Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption

A Front-Runner Approach for EU product policy

Impulse for raising untapped energy saving potentials

This paper presents an initial outline of a policy approach called “EU front-runner approach”. It aims at installing a regulatory framework which enables a semi-automated, progressive adaptation of ecodesign minimum requirements for products. It builds on performance levels of the best products available on the market by aggregating information in a database. The application of the “EU front-runne...read more

Climate | Energy

Renewable energies in Germany

Data on the development in 2021

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Affairs, the Working Group on Renewable Energy Statistics (AGEE-Stat) takes stock of the use of renewable energies and annually prepares an official estimate of the development of renewable energies for the previous year. This background paper describes the initial findings for the electricity, heat and transport sectors, supplemen...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters, Soil | Land, Transport

EXURB Environmental – Sustainable interlinking of housing, work, recreation and mobility

The city suburbs are becoming EXURBS; the centre of life for millions of people and the intermediate space between cities and countryside is developing dynamically. Living "in the green countryside" is in high demand. Digitisation and the coronavirus pandemic have further bolstered suburbanization. The brochure deals with the question of how a sustainable development between the city and the surro...read more

Chemicals

Refinement of the P assessment of ionisable substances: Distribution and degradation of anionic, neutral and cationic organic chemicals in water-sediment systems

The criteria for the assessment of ⁠PBT substances were developed for neutral organic substances. Many chemicals are, however, charged under environmentally relevant pH conditions. The influence of a charge in molecule on its potential to degrade in the environment is unclear and therefore the research question of this project. The results show that especially a positive charge can strongly influe...read more

Climate | Energy

Climate Risk Assessments at the Municipal Level

Recommendations for the Implementation of ISO 14091

In view of the ever-increasing progress of climate change, the importance of climate risk assessments is growing. They play a major role at the municipal level in particular (cities, distriscts, municipalities), because it is here that precautionary action must take place in the face of the dangers of the climate crisis. The recommendations in this papier provide support for the preparation and im...read more

Climate | Energy

Rebasing the Cap and strengthening the Market Stability Reserve in the EU ETS until 2030

The EU Commission has proposed to reduce emissions in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) by 61 % up to 2030. Apart from the cap, the market stability reserve (MSR) regulates supply and scarcity on the carbon market. This report looks at different options to rebase the cap and to adjust the MSR parameters. It analyses the effects on total allowance supply and on the total number of allo...read more

Water

Together for a healthy Baltic Sea!

The Action Plan of the Helsinki Commission

Animals and plants should be better protected and habitats be restored. Main environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea such as excess nutrients, contaminants, marine litter, underwater noise and the impacts of fishing and other activities at sea are to be further reduced.The ten-year plan, which the environment ministers of the Baltic Sea countries and the European Union adopted in Lübeck (Germany...read more

Climate | Energy, Noise

Noise effects of the use of land-based wind energy

Wind turbines are important for a sustainable energy supply. Noise from these turbines is often discussed in politics, the media and the public. Amplitude-modulated noise, which is perceived as " whooshing ", is also a topic of discussion. The aim of this research project is to investigate the generation of amplitude-modulated noise and its influence on noise perception of the residents living nea...read more