Publications
Publications
Fire-safety requirements for textiles, furniture and mattresses in public facilities. What requirements exist and how can these be fulfilled?
When public contracts are awarded, a significant contribution can be made to the protection of natural resources. However, sometimes there is uncertainty about fire protection requirements for products such as textiles, furniture, or mattresses in the public sector and, if applicable, how the required fire protection can be implemented in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
Third-country carbon pricing under the EU CBAM
In October 2023, the EU introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposing a carbon price on imports of selected goods to the EU market. This way, the CBAM complements the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). One question that arises for the implementation of the new instrument is how third-country carbon prices can be recognised and deducted from CBAM payments.
Nitrous oxide - the underestimated greenhouse gas
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.
Reflecting the Global Stocktake mitigation efforts in NDCs
This discussion paper provides an overview how Parties could reflect explicitly in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) their contribution to the global efforts on mitigation that they agreed to during the Global Stocktake (GST) at UNFCCC COP28.
Digitalisation and automation of transport
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.
Components for the Transformation into a Sustainable Food System
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.
Critical Evaluation of Effect Models for the Risk Assessment of Plant Protection Products
Mechanistic effect models (MEM) have become increasingly popular in the field of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products. However there remains numerous open questions to risk assessors, modelers, applicants and the public. This report provides a scientific evaluation of 11 MEM or MEM families. It also critically assesses their relevance for ERA (e.g.
Pathways to a sustainable financial economy
The sustainability transformation of the financial sector is a key prerequisite for the transformation of the real economy.
Supply and demand in the ETS 2
The study looks at the functioning of the new emission trading system for road transport, buildings, and small installations (ETS 2) in the EU. It explains the rules governing the supply of allowances including the functioning of the market stability reserve (MSR) and the price containment mechanisms.
Nanocarrier - Part I: Overview and categorization of nanocarriers
This report summarizes the current state of knowledge on nanocarriers based on a literature review of existing nanocarriers and those under development. Nanocarriers are considered as innovative materials ("advanced materials") which enable transport, protection and (targeted) release of active ingredients.
Analysis of the environmental impacts of vehicles with alternative drivetrains or fuels on the way to greenhouse gas-neutral transport
For achieving climate protection targets in the transport sector, the use of alternative drive systems and alternative fuels are potential options in addition to traffic avoidance and modal shift. This study analyzes and compares various technology options for passenger cars as well as light and heavy-duty vehicles.
Do new generations of active pharmaceuticals for human use require an adaption of the environmental risk assessment? - Part II: Case studies
In view of the advanced development of new specific active pharmaceutical ingredients, the question arises as to whether the established standard procedures for the environmental risk assessment in the context of marketing authorization are still sufficient to adequately cover relevant effects on environmental organisms.