For the year 2008 Germany met its climate protection goal in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol and remains an international frontrunner in the area of climate protection. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 sank by 22.2 percent over 1990 levels.
The UBA has assessed air quality for the year 2009 based on interim data. At 55 % of air measuring stations placed in urban areas in the vicinity of traffic, annual mean levels of nitrogen dioxide concentrations were above the 40 µg/m3 air which is set as the cap as of 1.1.2010. Particulate concentrations (PM10) also rose above the statutory caps. There were PM10 concentrations of 50 µg/m3 measured at 23 of the total 408 measuring stations in the network on more than 35 days.
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, with the objective of stopping the loss of biodiversity, highlighting successes in conserving it and creating awareness of the fact that human welfare depends on biological diversity.
The new regulations about the authorisation and use of plant protection agents represent a giant leap for environmental protection in Europe. The directive bans the application of especially hazardous ingredients in plant protection products and commits Member States to create the necessary conditions for farmers to work with methods that can do with fewer pesticides.
The report “Data on the Environment” is published every four years. It takes stock of the development of the state of the environment in Germany, highlights environmental improvements and shows where action is still needed.
Freight transport exposes many people to exhaust gas emissions and noise and contributes significantly to climate change. UBA’s “Strategy for Sustainable Freight Transport” shows that this can be changed. The report describes the past, present and future development of freight transport, identifies conflicts with environmental protection requirements and presents measures to reduce its environmental impacts.
More renewable energies and energy efficiency, and an energy saving individual behaviour are key to reducing energy related CO2 emissions. A study carried out on behalf of the UBA analyses global energy scenarios and describes potential and costs of renewable energies and energy efficiency measures, concluding that it remains unclear why potentials are not utilised more strongly.
On 28 January 2010 account holders in a number of European emissions trading registries and elsewhere received fake email requesting them to enter account information on a website. Users of Germany’s Emissions Trading Registry which is operated by the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency in Berlin also received phishing email, which seeks to extract user names and passwords from users.
The Batteries Act register has been accessible via the UBA website since 1.12.2009. Producers as defined by the Batteries Act (Batteriegesetz (BattG)) are required to notify the UBA before placing batteries on the market. As of 1 March 2010, it will constitute an administrative offence inter alia for them to place batteries on the market without previously registering their presence on the market.
In 1990 environmental pollution caused by residential waste was still at levels of some 38 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. By 2006 overall savings of 56 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents have been achieved compared to 1990, due to replacing landfilling with recycling and energy recovery.
Energy efficient residential housing contributes to both: climate protection and economic growth, emphasised UBA president Jochen Flasbarth in his keynote presentation at the UNECE Conference "Energy Efficiency in Housing" in Vienna 23/11/2009. Energy efficient residential housing reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the need for energy imports and leads to more employment, a higher standard of living and better health.
Chemicals like phthalates or bisphenol A are common ingredients in plastics and can be found in the body of almost all people living in industrialised countries. These chemicals are capable of disturbing the human hormonal system and thus may be at least partially responsible for low sperm quality and increased cancer rates in Germany.
The new publication features introductory articles and other papers on individual aspects on the impact of climate change on human health. It presents key information and service opportunities as well. There is also an overview of activities by select federal institutions in Germany on the subject of climate change and health.
