Statement

Financing Adaptation and Tropical Forest Conservation 

The UN Climate Protection Conference is currently taking place in Belém, Brazil. In keeping with the venue, much of the focus will be on the topic of ‘nature’. The run-up to COP30 has been overshadowed by geopolitical discord, wars and the US' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Nevertheless, political successes seem possible, according to UFZ climate economist Prof Reimund Schwarze. He sees opportunities above all in the financing of climate adaptation and the protection of tropical forests. 

Statement

Biodiversity and Climate: Making Nature an Ally

To stay within the 1.5 degree target, we need more than just reducing energy consumption, replacing fossil fuels or technological solutions for CO₂ reduction. Climate change is only one symptom of a larger problem: humans are overexploiting the planet. Accordingly, we need to rethink how we treat our land, forests, rivers and oceans. Man is part of the problem – and at the same time a big part of the solution, writes Prof Katrin Böhning-Gaese in her statement. 

10 Years of the Paris Agreement

Helmholtz Solutions

December 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement. The selected examples on this topic page show the solutions and approaches that Helmholtz experts are researching to counteract global warming and its consequences and to still achieve the goals of the agreement. And, of course, UFZ scientists are also involved. 

Climate Communication

Climate Facts at a Glance

Leading German scientists and communications experts have joined forces to publish the fourth edition of the Climate Fact Sheet. It summarises the current scientific knowledge on the causes, consequences and effects of climate change in Germany and worldwide in a compact and understandable way and presents solutions for climate protection. 

Statement

Index of Grassland Butterflies as a Mandatory Indicator

The grassland butterfly index shows how the population of typical grassland butterfly species is developing. It is one of three indicators that EU countries can use to document the state of biodiversity in agriculture in accordance with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Germany is considering scrapping the index. However, UFZ researchers, including Prof. Josef Settele and Elisabeth Kühn, are strongly advocating its use. 

Discussion Paper / Digital Dossier 

International Agricultural Trade and Consumption

Global trade in agricultural products makes menus more diverse and offers advantages for trading partners in the countries of origin. However, it can also have a negative impact on biodiversity, climate and food security. How can we strike a balance? A digital dossier uses concrete examples to illustrate the complexity of the issue. It is based on a discussion paper written by researchers from various disciplines under the umbrella of the Leopoldina. 

Plant Protection Products

Behavioural Changes in Bees and Fish

Plant protection products protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds. However, they also harm organisms that are not targeted. UFZ researchers have now discovered that even in low concentrations, herbicides significantly influence the behaviour of pollinators and fish (Environment International). They are therefore calling for more relevant behavioural tests in the risk assessment of plant protection products. 

Green Deal

Nitrogen Reduction: Are the EU Regulations effective?

Nitrogen pollution is too high in Europe. But how can the amount of nitrogen in the environment be reduced? In the Farm-to-Fork Strategy of the Green Deal, the European Commission set out to at least halve nutrient losses by 2030 by requiring EU countries to use 20 per cent less chemical fertilizers. UFZ researchers write in the journal Nature Food that such a uniform reduction in fertilizer use is not sufficient to achieve this goal. 

Sponge City

Leipzig Concert Hall becomes a Research Laboratory

The Gewandhaus concert hall in Leipzig has converted 800 square metres of its roof area from a gravel roof to a green roof, into which special fibre optic measurement technology has also been installed. This is because local scientific institutions such as the UFZ, which collaborate in the ‘Leipzig Green Roof Think Tank’, also use the green roof as a research laboratory. For example, they investigate the effectiveness of maintenance measures and microclimatic effects.

Corporate Environmental Protection

UFZ awarded EMAS Certificate once again

In 2025, the UFZ once again passed the revalidation process under the EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) environmental management system. This means that an external auditor has confirmed that the UFZ systematically records, transparently reports and continuously improves its environmental performance. For example, per capita electricity consumption in 2024 fell to its lowest level since 2001, and greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 8 per cent. 

Prof Bruno Bühler 

Biotechnologist Bruno Bühler, group leader for Applied Biocatalysis in the UFZ Department of Microbial Biotechnology, is the new scientific vice-president of the European Society of Biochemical Engineering Sciences (ESBES). ESBES is the leading European organization for the promotion and advancement of biotechnology and bioengineering sciences. It promotes cooperation between bioengineers from Europe and overseas and connects industry and science. 

Prof Volker Grimm 

Modeller Volker Grimm, a scientist in the UFZ Department of Ecological Systems Analysis, was honoured with a medal of honour at the annual conference of the Ecological Society (GfÖ). He received the award for his excellent scientific work, which improves our understanding of ecological systems. Since 2020, the GfÖ has been awarding the medal to ecologists who have made outstanding and pioneering contributions to research or who have made a special contribution to the scientific community.