Streamlined Environmental Assessments: Picking the Greenest Option Despite Limited Time and Data at the Federal Environment Agency in Germany

Markus Berger (), Matthias Finkbeiner, Christiane Markard, Michael Angrick, Jakob Frommer, Ulrich Irmer, Klaus Müschen, Simone Richter, Regine Szewzyk, Ines Oehme, Ulrich Gromke and Gunnar Gohlisch
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Markus Berger: Technische Universität Berlin, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
Matthias Finkbeiner: Technische Universität Berlin, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
Christiane Markard: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Michael Angrick: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Jakob Frommer: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Ulrich Irmer: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Klaus Müschen: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Simone Richter: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Regine Szewzyk: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Ines Oehme: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Ulrich Gromke: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Gunnar Gohlisch: Umweltbundesamt, Wörlitzer 1, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2015, vol. 17, issue 03, 1-20

Abstract: The Federal Environment Agency of Germany (Umweltbundesamt: UBA) is expected to provide information regarding the environmental performance of products and technologies — even in cases with limited time and data availability. Therefore, the streamlined environmental assessment (StreamEA) methodology has been developed which combines the competences available throughout the agency. Based on scientific assessment models, a ranking of alternatives can be determined for 15 impact categories, like greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nuisance, pathogenic emissions or physical killing of animals. Since the overall environmental burden depends on the specific impact per product and the total number of products, a macroeconomic assessment at the level of the product entirety is included. The applicability of the method, which can be adapted to other regions, and the robustness of results have been tested by means of case studies. The method is currently applied in the daily work of the agency to provide guidance to the general public and policy makers.

Keywords: Streamlined environmental assessment; Federal Environment Agency; life cycle assessment; environmental guidance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1142/S1464333215500246

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