Publications

In 2005, the European Union released the EuP Directive focusing on ecodesign requirements for energy-using products (2005/32/EC: EU Parliament and Council of the EU 2005).

Role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in global energy scenarios A broad range of different global energy scenarios confirms that the exploitation of energy efficiency potentials and the use of renewable energies play a key role in reaching global CO2 reduction targets. 

It is the objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to stabilise the concentration of greenhouse gases on such a level that ”would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (article 2 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases are currently covered under the Montreal Protocol, which focuses on ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), and under the Kyoto Protocol, which controls emissions of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), PFCs (perfluorocarbons) and SF₆ (sulfur hexafluoride).

In this booklet we describe trends in air pollution with particulates, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, and explain their connection to changes in air pollutant emissions. Air pollution has markedly decreased in the last 20 years.

What is CCS? - The objective of CCS technology is the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which occur, above all, in the combustion of fossil fuels at large point sources. - The climate-protection effect of CCS requires a functioning process chain comprising capture, transport and permanent storage. - CCS is not yet available.

The Federal Environment Agency commissioned Adelphi Consult to carry out the project “Promotion of Best Available Techniques (BAT) in the Textile and Leather Industry in Developing Countries and Emerging Market Economies”.

Unambiguous definition of nanomaterials is of fundamental importance for intended regulations on nanomaterials, since not only the legal obligations have to be clear, but also just what is subject to them.

Air pollution Emissions from shipping, especially SOX, NOX, and PM, are perceived increasingly as a problem for human health and the environment. Efforts by the International Maritime Organisation to reduce these emissions by international agreements have not achieved adequate results.

International shipping is believed to have emitted between 428 and 913 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in 2001. Reduction measures are needed. The report analyses the feasibility of a cap-and-trade system for CO₂ emissions from international shipping linked to the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

Since Summer 2007, Öko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology) and IFEU (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, a non-profit limited liability company, Heidelberg) are carrying out the project “Development of Strategies and Sustainability Standards for the Certification of Biomass for International Trade (Bio-global)” on behalf of Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency) .

As a “framework directive”, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) seeks to bring together all individual acts of legislation and international conventions relating to water utilisation and water conservation. With the entry into force of the WFD, waters in the EU are to be managed in accordance with a single legal framework. A new aspect is