Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Air

Environmental impacts on biogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic hydrocarbons, which are released to the atmosphere by plants (biogenic ⁠VOC⁠, BVOC), have large influence on atmospheric chemistry and thus air quality. They are beside nitrogen oxides and anthropogenic VOC eminent precursors for tropospheric ozone and may also foster the creation of aerosols. This literature review summarizes the current knowledge about functions, d...read more

Climate | Energy, Waste | Resources

A resource efficient pathway towards a greenhouse gas neutral Germany

The study shows that it is possible to transform Germany to both greenhouse gas neutral and resource efficient. One side of the balance is greenhouse gas and raw material saving due to exit from fossil energy carriers and the other is the increased raw material use for the construction of the renewable energy system. In the “GreenEe” scenario it is possible to reduce the GHG emissions in 2050 by 9...read more

Economy | Consumption

Guide on green public procurement: wallpaper and ingrain wallpaper

This guide helps to procure eco-friendly paper wall coverings made from wallpaper base in accordance with DIN 6730 and ingrain wallpaper in accordance with DIN 6730. Eco-friendly products are e.g. (partly) made out of recycled paper and no formaldehyde and other harmful substances are to be used.  read more

Air, Health

What Matters 1-2019: Healthy Air

UBA's biannual "What Matters" magazine covers current topics in environmental protection. The first edition of 2019 “Healthy Air” takes an in-depth look at how clean the air surroundig us actually is, which pollutants can be found and how we measure them. We also look at health aspects and how public health helps policy makers by calculating and comparing relevant risk factors. read more

Waste | Resources

What Matters 1-2018: Recycling

UBA's biannual "What Matters" magazine covers current topics in environmental protection. The first edition “Recycling” takes an in-depth look at the circular economy in Germany with a special focus on plastics. The magazine offers data and facts and discusses current problems and possible solutions in Germany’s circular economy. read more

Climate | Energy

Re-Aligning European Union’s Climate Policy to the Paris Agreement

Short-term Implications of the IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.5°C”

By 2020, the Parties to the Paris Agreement should communicate or submit new, updated nationally determined contributions (NDC). For this exercise, the findings of the IPCC Special Report “Global Warming of 1.5°C” are especially relevant. In this light, a position paper of the German Environment Agency outlines how climate policy could be calibrated towards limiting warming to 1.5°C.read more

Economy | Consumption, Transport

Guide on green public procurement: Electric Bicycles

Electric bicycles are an important environmentally and socially sustainable alternative to cars for covering distances of up to around 20 kilometres. Compared to cars, electric bicycles are more economical and at the same time healthier and more eco-friendly, and are often quicker – and indisputably space-saving. This guide is based on the June 2015 edition of the Blue Angel eco-label criteria for...read more

Chemicals

Shaping Sustainable Chemicals Management: Refinement of the Chemical Leasing Sustainability Criteria and Application in Case Studies

In the project experts have developed sub-criteria and indicators for the internationally agreed five sustainability criteria for Chemical Leasing. From this, both an indicator checklist and the electronic instrument SMART 5 were developed. The checklist allows a qualitative assessment. With SMART 5, users can capture quantitative values and generate an overall view of their Chemical Leasing appli...read more