Publications | Umweltbundesamt

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

Waste | Resources

Sewage Sludge Disposal in the Federal Republic of Germany

The novel sewage sludge ordinance entered into force on 03/10/2017. Therefore for wastewater treatment plants with more than 100,000 respectively 50,000 populations equivalents the utilization of sewage sludge on soil is only possible until 2029 respectively 2032. Afterwards phosphorus recovery is mandatory for sludge with minimum 20 g phosphorus/ kg as well as for sewage sludge ashes. Even now mo...read more

Climate | Energy, Air, Waste | Resources, Health, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Transport

Urban Environmental Protection

The strategic research agenda of the German Environment Agency

With this strategic research agenda, UBA identifies future research priorities for the development of urban areas which are based on environmental quality goals. Interfaces between disciplines and knowledge gaps in environmentally-oriented, socially responsible and health-promoting urban development are identified.read more