The Latest from UBA - No.: 5/2025 | Umweltbundesamt

Recommendations for the European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework

Climate change is already impacting all regions of Europe, posing complex challenges for human well-being, ecosystems, and the economy. Even though significant progress has been made over the past years, the forthcoming European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework (ECRRMF) must take a more ambitious approach to ensure resilience and preparedness across Europe by 2050. This scientif...read more

Methane, the underestimated greenhouse gas

Sources, effects, mitigation options

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. On top of this, methane is a key precursor for the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone is linked to negative health effects whilst also damaging ecosystems and crops. Reducing methane emissions thus contributes to climate protection and also helps protect public health and ecosystems. For several years now, there have ...read more

Potential of blue carbon for global climate mitigation - Factsheet

As part of the research project FKZ 3722 42 510 0 ‘Climate protection measures in coastal regions and waters’

Coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass meadows and tidal marshes, function as natural carbon sinks, thereby playing a vital role in the global carbon cycle. These Blue Carbon ecosystems have been found to be effective carbon storage mechanisms, whilst also providing a habitat for biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience. This factsheet provides a comprehensive overview of the re...read more

Approaches to measure greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands

This publication compares different methodological approaches to accounting for greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands in Germany: national GHG reporting under the UN Climate Convention, corporate reporting based on the GHG Protocol, and standards for peatland climate protection projects. It analyses differences in objectives, spatial and temporal references, and methodological accuracy. The s...read more

Improving the German Climate Adaptation Strategy

Final report of the project “Network of Authorities for Climate Change and Adaptation- Methods to Support and Improve he German Climate Adaptation Strategy”

The German Adaptation Strategy (DAS) provides the basis for climate adaptation concepts and measure developments in Germany. The regular further development of the DAS offers crucial opportunities to incorporate new scientific findings and to optimize approaches and procedures. The report presents the results of a research project that identified potential for further development of the DAS bas...read more

Shall the CBAM be expanded further downstream? Insights from assessing products along the automotive value chain

The EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) replaces the free allocation in the EU ETS 1 as the main carbon leakage instrument. The study discusses the potential expansion of the CBAM to downstream products. Using the example of products from the automotive value chain (wheels, brakes, crankshafts, forged and flat-rolled primary products), it shows that the CO₂ costs vary greatly dependi...read more

Effectiveness of EU Emissions Trading: What drives emission developments?

Analysis of selected sectors and countries

European emissions trading (EU ETS) is a central component of German and European climate policy. This final report summarises the results of a research project that investigated the causes of emissions trends in the most relevant sectors in terms of emissions (combustion, iron and steel industry, cement clinker production, refineries) of the EU ETS 1 in the period 2005 and, depending on the se...read more

Evaluation and implementation of statistical methods to assess effects in count data

As part of its statutory duties in the field of chemical safety, the German Environment Agency (UBA) is responsible for the environmental risk assessment of chemicals. This risk assessment is based on data from standardised ecotoxicological laboratory and field tests, which are generally described in Test Guidelines (TGs) published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (...read more

Designing a strategy based on toxicity evaluation to improve pesticide risk assessment for terrestrial amphibians (TerAmphiTox)

The UBA aims to contribute to the development of an EU guidance document on risk assessment for amphibians. As part of the project, data on the toxicity of various pesticides to amphibians were systematically researched, processed, and supplemented with its own experiments to establish a scientific basis for risk assessment. The impact of direct exposure through overspraying of amphibians and i...read more

The impact of information gaps in the supply chain on environmental exposure - case study of a PBT substance

The ⁠REACH⁠ Regulation (EC 1907/2006) ensures chemical safety by requiring rigorous risk assessments before market entry. Safety data sheets (SDS) are vital for communicating safe usage guidelines, yet deficiencies are common, with up to 52% of SDSs found to be inadequate. This project aimed to identify gaps in SDS data by surveying actors across the supply chain with a specific f...read more

HBEFA Traffic Situations

Application guidelines

The HBEFA (Handbook for Emission Factors in Road Transport) is an IT application that provides emission factors (EF) for greenhouse gases, air pollutants, and final energy consumption factors for all relevant vehicle categories in road transport. The emission factors can be differentiated in the HBEFA according to "traffic situations" (VS). A primary goal of the HBEFA is to enable the standardi...read more

Future city centre: Sustainable offers as the key to revitalisation

Guidelines for action

City centres as places of commercial consumption are facing new challenges, not only due to the growing impact of online retail. At the same time, urgently needed approaches to sustainable lifestyles remain confined to niches. This guide demonstrates how city centres can be revitalised while simultaneously becoming vibrant and future-proof spaces for sustainable consumption. Using practical exa...read more

Determination of emission factors and emissions in 2020 and 2030 for oil- and gas-fired combustion plants not requiring a permit in the scope of the EU Directive on medium combustion plants

Emission measurements of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, total organic carbon, methane, and (for oil-firing plants) the smoke number were carried out at 100 medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input between 1 MW and 10 MW. For Germany, emission factors and the emissions in 2020 were calculated, the emissions in 2030 werde estimated in two scenarios.  Additionally...read more

The Wild Wild West in our Oceans?

The role of start-ups in marine CDR

Global efforts to reduce emissions remain inadequate which resulted in an increasing need for negative emission technologies that actively remove and permanently sequester CO₂ from the atmosphere. We highlight the rapid growth of commercial mCDR start-ups, despite limited research and potential irreversible harm to marine ecosystems. These activities appear uncoordinated, lack oversight, and sh...read more

Input of plant protection products into groundwater via bank filtration

Literature research and recommendations for action

Plant protection products (PPPs) can be transported from the target area to other environmental compartments, e.g. groundwater. To minimize potential negative impacts, their environmental fate is assessed as part of the PPPs authorization process. Bank filtration describes the process where surface water infiltrates into groundwater systems, transporting dissolved or particulate compounds throu...read more

Groundwater discharges of biocides from façades in urban regions

GRUBURG

Biocides, commonly used in building materials, are released through precipitation and can contaminate the groundwater. The study evaluates the transport of biocides through urban pathways — vegetated soils, permeable pavements, and infiltration systems — and gives recommendations for refining the European Emission Scenario Documents (ESD). The aim is to enhance groundwater protection in urban a...read more

Correctly assessing the performance and threats of microorganisms in agricultural soils – identifying meaningful endpoints under field-relevant pesticide, biocide and pharmaceutical exposure

The aim of the MICROSOIL project was to identify meaningful endpoints for assessing the effects of plant protection products, veterinary pharmaceuticals and biocides on microorganisms in agricultural soils. The current risk assessment for plant protection products (PPPs) considers the effects of PPPs on nitrogen turnover by microorganisms in test soils according to the OECD 216 testguideline. H...read more