Publications

The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) presents here a summary of its Ideas on climate policies. We wish to illustrate how we foresee the next steps towards an ambitious set of policies for energy, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.

While it was not always possible to strictly follow the objectives of the proposal to UBA, it can be stated that the overall objectives of the project were met. A particular problem has been that CAREC had major difficulties in hiring professional staff. At one time there have been 12 openings.

On March 12, 2008 the German Federal Environment Agency and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety held a meeting of experts entitled “Eco-Innovation, International Trade, WTO and Climate: Key Issues for an ecological industrial policy”.

The Report on the Environmental Economy, presented here by the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency, provides an overview of the structure and relevance of the environmental economy and the diverse aspects which characterise the interaction of environment, environmental policy and economy.

In the late 19th century, the lack of appropriate waste collection and disposal systems in Europe along with public health issues – the outbreak of epidemics such as the cholera – raised the question: How can waste volumes be reduced and how can waste be managed more hygienically? This marked the beginning of the age of “technical waste incineration“.

Under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” (Article 3.1 of the UNFCCC) non-Annex I parties have so far been exempted from emission limitation or reduction commitments. However, the pressure is mounting on those countries, especiallymajor emitting developing countries, to contribute actively to the mitigation of climate change.

How does emissions trading influence the competitiveness of the German industry? By increasing the costs of domestic production, emissions trading may induce the relocation of industrial production and the associated emissions – e.g. to non-EU countries with few or no climate protection regulations.

The research project “National Implementation of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (Effects): ICP Modelling&Mapping NFC; Heavy Metals (Critical Loads, Deposition); Nitrogen + Acidity (Deposition); Nitrogen (Effects); Material Corrosion; Critical Ozone fluxes” (BMU/UBA FE-No.

Air pollutants inside schools present a hygiene problem. The indoor pollution observed inside school buildings can be traced back to a variety of causes, such as poor construction, failings in ventilation engineering, incorrect ventilation routines, and the use of particular building materials, fittings or cleaning products which release chemicals into the air.

When this research project was started in autumn 2006, the discussion on the sustainability of bioenergy – and particularly biofuels – was largely restricted to expert circles. The tenor of the discussion however had already developed in the direction of increasing skepticism.

The objectives of the present research study were twofold: first, to provide a synthesis of the state of the art of research on climate change impacts on water resources and the occurrence of extreme events (floods, droughts and heatwaves) in Europe. Observed and projected changes at regional level are analysed in detail.

In Germany, routine measurements are made in the environmental areas of air, noise and water. These measurements are to ensure that the quality of such media are checked as well as to evaluate any measures necessary in order to insure safety or improve quality.