Press | Umweltbundesamt

Emerging economies can also do their bit to meet global climate protection goals without fear of economic repercussions. This is the conclusion reached by a study conducted on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), according to which the six economically developed countries of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea dispose of vast emission reduction potential, which in... read more

Fascinating Antarctica: Ever more people are attracted to the austral summer in the vast expanses of the icy continent, to penguins, seals and whales. There were more than 46,000 visitors in last year’s travel season alone. There was a fivefold jump in visitor numbers from 1992 to 2008, making it impossible to avoid negative impact on the environment. Nevertheless, any visitor to the South Pole, w... read more

Are the Alps as Europe’s ‘water towers’ at risk? Is the discharge rate of the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Po, the four large rivers originating in the Alps, and which draw about 50 % of their water from the Alpine Rim, in a state of flux? According to experts who met a conference in Bolzano, there is no acute danger of this happening. ”Yet the Alpine region must now adapt to existing and future risks... read more

Offers to compensate for greenhouse gases voluntarily abound: whether it be the ‘climate neutral air trip’ or the ‘climate neutral bouquet of flowers’, everything is possible. The idea is simple, namely to compensate for the climate gas emissions produced by products or services by saving the same amount somewhere else. Making sense of all these new possibilities is possible thanks to a new guide... read more

Subsidies amounting to some 42 billion euros for 2006 in Germany had a negative impact on health and the environment, is the conclusion reached by a Federal Environment Agency study about the adverse consequences of subsidies in Germany, Umweltschädliche Subventionen in Deutschland. The variety of negative effects ranges from acceleration of climate change and impairment of water, soil and air qu... read more

Loss of biological diversity is one of the key environmental problems we face in the 21st century. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) intend to work together towards a solution to this problem. More than 100 German and international experts from science and the field met at a symposium held in Bonn on 29-30 October 2008 to identify ways to sus... read more

The contest on energy-efficient city lighting that was launched in June is now presenting results from the first phase in a compilation of energy-efficient technologies, which can be accessed on the Internet starting today. The site will help initiate the next round of the contest, which is aimed specifically at municipalities. Schemes and new plans to use energy-efficient lighting in cities and t... read more

Since a short time ago, businesses have had an obligation to report on substances that pose a certain risk to mankind and the environment. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has for the first time published a list of substances of very high concern. Reasons for inclusion are that the substnaces are: carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction, and the list also includes persistent, bioacc... read more