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
Small combustion plants ordinance enters into force on 22 March 2010
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
UBA calls for 100 percent coverage of electricity supply by renewable energies
The President of the Federal Environment Agency Jochen Flasbarth has made an appeal to the energy supply sector to focus all efforts on ensuring a 100-percent coverage of electricity supply through renewable energy by mid-century. Climate protection dictates that fossil fuels gradually be replaced by renewable energies. At the 2nd EVU summit in Heiligendamm, UBA President Jochen Flasbarth said to... read more
More climate-friendly holiday travel
It is in each and everyone’s own hands to prevent the production of greenhouse gases when planning holiday travel. For those who cannot avoid air travel there is still a way to make a voluntary commitment to compensate for emissions. However, the money must be spent on sensible and effective projects. The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has issued... read more
Climate protection: 2009 shows 8.4% decline in greenhouse gas emissions
According to initial calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), total greenhouse gas emissions The contents of this press release refer to emissions only. Land use and changes to use are not taken into account. in Germany at the end of 2009 had declined by some 80 million tonnes (minus 8.4 percent) over 2008 levels. Since 1990 Germany had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 28.7 per... read more
Export of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): plenty of gold, and poison, too
More than 155,000 tonnes of what is sometimes hazardous electronic waste are exported annually from Germany to non-European destinations, a volume which includes some 50,000 tonnes of PC and television monitors alone. The latter often contain metals as well as flame-retardant bromide compounds such as hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ether (PentaBDE). Even defective appliances are often re-classi... read more
CeBIT 2010: Protecting climate and resources with Green IT
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will be present with information about green information and communications technology, also known as green IT, at the CeBIT computer trade fair held 2-6 March 2010 in Hannover. Visitors to the booth in Hall 8 will learn about the environmental strain caused by computers and the like and how it can be relieved. One example: the production of a single new laptop... read more
Aircraft noise causes illness
About one third of the population has voiced problems concerning aircraft noise, according to a representative survey done by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). Five million people report severe disturbance. The complaints lodged by the population are justified, as also reflected in a new UBA study by Prof. Greiser titled Risikofaktor nächtlicher Fluglärm [ Risk factor night-time aircraft noise... read more
