Umweltbundesamt
Dear Reader,
We’re pleased to inform you about our latest publications addressing ongoing and upcoming discussions on European environment and climate policy.
Happy reading! For questions or more information, please get in touch at EU@uba.de.
Kind regards,
EU relations team
German Environment Agency (UBA)
Urgent action is needed to preserve the momentum in European legislation that was introduced by the European Green Deal in 2019. This historic framework was the first of its kind, integrating environment and climate goals across sectors. Even though significant progress has been made in the past years, it is crucial to continue this effort in order to ensure a liveable planet. With a new Scientific Opinion Paper, we would like to offer recommendations to guide EU climate and environmental policies in the second half of the EU's 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) for a sustainable, safe and resilient future.
Monday, September 30th 2024, 16:45-21:00 CET, Brussels
The European Union is at a crossroad. The European Green Deal – the first holistic framework for generating prosperity and social equity within our planetary boundaries –has been challenged by several crises. After the European elections, it enters its second stage.
It is in the open how to continue the two, intertwined paths – addressing the crises of today and transitioning towards a sustainable future: Either rolling back the European Green Deal and risking our livelihoods today and tomorrow, or embracing what we have achieved so far and continue on our way towards a sustainable, prosperous and resilient Europe.
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the German Environment Agency is hosting an event in Brussels on September 30th, 2024 to discuss with political actors in the field of climate, environment and biodiversity policy from various institutions.
Further information and the registration website will be distributed soon.
Further action is required beyond active substance approval and product authorization of biocidal products to protect the environment. This action could be European legislation on the use-phase of certain biocides to shape their “proper use”. Whilst such piece of legislation is missing on EU level, countries have been implementing national measures. Within this document, we compiled examples from 13 different countries. The objective of this was (i) to provide examples for other Member States that would like to develop their national legislation further, and (ii) to provide exemplary legislation to the EU Commission to support drafting a harmonised European framework.
In addition to CO2, aviation affects the climate through other emissions and atmospheric processes, such as the formation of ozone and contrail cirrus. Although these non-CO2 effects account for about two-thirds of aviation's total climate impact they were not taken into account in any climate protection instrument in the past. The German Environment Agency has taken the initiative to change this by commissioning extensive research into the possibility of integrating non-CO2 effects into the EU ETS. Since 2020, intensive testing has been carried out of how non-CO2 effects of single flights can be monitored, calculated and verified, laying the foundation for their integration into the EU ETS from 2025.
The publication summarizes three strategies for transforming the food system that have been outlined in the “STErn project”, namely the promotion of a more plant-based diet, the further development of the organic farming and food industry and the strengthening of regional value chains. Measures to implement these strategies are bundled into three overarching approaches and presented graphically...read more
Digitalisation in transport offers opportunities for connected and automated public transport and can contribute significantly to the development of sustainable mobility. However, if unregulated, digitalisation can counteract a modal shift and lead to additional journeys in private motorised transport, thus to an increasing demand for energy and resources. The brochure outlines possible develop...read more
This fact sheet summarizes the results and content of the status report from the project “Meta-analysis - Global nitrous oxide/N₂O-sources: Inventories, trends, consideration in IPCC scenarios”. The properties of nitrous oxide (N₂O) as a greenhouse gas with an impact on the climate and the different methods for accounting of nitrous oxide sources and sinks will be briefly described. Additionall...read more
Solar radiation modification is highly controversial. The implementation of invasive geoengineering technologies would entail serious and largely unforeseeable ecological, and geopolitical risks. Considerable scientific disagreement exists around the extent of the risks, how they relate to increased risks of climate change, and whether uncertainties could be resolved. In expert workshops held i...read more
Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency)
Presidential Office
International Relations
Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Editor:
EU Relations Office
Nicole Adler, Stefanie Wieck, Tim Schubert, Lena Vierke
Email: eu@uba.de
Created on
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
