Press | Umweltbundesamt

The world's oceans are becoming increasingly burdened by man-made noise. This noise can disturb or even harm marine animals. An international research project entitled "Hearing in penguins", which is funded by the German Environment Agency (UBA), shows that penguins, just like whales and seals, also hear and react to noise in the sea. read more

A study by the German Environment Agency (UBA) is the first to undertake a systematic investigation of the fate of plastics in the environment for Germany. These plastics are the quantities that are not removed by any relevant measures after their discharge. The study shows that about 133,000 to 165,000 tonnes of plastic per year remain in the environment due to transport. read more

The United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Science Council, the German Environment Agency, the Government of Kenya, Future Earth, and Sustainability in the Digital Age have joined forces to act as co-champions for a new global initiative called CODES (Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability). read more

The UMWELT & BAUEN award recognises projects that are already realizing the idea of a new European Bauhaus in terms of sustainable building. The prize will be awarded for the second time in 2021, this time in four categories. All stakeholders in the building sector are eligible to apply by the 25 May 2021 deadline. read more

The "Environmental Monitor" for 2020 from the German Environment Agency (UBA) draws a mixed picture of the condition of the environment in Germany. While there have been recent improvements in air quality or greenhouse gases, other indicators fare poorly. read more

On 15 March 2021 the European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) in Leipzig was awarded the contract for the sale of fuel emission allowances in the national emissions trading scheme (nETS). The German Environment Agency (UBA) had put this task out to tender on a Europe-wide basis as the body responsible for the implementation of the nETS. The first sale date is scheduled for October 2021. read more

This is the fifth time that the publishing house Matthes & Seitz Berlin is awarding the German Prize for Nature Writing in cooperation with the German Environment Agency and the Stiftung Kunst und Natur (Foundation for Art and Nature), which was already a cooperation partner last year. The competition is under the patronage of President Dirk Messner of the German Environment Agency. read more

The EU Commission will award prizes within the framework of EMW in two categories to the municipalities with the most innovative and ambitious programmes. An international jury draws up a shortlist of finalists. Two German cities are among the finalists this year. read more