The air indoors, whether at schools or offices, is often stuffy. Air conditioning systems can provide relief, but they do not always operate as they should. The quality seal for air conditioning systems can help based on its three-phase verification to ensure good indoor air quality and energy-efficiency during planning, installation and operation. read more
Tackling the housing shortage with ecological answers
The shortage of housing is a problem in many large cities and metropolitan areas. The building sector has for years failed to meet its environmental and climate targets. A position paper by the German Environment Agency (UBA) and the Commission for Sustainable Building (KNBau) at UBA investigates how affordable housing can be built without harm to the environment and human health. read more
Germany complied with air quality limit values nearly everywhere in 2022
Germany recorded no exceedances of particulate matter threshold values in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year. Current data shows that the annual mean limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) of 40 µg/m³ was exceeded at only two roadside measuring stations in Munich and Essen. These are the results of a preliminary evaluation of data collected by the federal states and the German Environment Agency. read more
Consumer protection: German Environment Agency participates in European screening for manipulative online shop practices
The European consumer protection network, with the first-ever participation of the German Environment Agency, revealed manipulative practices on 148 out of 399 online shops it screened. read more
Final 2021 greenhouse gas emissions balance: Emissions declined by 39 percent over 1990, complying with EU climate action targets
Germany is in full compliance with European emission reduction targets. Final data on greenhouse gas emissions for 2021 show that Germany had emissions of 759.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2021, which is about 29.6 million tonnes (4%) more than in 2020 and 39% less compared to 1990. read more
German Ecodesign Award 2023: Federal Government competition renews offer of reward for ecological design
Designers, students and companies of any size and in any sector from anywhere in Europe have until 17 April 2023 to make an entry for the German Ecodesign Award. Wanted: innovative ideas and projects that are progressive and demonstrate exceptional design. This can include market-ready goods and services, conceptual work, also by students. Creativity knows no bounds here! read more
Possible ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the EU
European agencies including the German Environment Agency (UBA) have submitted a joint proposal for the restriction of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This proposal is one of the most comprehensive to have been formulated since the REACH regulation first came into force in 2007. read more
Emissions trading rings up record revenues: More than 13 billion euros for climate protection
Germany’s revenues from auctions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) totalled more than 6.8 billion euros in 2022, marking a significant increase over 2021 (5.3 billion euros). In contrast, revenues under the national emissions trading scheme (nETS) for the heating and transport sector fell below the previous year’s level (6.4 billion euros in 2022 vs 7.2 billion euros in 2021). read more