastal and marine waters 2006 – 2014 in the North Sea according to the OSPAR Comprehensive Procedure

The project conducted the third application of the ⁠OSPAR⁠ Common Procedue for the assessment of the eutrophication status of the German coastal and marine waters of the North Sea, based on data from 2009-2014. The assessment results were also used in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for descriptor 5 “eutrophication”. The project thereby provided decision...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Acting Globally

International activities of the German Environment Agency

A new brochure summarises UBA's commitment at the European and international level. Whether it is protecting the climate, dealing with growing mountains of waste or the health hazards posed by toxic chemicals - no nation can address these major issues alone. With its activities in international and European environmental agreements, programmes, networks and partnerships, UBA is working on the puls...read more

Climate | Energy

Effects of ground-level ozone on vegetation modified by nitrogen and components of climate change: a literature study

Tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant that causes risks to human health and vegetation. This literature study summarises results of experiments, in which the effects of ozone on plants has been investigated in combination with factors of climate change, enhanced concentration of carbon dioxide in the air as well as nitrogen deposition. The results are needed for a sound risk assessment for plants...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Widening the European Green Deal’s perspective towards a sustainable Europe

Aiming higher - with the right levers of change

The European Green Deal, published by the European Commission in 2019, represents a new and ambitious approach to put environment and sustainability at the heart of European policy. Its ambitions are high, yet the planned measures might not be sufficient to actually meet them. The report analyzes the European Green Deal from the perspective of the German Environment Agency and places it in the con...read more

Chemicals

Development of REACH – Review of evidence on the benefits & costs of REACH

This report is a review of the existing literature which determine the current level of knowledge of the benefits and costs associated with ⁠REACH⁠. The main focus of the review was on the identification of the gaps in the assessment of benefits. The current state of knowledge and any gaps in the benefit and cost data/information were broken down by each single component of REACH reg...read more

Waste | Resources

Contributions to the further development of the EC Waste Shipment Regulation

The application and enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste (“WSR”) rise to special challenges for economic agents and competent authorities.  The classification of waste in one of the annexes of the WSR, and therefore the crucial position for the applicable procedure, is rather complex. During the project the...read more

Chemicals

Advancing REACH - REACH and substitution

Enhancing substitution of substances of concern with less hazardous alternatives will remain a key challenge for chemicals management in the coming years and is a central aim of ⁠REACH⁠. This study analyses the support of substitution, which is the use of less hazardous alternatives for substances of concern, by instruments of the REACH regulation as for example during restriction an...read more