Publications | Umweltbundesamt

Economy | Consumption, Transport

Initial findings on COVID-19-induced changes to material consumption and mobility behavior

This paper presents the results of a multicountry survey on Covid-19-induced changes in consumption habits with a focus on nonessential material consumption and mobility behavior. The survey was carried out in Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States in early 2021. The findings show early trends toward more sustainable behavior in nonessential material consumption, especially a reduction in pu...read more

Climate | Energy

Carbon pricing potential in East and South Asia: Synthesis and case studies for Indonesia, Vietnam, and Pakistan

More and more countries are already implementing or considering the introduction of carbon pricing as a key instrument in order to reduce greenhouse gases. In recent years, market-based instruments in the form of emissions trading systems or CO2 taxes have been established or are currently in the process of implementation in various regions of the world. However, the application potentials for car...read more

Climate | Energy, Chemicals, Economy | Consumption, Waste | Resources, Health, Transport, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Position Paper Advanced Materials

Cornerstones for a Safe and Sustainable Life Cycle

Advanced materials promise technical solutions to support sustainable transformation. They play an important role for a variety of environmental topics worked on at UBA, such as energy transition, circular economy and chemical safety. Various sectors can benefit from the use of advanced materials, but they can also face challenges. The UBA position paper describes the area of tension between the p...read more

Transport

Key factors for successfully transforming streetscapes

A look at German and European practice

How can projects for redistributing and repurposing public streets succeed? What can be learned from successful national and international examples? The brochure summarizes practical experiences of redesigning streets in favor of active mobility and the quality of life in cities. Good examples from Germany and Europe were examined using an evaluation matrix. Many show recurring success factors. Th...read more

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Overview of possible funding sources for the sound management of chemicals and waste

Study commissioned by the German government, through its Federal Environment Agency (UBA) with the aim to identify and describe the entities that may provide financial support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in order to address their challenges with the sound management of chemicals and waste. The overview of the 47 entities identified by the study provides a fa...read more

Air, Health, Water

Nitrogen – Element with Impacts

An Integrated Target Value Sets a New Framework

Nitrogen emissions from almost all sectors of society lead to risks for humans and the environment. Sustainable management of nitrogen and its compounds therefore plays a major role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a milestone towards sustainable nitrogen management, the German Environment Agency proposes a upper limit of 1,000 kt nitrogen per year for Germany. The limi...read more

Air, Health

Air Quality 2022

Preliminary Evaluation

This evaluation of air quality in Germany in the year 2022 is based on preliminary data which has not yet been conclusively audited from the air monitoring networks of the federal states and the UBA, valid on 31th January 2023. Due to the comprehensive quality assurance within the monitoring networks, the final data will only be available in mid-2023. The currently available data allows for a gene...read more

Economy | Consumption

Methodological Convention 3.1 for the Assessment of Environmental Costs - Value Factors

Version 12/2020

The Methodological Convention 3.1 for the Assessment of Environmental Costs – Value Factors provides value factors for emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollutants, noise, nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as for transport, energy generation, building materials and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture.The value factors show the benefit of environmental protection for society – and the costs tha...read more