Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Waste | Resources

Plastics in the environment – development of a classification for first estimates of the fate of waste and other plastic products in different environmental media

The input of plastics into the environment and the associated impact on ecosystems has received increasing public attention and has become part of the political agenda. Plastics can enter the environment in different ways. One important path of entry is littering, i.e. carelessly throwing away or leaving waste in public places. In addition, however, plastic products are often manufactured specific...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Analysis of current developments in global carbon markets

The research project analysed and evaluated the current status of the use of climate protection projects from the CDM in the international carbon market.  Based on a maximum offer in the CDM of 4.6 billion emission credits (so-called CERs) for the years 2013-2020, a first analysis identified and quantified project types that are particularly dependent on the revenues from the CDM, i.e. where the r...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Future role for voluntary carbon markets in the Paris era

The end of 2020 marks a fundamental change in the global governance of greenhouse gas emissions with the shift from the Kyoto Protocol era to that of the Paris Agreement. This also has implications for the future role and the feasible models of the voluntary carbon market. A critical focus is whether and how 'double counting' of emission reductions is avoided. Three models emerge as potentially vi...read more

Chemicals

Advancing REACH: Dossier Evaluation

The study analyses, under the perspective of the aims of the ⁠REACH⁠ Regulation, how the quality of registration dossiers could be improved. Starting point are empirical data, including those provided by ECHA, indicating that a relevant part of the registration dossiers does not meet the requirements set out in REACH. The study examines the requirements of the relevant legal mechanis...read more

Soil | Land

Remediation management for local and wide-spread PFAS contaminations

PFAS -as group of substances- are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of contaminated sites and harmful soil changes. The present work aid "Remediation management for local and area-wide PFAS contaminations" supports the responsible authorities in the pre-selection, evaluation and decision for a suitable and proportionate remediation procedure, shows relevant basic conditions and acco...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Environmental Awareness in Germany 2018

Results of a representative survey

Compared to the last study of 2016, the study on environmental awareness in Germany 2018 shows that the importance of environmental protection and climate action gained in significance in the eyes of the population. The expectations towards relevant actors seem to have increased as well. People see environmental policy as a task to be considered within all political areas. A survey is conducted bi...read more

Climate | Energy

Further development of the EU ETS for aviation against the background of the introduction of a global market-based measure by ICAO

In 2012, aviation was included in the EU ETS. In 2016, the ICAO also adopted a global measure to limit CO2 emissions from international aviation (CORSIA). The aim of the research project is to investigate the reciprocal effects between these two market-based instruments. In particular, several options how both could be optimally combined are considered. In addition, the extent to which the two ins...read more

Waste | Resources

Updating the Waste Prevention Programme: Preparing the foundations for updating the Waste Prevention Programme based on an analysis and evaluation of the implementation status

The waste prevention program (WPP) from 2013 must be evaluated every 6 years and updated if necessary. The review and evaluation of the implementation of the WPP took place within the scope of the project. Based on the analysis results for the implementation of the WPP at federal, state and municipal level and an assessment of existing prevention potentials, concrete proposals for a possible furth...read more