Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 5/2017 | Umweltbundesamt

Diesel cars: Software updates are not enough for clean air

Road traffic is the major source of nitrogen dioxide in cities. Source: Stefan Redel / Fotolia

Diesel cars with the emission standard Euro 5 and 6 will have between 15 and 25 per cent lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions after having a software update. This is according to calculations made by UBA following the Diesel Summit on 2 August 2017. The update is a first but insufficient step when considering the poor starting point of the vehicles concerned: a Euro 5 diesel-powered car currently has average NOx emissions of 906 milligrams per kilometre, which would be reduced by 25 percent through a software update to about 680 milligrams – the same level as the average of a Euro 4 diesel car, and thus still four times higher than the Euro 5 limit value. UBA estimates claim that the software updates can reduce the NOx emissions of the entire passenger car fleet in Germany by between three and seven per cent.

The switchover premium for diesel cars which manufacturers are currently offering has only a small potential to improve air quality. This is because even new Euro 6a, 6b and 6c diesel cars have average NOx emissions of 507 milligrams per kilometre under normal driving conditions, which is more than six times the limit value for NOx. In effect, air quality could become worse because the premium could also reward switchovers to a diesel which is 'dirtier' than the original car. Example: trading in a supermini for an SUV with high fuel consumption.

UBA’s President Maria Krautzberger said: "In nearly 70 cities across Germany those measures are not likely to be enough to reduce the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air to below the annual mean limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Only roughly 20 cities where pollution levels are currently just below the limit will benefit from the decisions adopted at the Diesel Forum and finally comply with the European limit in effect already since 2010.”

Further measures are therefore necessary to avoid the imposition of driving bans in inner cities. In addition to a premium that promotes only vehicles which are truly clean on the road, UBA considers hardware retrofitting to be another important measure to achieve clean air in urban areas. The hardware solution concerns so-called SCR catalytic converters which use a urea solution (AdBlue®) with which diesel vehicles are retrofitted. An expert group formed at the Diesel Summit and led by the Federal Ministry of Transport is currently investigating the number of vehicles which can actually be retrofitted.

Too much nitrate in groundwater, but 'all clear' for drinking water!

Wherever farming is practiced in Germany the ground water has too much nitrate. Tap water, however, is safe. Thanks to Germany's water utilities. read more (in German)

2016 was hottest year on record worldwide

Heat waves and record high temperatures, prolonged drought, heavy precipitation, extreme cold and record snowfall – all these phenomena are extreme weather events. Read our background paper to find out which extreme weather events have occurred in recent years. read more (in German)

Resource-efficient infrastructure

Transport, waste water management, water and energy supply, digital connectivity: infrastructure systems are vital to our modern lifestyle. But they are also resource-intensive and often have a far-reaching impact on the environment. A study has investigated which ways the technical infrastructures can be designed to be future-proof and sustainable. read more (in German)

More consideration of the environment in infrastructure planning

Large infrastructure projects such as power grids or motorways usually have a far-reaching impact on the environment. Better public demand planning can result in better protection of the environment. A new study for the German Environment Agency examines the statutory configuration of public demand planning in relation to public projects. read more (in German)

New study assesses activities in the Antarctic

As Germany's licensing authority for activities in the Antarctic the German Environment Agency (UBA) assesses research activities, cruise trips and the required logistics involved for travel to and around the South Pole. A new study for UBA discusses the current methods and equipment used in polar research as well as tourism and evaluates their potential impact on the Antarctic environment. read more (in German)

Over hill and vale to the construction site: crawler tractor is kinder to soil and trees

Radio towers, electricity poles or wind turbines are often located in places with no road access. A project under the Federal Government's Environmental Innovation Programme has now demonstrated how a self-driving crawler tractor can transport components and machinery to these sites in an environmentally friendly way: without road-building and with less soil compaction and tree felling. read more (in German)

Chrome-look in automotive industry possible without use of heavy metals

Car trim in the chrome look is cool, but its production involves the use of the toxic heavy metal Chromium VI which is discharged to wastewater and considered hazardous waste. A project carried out under the Environmental Innovation Programme has shown that an innovative, environmentally friendly lacquer can achieve the identical effect without chromium and an even better anti-corrosion protection than conventional chromium-plating. read more (in German)

Good for climate & cost-saving: intelligent use of waste heat in companies

Waste heat escapes unused in many production facilities all while costly energy is being supplied on the other hand. A project completed under the Environmental Innovation Programme at a factory which produces OSB boards shows how this waste heat can be put to good use – even if it does not reach the required temperature. read more (in German)

Cities and universities are using more recycled paper

100 cities and 39 universities participated in the 10th national Papieratlas (Paper Atlas) competition – more than ever before. Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks named the city of Solingen and the University of Osnabrück "Most recycled paper-friendly city/university". read more (in German)

Expert talks on environmental justice: documents are online

In June 2017 the Federal Ministry for Environment held expert talks on the guidelines and recommendations for action to create more environmental justice. Delegates from environmental associations and other civil society organizations, the federal government, the Länder and local authorities discussed joint agenda setting and priority action areas. Conference proceedings are now available online.  read mor (in German)

Montreal Protocol, 30 years on: Protecting the ozone layer and climate

24 states and the European Community signed the Montreal Protocol on 16 September 1987. It signaled the obligatory phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and thus halted the continued depletion of the ozone layer by these substances. The substitution of CFCs which have a high Global Warming Potential is positive climate action. read more (in German)

Ballast Water Management Convention: Stowaways have no chance

Thirteen years after its adoption in 2004 the international Ballast Water Management Convention finally entered into force on 8 September 2017. The Convention addresses the problem of the water which ships take on and later discharge for stabilization but which transports marine species outside of their natural habitats. read more (in German)

Forum on Food Waste: Reduction only works in a joint effort

Too much food ends up in the waste bin, agreed the participants at an UBA expert forum on food waste. More than 70 stakeholders from industry, research and politics had the opportunity to discuss ways to reduce food waste in Berlin on 5 September 2017. Stakeholders must all work together to ensure that more food ends up on the table. read more (in German)

UBA Guideline: Prevention of food waste in the catering sector

… the noise laboratory at UBA do?

View of UBA noise laboratory with special microphones
Source: Steffen Körper / UBA

Noise is an annoyance and long-term exposure can make people ill. But what is noise, and how is it tested and assessed?

The UBA headquarters in Dessau-Roßlau has an open-area sound measurement laboratory where precision microphones can measure and assess noise without interferences and reflections. The measurement results help us to determine the frequencies which characterizes sounds and its propagation.
Examples of what the "noise lab" investigates:

• How can noise from household devices and gardening equipment be measured and compared with each other and thus provide meaningful information?
• Are the conventional units of measurement and procedures sufficient to evaluate the great variety of noise situations?

The measurement results are applied to further develop existing noise protection guidelines. We derive the criteria for low-noise products which are awarded by the Blue Angel ecolabel. In addition, the noise laboratory can help to demonstrate how loud noise is perceived – for example with sound clips are suitable for use in classroom instruction. Tests have shown that a computer with a 30-decibel noise level sounds half as loud as a 40-decibel movie projector. These and other sounds are what we listen to in the "noise lab".