A collection of cases in practice, sponsored by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and published by the federal association CarSharing (bcs), illustrates how commercial businesses in particular can do their bit for the environment by taking advantage of carsharing. read more
Biological diversity requires environmental protection
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is calling for greater environmental protection efforts to be made to conserve biodiversity, both internationally and at home. On this year’s International Day for Biodiversity, proclaimed by the United Nations every year on 22 May, UBA President Jochen Flasbarth said, “The greatest dangers posed to the protection of biological diversity are global warming and... read more
Lethal food: Plastic waste in the oceans
Oil spills such as that in the Gulf of Mexico poison maritime regions for decades. There are other materials that also contaminate the oceans-- tonnes of plastic bags, styrofoam waste or old fishing nets. In the North Sea alone there is an estimated 600,000 cubic metres of waste on and in the ocean floor. The majority of North Sea waste comes from ships and the fishing industry, but rivers and t... read more
Invitation to a virtual journey through time from the Federal Environment Agency
In a new online campaign the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is providing information to all Internet junkies. The http://fuer-mensch-und-umwelt.de/ website is the starting point for a virtual journey through the 36-year history of the Federal Environment Agency and environmental protection. The website, easy to navigate and chock full of original audio and visual materials, explains why for exam... read more
Climate bonus for household budgets: 35 percent energy savings on washing possible
“Optimal use of wash cycles and detergents will add up to energy savings. It will relieve the strain on the environment as well as the household budget. The costs of electricity and detergents can be reduced considerably,” said Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency, on this year’s Day for Sustainable (dish) Washing. Clothes are often washed at higher temperatures than neces... read more
Made possible by bottle deposit: less pollution, more recycling
Anyone returning deposit bottles is doing his bit for the environment. The same goes for reusable as well as one-way bottles and packaging. These are the findings of a study done by bifa environmental institute GmbH on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency, according to which the compulsory deposit on one-way packaging does indeed amount to less litter on streets and in public areas. Furthermor... read more
Environmental Specimen Bank: Looking for evidence in Germany’s environmental archive
Have human and environmental exposure to lead been reduced since the ban on leaded petrol? Why has there been no sustainable decline in the PCB count in fish in the lower course of the Rhine? What to make of the concentrations of mercury in young shoots of spruce, seagull eggs, and bream? The federal Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB), Germany’s archive documenting environmental quality, provides e... read more
Federal administration declares ‘GreenIT RZ-Benchmarking’ the lighthouse project of 2010
The Federal Government IT Commissioner, State Secretary Cornelia Rogall-Grothe, awarded the Leuchtturm-Projekt Green-IT 2010 prize to the Federal Environment Agency’s GreenIT RZ Benchmarking project. This first-time prize recognises outstanding projects that help to improve the energy efficiency of information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal administration. read more
