Press | Umweltbundesamt

With effect from 1 July 2022, food retailers with a total sales area of at least 800 square metres who offer electrical and electronic equipment several times a year or on a permanent basis must now also take back waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) free of charge. This will apply to the majority of food retailers in Germany. read more

Climate change is resulting in an increasing number of hot summer days in Germany. Tropical nights – when the temperature doesn't fall below 20 °C – are increasing. This is a particular burden for vulnerable groups in densely populated inner cities. A recent study by the UBA has systematically investigated how cooler temperatures can be realised in inner-city neighbourhoods and their buildings. read more

The European Commission has presented a draft regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides, which aims to drastically reduce their application. The German Environment Agency (UBA) welcomes the proposed regulation but believes its guidelines could be improved to ensure it works in practice. read more

The German Environment Agency (UBA) has been awarded the audit berufundfamilie certificate on 21 June 2022 in recognition of its efforts to foster a healthy family- and life-phase-conscious culture at the workplace. An online event to celebrate the award was attended by well-wishers. read more

Germany's roughly 1,730 fixed installations included in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) emitted around 355 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-eq). This represents an 11% increase compared to 2020, meaning that the 2019 pre-pandemic level was only undercut by about 8 million tonnes of (CO₂-eq). read more

The German Environment Agency (UBA) has proposed aligning VAT more closely with ecological and social criteria. The core of the "Climate and Environment Relief Package" is to exempt plant-based staple foods such as fruit, vegetables, grain products and vegetable oils and public passenger transport from VAT altogether. read more

The German Prize for Nature Writing 2022 goes to Levin Westermann. Katharina Mevissen and Hannah Zufall each win a scholarship to attend the international Nature Writing Seminar by Stiftung Kunst und Natur in Bad Heilbrunn in autumn 2022. The award ceremony will take place in Berlin on Sunday, 28 August 2022. read more

Over 96 percent of German bathing waters were rated "excellent" or "good" by the EU Commission in the 2021 season. Overall, 98 percent of bathing waters on lakes, rivers and coasts in Germany met the minimum requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive. read more