Press | Umweltbundesamt

The European Commission wants to make consumer products safer and is proposing standardized caps for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). PAH are present in many products such as tyres and toys. Their properties give rise to concern and are harmful to health and the environment. “We heartily welcome the Commission’s initiative to reach an appropriate ruling on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons t... read more

Germany must be much more economical in its use of natural resources and raw materials, says the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). “A daily per capita consumption of 200 kilos puts Germany in the global lead. This not only harms the environment, it is also dangerous for our international competitive ranking. The costs for materials in the manufacturing industry are already about 43 per cent of net... read more

International and national climate protection goals can only achieved if all sectors of the economy do their fair share. Forecasts predict that traffic will continue to grow. Therefore it is upon the transport sector to make effective cuts in its emissions of greenhouse gases. The new research project study titled “Renewbility II“ assessed the opportunities and potential of climate protection base... read more

Energy-intensive businesses are granted a reduced rate Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) levy- provided they have instituted an energy management system, or EMS. An EMS is also worthwhile for other businesses and organisations such as public authorities and church institutions. A joint publication by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry shows how to systematically i... read more

Extreme weather events are proving to be a challenge for our society time and again. Heat waves such as that in the summer of 2003 are associated with great stress on human health and may even result in deaths. Heavy precipitation and winter storms repeatedly cause enormous damage to infrastructure and buildings and put humans at risk. Extreme weather events and all the associated consequences are... read more

The competition over land use is becoming stiffer, and one reason is the rising demand for biomass for food, energy or building materials. At the same time, the use of land worldwide is associated with serious ecological and social problems. Hunger and food insecurity are an unsolved problem, soil degradation is becoming widespread, water resources are becoming scarcer. The Federal Environment Age... read more

Germany is starting early auctions of emission allowances for the third trading period in 2013-2020 on 26 October 2012. In weekly auctions held every Friday, three million certificates will initially be available to stationary installations. By year’s end, some 23.5 million emission allowances in addition to those in the current second trading period will be auctioned on the European energy exchan... read more

Biodegradable plastics used in packaging, which are made from renewable biomass sources, do not prove to offer an overall ecological advantage. The farming and processing of the plants used in packaging cause more severe acidification of soil and eutrophication of water bodies than the production of common plastic packaging. Moreover, they cause higher levels of particulate emissions. The bioplast... read more