Suchergebnisse

This article focuses on air noise protection in European law. The consideration of legal implications is based on a meta study (synopsis) of scientific research on aircraft noise-induced health impairments, annoyance and learning disorders. The synopsis concludes that the association of noise with an increased incidence of chronic arterial hypertension has been shown in large-scale epidemiological studies and reproduced with sophisticated methodology. It is therefore considered scientifically confirmed. In addition to hypertension, the relationship between aircraft noise and the risk of myocardial infarctions as well as strokes has been discussed. Based on recent epidemiological studies the relationship can also be considered scientifically confirmed. However, with regard to heart failure an association is very likely, but not enough studies are available to allow a definite statement.
By reviewing the current studies, the authors held that legally standardized immission limit values for aircraft noise exposure must be provided in order to protect residents in the vicinity of airports. From the available studies an upper limit of 50 dB(A) for Lden as a 24 h value and 45 dB(A) for Lnight are to be derived to avoid annoyance, cognitive constrictions and health impairments. To avoid sleeping disorder at night, an 8 hour period without noise is required.

According to Art. 3(3) of the Treaty on the European Union, the Community is working towards the sustainable development of Europe – this constitutes the overriding long-term goal of the European Union. The guiding principle of sustainable development aspires towards the reduced exploitation of natural resources aimed at their long-term preservation and a reduced pollutant burden for protected natural resources. The target for 2020 is that "chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment" ('Johannesburg goals'). In addition, the guiding principle pursues the safeguarding of the basis for survival and economic production in order to maintain an adequate quality of life. These aims can only be achieved by far-reaching changes to the economic and social structures and also to patterns of consumption and production – consequently innovations are required. This requires specific regulatory strategies – particularly for product or process innovations – in order to create adequate incentives so that actors from trade and industry get innovations for sustainability off the ground. In connection with this the question arises as to how nanomaterials are to be regulated so that the innovation processes linked to these substances are aligned with the guiding principle of sustainable development. Nanomaterials are substances in terms of the REACH Regulation and therefore fall within its scope. However, REACH does not contain any provisions directed specifically at nanomaterials. The regulatory omissions arising from this – no definition for nanomaterials; tonnage quantity thresholds may be inappropriate for nanoscale substances; transitional periods for existing substances (phase-in substances, Art. 23) also apply to certain nanomaterials; test procedures are not designed to nanomaterial specifications, etc. – are discussed in depth in the literature. This article takes a different perspective. It examines to what degree REACH promotes innovations for sustainability through nanomaterials. The question of how the regulation affects the manufacturers' approach to nanomaterials was the subject of a survey sent to companies which manufacture and/or use nanomaterials. The survey questioned 37 companies based in Germany. Besides the issues of registering for REACH and carrying out safety assessments, the main focus of interest was on the relationships between substance risks and innovation and between REACH and innovation. The findings obtained from the survey were augmented by telephone interviews on this subject and by the results of a workshop held in Darmstadt, Germany, in December 2011 with representatives from companies and industry associations and experts on the regulation of nanomaterials. Finally, this contribution refers to the results of a study carried out for the European Commission on the innovative effects of REACH on emerging technologies. This document summarises the most important results from the empirical data and, where the data permits, draws some preliminary conclusions for a possible adaptation of the legal framework for nanomaterials.

The success of REACh will depend on whether or not the actors are willing and able to adopt the roles allocated to them under the new regime. Yet it would be naive to assume that the simple fact of enacting the Regulation will be sufficient to effect the necessary changes in the behaviour of the responsible parties. Within this context, a study on behalf of the German Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt – UBA) was performed. The study's initial hypothesis was that support - in the form of (technical and organisational) guidance specific to each type of economic actor - can help to push forward the necessary innovation and co-operation processes to implement REACh in the intended way. Thus, transaction costs for each actor can be kept to a minimum and obstacles overcome. This also supports the central, structural objective of REACh to establish a "learning system", particularly with regard to the interaction occurring between the producers and users of industrial chemicals. To this end, sufficient regulatory (dis)incentives are essential. For this reason, the question of possible amendments to the current draft of the Regulation was also addressed.

In die Entscheidung über große Infrastrukturprojekte wie die Erweiterung des Rhein-Main-Flughafens fließen regelmäßig regionalwirtschaftliche Wirkungsanalysen ein, die ihre erwünschten und unerwünschten ökonomische Folgen untersuchen: Welche Folgen hat das Projekt voraussichtlich auf die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der Region? Wie entwickelt sich die Arbeitsplatzsituation? Wird es mehr oder weniger Beschäftigung geben und in welchem Umfang? Regionalökonomische Gutachten sollen hier Antworten liefern und so zur Abwägung der Chancen und Risiken eines Großprojektes beitragen.In dem Maße jedoch, wie wissenschaftliche Expertise zur Fundierung politischer Entscheidungen herangezogen wird, steht auch ihre Qualität auf dem öffentlichen Prüfstand: Hat der Gutachter alle relevanten Aspekte berücksichtigt? Ist die Wahl seiner Methoden dem Thema angemessen? Häufig werden Zweifel an der Belastbarkeit wissenschaftlich fundierter Aussagen laut. Das Vertrauen in die 'Wahrheit' wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse und in ihre Unabhängigkeit von gesellschaftlichen Interessengruppen geht angesichts des Distanzverlusts zwischen Wissenschaft, Politik und Wirtschaft verloren.Ein Weg, diesem Trend entgegen zu wirken, besteht in dem Einsatz von Verfahren und Instrumenten, die systematisch, situations- und zeitnah die Qualität regionalwirtschaftlicher Wirkungsanalysen von Großinfrastrukturen erfassen sowie die Reichweite und Grenzen ihrer Aussagen transparent machen.Die vorliegende Studie entwickelt hierfür einen Verfahrenvorschlag. Mit Blick auf die Methodik einer Evaluation werden die 'Regeln guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis' in eine praktisch handhabbare Hilfestellung übersetzt sowie ein Verfahren beschrieben, das eine größtmögliche Qualitätskontrolle wissenschaftlicher Gutachtertätigkeit unterstützt. Darüber hinaus werden die inhaltlichen Anforderungen an regionalwirtschaftliche Wirkungsanalysen thematisiert. Qualitative Aspekte werden bislang im Rahmen regionalökonomischer Prognosen üblicherweise nicht genauer betrachtet, bestimmen jedoch die Innovations- und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit einer Region häufig nachhaltig. Besonderes Augenmerk wird in dieser Studie auf die Berücksichtigung des qualitativen Wandels der Arbeit in der Region sowie die Notwendigkeit einer geschlechterdifferenzierten Wirkungsanalyse gelegt.Für Fachleute wie Laien werden so Anregungen geliefert, welche Anforderungen ex ante an regionalwirtschaftliche Wirkungsanalysen sowie an ihre Evaluation zu stellen und wie diese zu operationalisieren sind. Ex post werden Anhaltspunkte für eine sachliche Bewertung von Gutachten gegeben, die jenseits von pauschaler Ablehnung oder Zustimmung eine differenzierte Sicht auf Validität und Reichweite wissenschaftlicher Aussagen in einem aktuellen gesellschaftlichen Entscheidungsprozess unterstützen.

The European Commission requires an impact assessment report for any regulation proposed. This book analyzes the quality of impact assessments and discusses deficits and possible improvements. Based on 30 case studies of impact assessments, an institutional analysis of the relevant actors is conducted, which shows that there are many shortcomings, among them an incentive problem concerning desk officers in the European Commission. The book includes various articles which address controversial problems and possible solutions. It offers a comprehensive overview of the practice of impact assessment in the EC, as well as an institutional analysis of the processes involved and of the checks and balances between politicians and their administration.