Networking is the bread and butter of research. Our research findings on environmental protection and protecting the public against environmental toxins are available free of charge in our publications, which comprise final reports on our own research, as well as overviews of our findings in various white papers and specialized brochures. And if you’re in search of grist for your own research mill, then be sure to visit our Data area and/or our environmental library. Our Umweltforschungsdatenbank (environmental data research database) enables you to see at a glance texts about environmental research in German speaking countries. And if you have a yen to join the UBA research community, then feel free to apply for one of our research projects.
The reuse of treated waste water can help to reduce water shortages. Reused water can contain pathogens and harmful substances, however. On 28 May 2018, the EU Commission proposed a regulation, on minimum requirements concerning the reuse of water. It aims to protect health and the environment. The UBA considers there to be a need for improvement.
With Karl-Heinz Florenz (member of the European Parliament, European People's Party), Ingrid Chorus, director of the department for drinking water at the UBA, opened a breakfast session on the topic of materials in contact with drinking water. On 7 June 2018, 50 experts from EU institutions, the EU member states and associations discussed the controversy surrounding the proposal by the Commission.
Under the auspices of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Austrian organisations involved in the HBM4EU initiative together with the European Commission organise a conference with the title ‘Human Biomonitoring in Europe –science and policy for healthy citizens’ on September 28th 2018 in Vienna. High-level stakeholders and policy makers are invited.
UBA invites to participate in an Expert Workshop in Berlin on 24 October 2018. Presentations and discussions in Working Groups aim to explore options to support environmental protection of the High North from afar. International and national guests are invited as speakers to discuss environmental policy options to support Arctic, mainly addressed by more sustainable development.
The use of treated wastewater, e.g. for agricultural irrigation, can alleviate pressures on water resources. At the same time it poses risks as treated wastewater can contain pathogens and chemicals. By May 2018 the European Commission wants to publish a regulatory proposal for requirements. UBA President Krautzberger and EU Parliamentarian Wölken invited for a discussion on 22 March in Brussels.
A research report commissioned by the UBA has analysed a range of options for designing the EU Innovation Fund (IF), a financing instrument created under the EU Emissions Trading System to support demonstration projects for low-carbon innovation in the power sector and industry. From 2019 onwards, this fund will use revenues from auctioning emissions trading allowances for this purpose.
Air quality in Germany has improved over the last year. Nevertheless, about 46 percent of the measuring stations located near traffic areas registered an exceedence of the annual average limit value.
The German Environment Agency recently published its Data on the Environment 2017 report. Action is needed with regard to climate protection policy, improvement of resource efficiency and nutrient pollution, good news for recycling rates and drinking water quality.
Environmental labels can provide transparency and orientation
If Germany wants to live up to the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement, its transport sector must quickly and drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions. A recently published paper commissioned by the German Environment Agency confirms this conclusion and proposes concrete measures by which emissions can be reduced significantly and ensure that the climate action goals are achieved.
