PCs, notebooks and mobile phones perform invaluable services, and we could hardly cope in our daily lives anymore without information and communication technology (ICT). However, ICT ravenously consumes large amounts of energy. The share of IT and entertainment electronics in overall electricity consumption in Germany is presently estimated at roughly eight per cent. Furthermore, the IT sector i... read more
Climate protection: New manual for Joint Implementation projects
The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has published a new manual for project proponents of Joint Implementation (JI) projects under the Kyoto Protocol. In its capacity as the Designated Focal Point (DFP) for Germany, the DEHSt authorises such climate protection projects with German involvement either domestically or abroad. The manual is a navigabl... read more
Child health: House dust sometimes polluted
Which pollutants are in the house dust of family homes with children? Updated information on the topic can be found in the Federal Environment Agency’s (UBA) report on house dust (Hausstaub), carried out as part of the German Environmental Survey of Children (GerES IV). Researchers detected substances whose production and uses in some cases have been banned for years on account of their harmfulne... read more
30 years of the Blue Angel, 30 years of innovation
The Blue Angel has stood for high standards in environmental protection for 30 years. It is an important instrument in achieving the goals set by the federal government in climate and resource protection. The Blue Angel is an engine of innovation for the most efficient solutions on the market, making it particularly important in ecological industrial policy as a means to promote new technologies... read more
Climate protection and resource efficiency
Goods and services in the IT and telecommunications industry (ICT) can do their bit to harmonise the goals of climate protection and economic growth. This is the conclusion reached at the annual conference on the challenges and opportunities posed by climate protection and resource efficiency (Jahreskonferenz Klimaschutz und Ressourceneffizienz - Herausforderungen und Marktchancen für die Informat... read more
Emissions trading: Allocation procedure for second trading period completed
During the allocation procedure for the second trading period of emissions trading (2008-2012) the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency awarded certificates to 1,625 installations. In the first trading period, 2005-2007, there were still 1,849 installations participating in emissions trading. The number has gone down because installations have been combined... read more
Industrial waste in my neighbourhood?
As of 2008 industrial facilities must report their releases of pollutants to air, water and land as well as their transfer of waste and waste water in a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). The PRTR replaces the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER), and is to be established and operated following an international agreement drafted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Eur... read more
Soot particle filter: Federal Environment Ministry denies accusation it lied
According to a report by the ddp news agency, the Federal Environment Ministry lied to the German Bundestag’s environment committee and in answer to questions posed by the opposition about diesel soot particle filters, said a spokesperson at the Federal Environment Ministry. The federal ministry strongly denies the statement that it lied to the German Bundestag. The Federal Environment Ministry... read more