Press

On 2 September, the first nationwide pilot "Environment in the Neighbourhood" Action Days will be launched in four federal states.

The German government's 2023 Projection Report, coordinated by the German Environment Agency (UBA), analyses current climate protection policy. The report shows that the achievement of the national climate targets by 2030 and 2045 is at risk without additional measures.

A new study commissioned by the German Environment Agency shows that pesticide contamination of small bodies of water is particularly high where many pesticides are used on surrounding fields. In 80 percent of the investigated streams in Germany's agricultural landscape, the pesticides measured exceeded the limits set for animals and plants.

The vast majority of Germans already clearly feel the negative consequences of the climate crisis and consider measures for adaptation to be necessary. This is shown by the Environmental Awareness Study 2022 by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV).

The project lasted more than two years and is the prelude to a structural change in water management in the affected states of Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin.

Emissions from energy plants rose by three percent, while those from industry fell by six percent. This was due to the war against Ukraine and the associated distortions on the energy markets, according to the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the German Environment Agency (UBA).

Germany can still achieve its climate targets by 2030. This is the conclusion of a new study by the German Environment Agency (UBA). To do so, Germany would need, among other things, more rail traffic, a reform of the motor vehicle tax and restrictions on fossil-fuel heating. In addition, all emissions would have to be priced and charged to the polluter.

The amendment to the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) transposes important European requirements for drinking water protection into national law. Among other things, it provides for the introduction of risk-based drinking water protection, introduces new parameters and sets lower limits for pollutants such as chromium, arsenic and lead.

Sports boats and light aircraft as well as certain leisure equipment, such as bicycles, skis and musical instruments, contain fibre-reinforced composites (FRC). They are often durable, valuable and, as waste, ideally suited for preparation for reuse or recycling. However, structured processing is currently still considered uneconomical and therefore does not take place.

A new study for the German Environment Agency (UBA) foresees enormous tasks for the water supply along the Spree River if significantly less groundwater is pumped into the river with the end of brown coal mining in the Lausitz region. According to the study, in dry summer months this can lead to up to 75 per cent less water in the Spree locally.

Germany is a good place to bathe. This is confirmed by the EU Commission's report on the quality of European bathing waters, presented on 9 June 2023. According to the report, over 96 percent of the officially designated bathing water sites on lakes, rivers and coasts in Germany were rated "excellent" or "good". A total of 98 percent of all bathing water sites met the minimum requirements.

For seven years, the Marine Litter Round Table has been developing recommendations for actions against plastic pollution in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The contributors are meeting in Berlin with patrons, Federal Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke, Minister for Environment of Lower Saxony Christian Meyer and UBA President Dirk Messner to present results.