International energy scenarios have underestimated the potential of energy efficiency and renewable energies. This is the outcome of research by a consortium within the German Aerospace Center (DLR) done on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and has been published in the Role and Potential of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Global Energy Supply study. The study analyses glob... read more
UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen: Human health also hinges on its success
Climate changes have both a direct as well as indirect impact on the health of all humans, which is just one more reason why the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen must be a success. ”Heat waves, storms, floods, altered occurrence of allergens, new pathogens, or even a change in natural UV radiation are all a result of climate change that can give rise to health concerns in us humans”, sai... read more
World Soil Day: More than just dirt under our feet
World Soil Day is traditionally on 5 December, which gives the Federal Environment Agency occasion to draw attention to the importance of intact soil: ”When compared to the media water and soil, soil is still often trampled under foot. However, man lives on as well as from intact and healthy soils. Fertile soil is a source of raw materials and food, a store of nutrients, water or greenhouse gases,... read more
25 years since Bhopal chemical accident: mistakes that may not be forgotten
On 3 December 1984, a catastrophic chemical accident occurred at the Union Carbide India Ltd plant in Bhopal, India. Due to numerous defects, errors and the failure of safety systems, a 20-to-30-tonne gas cloud of the highly toxic intermediate chemical methyl isocyanate escaped into the atmosphere. In the first week the human death toll was at least 2,500 plus 500,000 seriously injured. Even year... read more
This is the state of the environment in Germany - Federal Environment Agency breaks it down
For the past quarter of a century the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has issued regular reports on the developments in the state of the environment in Germany. In its most recent publication, Data on the Environment 2009, the Agency shows mixed results. ”Germany has made great progress. On one hand it has improved the state of the environment in the new Laender considerably since 1990; on the ot... read more
Great expectations as Battery Act register goes online
Batteries and accumulators are part of our everyday lives, their absence in MP3 players, laptops and mobile phones, torches, hearing aids or cars unimaginable. On 1 December 2009 the Act Concerning the Placing on the Market, Collection and Environmentally Compatible Waste Management of Batteries and Accumulators (Batteriegesetz - BattG) will enter into force and replace the Batteries Ordinance. It... read more
High participation rate in emissions trading in aviation sector
More than half of the aviation sector participants in emissions trading in Germany have now submitted the required monitoring schemes for recording their annual CO2 emissions and transport data to the German Emissions Trading Authority. Establishing contact with aircraft operators- whether large air carriers or the amateur or business flyer- often proved difficult initially, especially since the s... read more
Eco-friendly and innovative: ”Giving the gift of sun for Christmas again”
The sun is a cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy. Using solar energy amounts to savings of the Earth’s natural resources and in one’s own purse. The products range from watches, pocket calculators, milk frothers or various lamps: solar-powered products with the Blue Angel that run without batteries or a plug are proof of the practical application of solar technology in the househo... read more
