Press | Umweltbundesamt

For the first time, Germany is cancelling certificates from the European Emissions Trading System to secure the climate effect of the statutory coal phase-out. In total, certificates corresponding to 514,000 tonnes of CO₂ will be withdrawn from the market. This measure is the result of the shutdown of the Neurath A and Frechen power plant units in 2022, as stipulated by the Coal Phase-Out Act. read more

Anyone looking to escape the summer heat can do so in one of Germany’s many (almost) pristine bathing waters. According to the German Environment Agency (UBA), bathing water quality in Germany remained consistently high in 2024 – just as in previous years. read more

Factoring in the environmental costs of fossil fuels—such as through CO₂ pricing—drives up the cost of petrol, oil and gas. A new study commissioned by the German Environment Agency (UBA) explores how climate and environmental protection policy can be both ambitious and socially fair. Fair burden-sharing is a key pillar of socially just environmental policy. read more

Around 60 percent of all biodiversity on Earth is found in the soil. Soil organisms ensure fertile soil and clean drinking water, build up humus and break down pollutants. And yet, there is often a lack of information on the actual condition of soil organisms in Germany. read more

Climate change can have not only devastating physical consequences for people and the environment, but can also have a significant impact on the human psyche. For example, extreme weather events can trigger post-traumatic stress disorders, while concern over our livelihoods can lead to anxiety about the future and depression. read more

To mark National Heat Action Day, the German Environment Agency (UBA) has published a study on heat-related mortality in Germany. For over four years, researchers from the UBA and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have worked to refine the calculation of heat-related deaths in Germany. It was found that around 3,000 heat-related deaths in Germany occurred in both summer 2023 and 2024. read more

A large number of fish in German rivers are contaminated with rat poison residues. For the first time, an extensive laboratory study commissioned by the German Environment Agency has investigated the effects of rodenticides on fish health. The result: Even at the concentrations measured in the livers of wild fish, severe symptoms such as blood clotting disorders, bleeding and anaemia occurred. read more

TFA belongs to the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). German authorities demand new hazard classification of the substance considered toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment. read more