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Luftverschmutzung verursacht hohe ökonomische Kosten durch gesundheitliche Belastungen der AnwohnerInnen, vor allem in städtischen Gebieten. Fahrbeschränkungen in Umweltzonen sollen zur Verbesserung der Luftqualität beitragen. Empirische Analysen in diesem Wochenbericht bestätigen, dass Umweltzonen verkehrsbedingte Luftverschmutzung verringern. Zusätzlich ergeben die Untersuchungen unbeabsichtigte negative Effekte auf Sekundärschadstoffe wie Ozon und auf die Luftverschmutzung in angrenzenden Gebieten. Zudem zeigen weitere Analysen basierend auf Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) erstmals, dass Umweltzonen zwar die Gesundheit der AnwohnerInnen positiv beeinflussen, jedoch ihre Lebenszufriedenheit temporär verringern. Abhängig ist dies von den individuellen Lebensumständen; beispielsweise ist die Lebenszufriedenheit von DieselfahrerInnen und Menschen unter 65 Jahren stärker beeinträchtigt. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass Mobilitätsbeschränkungen und Anpassungskosten die Akzeptanz der Maßnahmen verringern. Eine verbesserte Kommunikation der gesundheitlichen Vorteile von Umweltzonen oder Transfermechanismen wie Gutscheine für die Nutzung von öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln könnten diese Effekte abfedern., DIW Wochenbericht

Die Effekte der Klimakrise verschärfen die Wasserknappheit nicht nur im globalen Süden, sondern auch in unseren Breitengraden, beispielsweise in der Region Berlin-Brandenburg. Wegen unzureichender Bepreisung der Entnahme von Oberflächen- und Grundwasser beziehungsweise mangelnden ordnungsrechtlichen Instrumenten kommt es in einigen Regionen Deutschlands zu einem Überverbrauch. Dies ist insbesondere in der Industrie der Fall, die sich hohe Wasserentnahmemengen zu sehr geringen Kosten vertraglich gesichert hat. Dazu kommt eine umfangreiche Gewässerverschmutzung durch Schadstoffeinträge aus Haushalten, Industrie, Kläranlagen und Landwirtschaft, die das Angebot an sauberem Wasser weiter verknappen. Insbesondere die Nitratverschmutzung aufgrund intensiver Düngung in der Landwirtschaft stellt ein zunehmendes Problem dar. In der Folge entstehen zusätzliche Kosten für Unternehmen und Haushalte zum Beispiel durch aufwendigere Trinkwasseraufbereitung. Ökolandbau kann hier die Gewässerqualität verbessern; auch sanitäre Innovationen (wie Trockentrenntoiletten) können einen Beitrag leisten. Dieser Wochenbericht fasst aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zusammen und leistet einen Beitrag zur Nationalen Wasserstrategie der Bundesregierung, die ein Programm von Maßnahmen vorsieht, die bis zum Jahr 2030 zur Bewältigung der Generationenaufgabe Wasser ergriffen werden sollen., DIW Wochenbericht

The effects of the climate crisis are worsening water shortages, not only in the Global South but also in Europe, for example in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Due to inadequate pricing of surface and groundwater abstraction and a lack of regulatory instruments, water overuse is occurring in some regions of Germany. Overuse is especially an issue for industry, which has contractually secured high volumes of water withdrawals at very low cost. In addition, there is extensive water pollution as a result of contaminants released into water bodies by households, industry, sewage treatment plants, and agriculture, which further reduces the clean water supply. In particular, nitrate pollution due to intensive fertilization in agriculture is an increasing problem. As a consequence, households and businesses must bear the additional costs, for example due to increasing costs for drinking water treatment. Organic farming can improve water quality; sanitary innovations such as urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) can also contribute. This Weekly Report summarizes current research results and contributes to the German National Water Strategy, a series of measures to be taken by 2030 to address the inter-generational challenges of water management., DIW Weekly Report

Air pollution results in high economic costs arising from its negative impacts on human health, especially in urban areas. Driving restriction policies such as low emission zones (LEZs) are designed to improve air quality. Indeed, empirical analyses in this Weekly Report confirm that LEZs reduce traffic-related air pollution. However, the analyses also reveal unintended adverse effects on secondary contaminants like ozone and on air pollution in adjacent areas. New evidence based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) shows that LEZs temporarily decrease their residents’ life satisfaction despite positive health impacts. The magnitude of the decline depends on personal life circumstances: For example, there are stronger adverse effects on life satisfaction of diesel vehicle owners and people younger than 65. The results of this study suggest that mobility restrictions and the associated adjustment costs reduce policy acceptance. More effectively communicating the health advantages of LEZs to the population or utilizing transfer mechanisms such as public transport vouchers could mitigate these effects., DIW Weekly Report

We study the effectiveness, spillovers, and well-being effects of low emission zones in Germany, an emission-intensity-based driving restriction rapidly growing in popularity. Using regression discontinuity and group-time difference-in-differences designs, we show that previous estimates of the policy's impact on traffic-related air pollution significantly underestimate its effectiveness. We provide evidence of beneficial and harmful policy spillovers to neighboring areas, and increases in ozone due to changes in the chemical balance with precursor contaminants. Policy effects are heterogeneous by season, with greater decreases in traffic pollutants during winter and increases in ozone during spring and summer. Using individual-level data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we further find that the policy decreases subjective well-being despite clear evidence of health benefits. The decline in well-being is especially pronounced in the first year after policy implementation and is transitory.

For many years now, nitrate concentrations have exceeded the trigger value of 50 milligrams per liter at nearly one-fifth of the groundwater sampling sites in Germany. Apart from impairing the ecosystem by, for example, causing eutrophication of water bodies, nitrate-polluted drinking water also damages human health; it is suspected to cause cancer. Econometric calculations using current data confirm the correlation established in the literature between nitrate pollution and intensive agriculture. Federal states with intensive agriculture, such as Saxony, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt, are particularly affected by nitrate pollution. While the German federal and state governments revised the fertilizer ordinance in 2017, it remains insufficient to effectively combat nitrate pollution of groundwater. As a result, the European Union brought proceedings against Germany for non-compliance, threatening fines in the millions of euros. The Fertilizer Ordinance to be adopted in 2020 must ensure compliance with the trigger value for nitrate pollution. Progress has already been made by introducing state-specific regulations and increasing reporting obligations on nutrient inputs. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these measures should be reviewed closely and, if necessary, supplemented with additional regulatory measures., DIW Weekly Report