Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Climate | Energy

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Administrative structure and implementation challenges

The European Commission has proposed to introduce a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in order to improve Carbon Leakage protection for European energy-intensive industries which are subject to the carbon price in EU ETS. This report details the Commission’s proposed administrative structure as well as its implications for Member States. It analyses the tasks, responsibilities and interact...read more

Transport

Options for action for an ecological design of long-distance mobility in passenger and freight transport

Executive summary

Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are mainly determined by long-distance traffic between conurbations in passenger transport and traffic hubs in freight transport. In the course of the project "Options for action for an ecological design of long-distance mobility in passenger and freight transport", strategies and solutions were identified that effectively reduce the greenhouse gas emissions...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Potentials for Offset Approaches in Selected Sectors post 2020

The report develops an assessment framework that policy makers can use to determine whether offsets can add value while ensuring the environmental integrity of a compliance system. It uses an assessment framework for these factors to: (1) identify sectors that warrant offsets as cost-containment measures for ambitious climate targets due to emissions that are difficult to reduce; and (2) identify...read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Suitability and Success Factors of Offsets post-2020

The report examines the role offset approaches can play in the post-2020 climate regime. For this purpose, the report first develops a conceptual approach and a normative vision of what should be viewed as successful offset use. It then proposes tools to operationalize this vision. Lastly it derives overarching policy recommendations for the integration of offsets in carbon pricing systems.read more

Climate | Energy, Economy | Consumption, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Offset approaches in existing compliance mechanisms – Adding value and upholding environmental integrity?

The report analyzes, by looking back at existing compliance systems in the EU, Alberta, Australia, Colombia and Japan, the conditions under which offsets can add value to the compliance system without undermining its environmental integrity. The compliance system’s climate ambition as well as the efficiency of the institutions, processes and infrastructure that are used for the generation and cred...read more

Wirtschaft | KonsumNachhaltigkeit | Strategien | InternationalesBoden | FlächeLandwirtschaft

The land rucksack

A method for considering land use in life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessments (LCA) are an essential tool to explore the environmental impacts associated with a product or service over the course of the entire life cycle. For accurate modelling, data on all relevant potential environmental impacts should be included in an LCA. To consider land in the context of an LCA, the quality of the land used to supply a product or service is a key factor. The br...read more

Chemicals

The Revision of the REACH Authorisation and Restriction System

Recommendations by the German Environment Agency

The European Commission recently announced a targeted revision of the ⁠REACH⁠ Regulation, in view of strengthening the level of protection from hazardous chemicals and simplifying the legal text.The German Environment Agency makes in this Scientific Opinion Paper specific recommendations, including on compliance checks for registration dossiers, additional information requirements, a...read more

Waste | Resources

City Gold – Metal Stocks with a Future

A Guide

The project "KartAL III - Mapping of the Anthropogenic Stock III", commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency, focuses on the recovery options and expected material flows of seven metals and its alloys. In order to significantly improve the circular economy through urban mining in Germany, the potentials, approaches and success factors of relevant stakeholders identified in the project were co...read more