Press | Umweltbundesamt

On 13 April 2010 the administrative court of Berlin threw out the suits filed against the Federal Environment by three energy supply utilities. The utilities did not succeed in gaining a retraction of the implementation of the Allocation Act 2012 (ZuG 2012) which foresees a cut in allowances and application of a single coal benchmark, as well as non-application of allocation regulations pursuant t... read more

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has now gone online with its schedule of planned projects for the 2010 Environmental Research Plan (UFOPLAN 2010) of the German Federal Ministry for Environment (BMU). read more

Operators subject to emissions trading in Germany emitted a total volume of 428.2 million tonnes of climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2009. As compared to the previous year, emissions sank by 44.3 million tonnes CO2, or 9.4 percent, which is the lowest level since introduction of emissions trading in Europe in 2005. The installations engaged in emissions trading were thus responsible again... read more

The signatories to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have come one important step closer to a global agreement on biopiracy. Delegates from the 194 states met in Cali, Colombia, and agreed on a common basis for negotiation of an international regime on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources. Its purpose is to create a global legal framework that regulates both access to gene... read more

Federal President Horst Köhler has awarded Dr. Andreas Troge, former President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), with the Order of Merit 1st Class of the Federal Republic of Germany. Federal Minister for Environment Dr. Norbert Röttgen presented Troge with the order of merit in Berlin today.  “The focus of all Andreas Troge’s actions was always to protect our natural means of livelihood, to... read more

The free Daten zum Verkehr [Transport Data] brochure published by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) provides an overview of current developments on roads, railroads, and in the aviation and shipping sectors. Its focus is on the impact on soil, air and water of our present system of passenger and freight traffic. Tables, charts and case studies provide clear illustration of existing inter-rela... read more

A mere ten percent of Germany’s surface waters achieve “good ecological” status.  On World Water Day UBA President Jochen Flasbarth said, “Many rivers, lakes and streams have become generally clean.  Oxygen deficiency now occurs only rarely. However, there are still too many rivers and streams in Germany that have been narrowed and straightened. As a result, only a few bodies of water achieve posi... read more

As of 22 March 2010 onwards new environmental provisions will apply to wood-fired heating systems, stoves and other small combustion plants fired with solid fuels. Wood is a renewable energy source and therefore an appropriate fuel for heat generation in terms of climate protection. However, burning wood in small combustion plants indoors releases various air pollutants such as particulate matter... read more