Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Chemicals

Expert Report on the Usability of Data from the POP Database in the Field of ‘Technosphere’

The report provides a quality-assured database for the technosphere compartment as part of the further development of the POP/dioxin database into a knowledge-based system that can be used as a flexible evaluation instrument.To this end, the existing database inventory of technosphere samples was classified according to primary and secondary sources with further subclassification in a tree structu...read more

Air

Air Quality 2018

Preliminary Evaluation

This evaluation of air quality in Germany in the year 2018 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 18rd January 2019. Due to the comprehensive quality assurance within the monitoring networks, the final data will only be available in mid-2019. The currently available data allows for a gene...read more

Climate | Energy

Assessment of bio-CCS in 2°C compatible scenarios

Since the adoption of the 5th Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR5), there has been a growing discussion of methods for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) from the atmosphere. With CDR as a supplement to GHG-emission reductions it would be possible to stabilize the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere more quickly or perhaps even to reduce it. Bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is t...read more

Climate | Energy

Support for the revision of the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation for the 4th trading period (focus: Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU))

In the light of the upcoming phase 4 of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS, 2021-2030), the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation and the Accreditation and Verification Regulation are currently under review. One topic of particular interest is the question whether and to what extent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions transferred to Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) installations shou...read more

Climate | Energy

Challenges of Coal Transitions

A comparative study on the status quo and future prospects of coal mining and coal use in Indonesia, Colombia and Viet Nam

Today more than 45 % of all energy-related CO2 emissions come from burning coal. Thus, reducing CO2 emissions from coal use is a necessity for reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement. This will not only pose challenges for coal consumers (restructuring of the energy system), but also for countries whose economy is strongly depending on the production of coal.This paper examines the role of coa...read more

Climate | Energy

Analysing the interactions between new market mechanisms and emissions trading schemes: Opportunities and prospects for countries to use Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

The project had a twofold objective. First, it aimed to conduct a detailed analysis of the provisions related to market mechanisms of the Paris Agreement (Article 6), and to identify issues that should be taken into account when elaborating the rulebook for the Paris Agreement. Second, it switched the perspective from a global discussion towards country-specific research with an aim to answer the...read more

Waste | Resources

Urban Mining – Resource Conservation in the Anthropocene

Urban Mining has been on everyone’s lips for some years, being the quasi-mining of raw materials in urban areas both in cities and communities. Urban Mining requires more and better guidelines and a far-sighted strategy for material flow management. A management concept including a prospective knowledge and decision base for the secondary raw material industry and for local governments is needed....read more

Waste | Resources, Water

A benefit sharing mechanism appropriate for the Common Heritage of Mankind

Workshop summary

This report contains a summary of the international deep sea mining expert workshop „A benefit sharing mechanism appropriate for the Common Heritage of Mankind”. The overall objective was to stimulate debate on the Common Heritage of Mankind and its benefit sharing element by discussing first ideas how the benefit sharing required by Article 140 paragraph 2 UNCLOS could be appropriately conceptual...read more