Press release from | No. 23/2012

It’s okay to pay to protect the marine environment

There is still too much algae growth in the Baltic Se. This can be quite detrimental to its water quality, which is all the more reason why the people in the Baltic Sea littoral states are prepared to pay for its protection. Respondents in a study said they would be willing to spend roughly four billion euros to improve the ecological condition of the Baltic Sea. According to a new study carried o... read more

Press release from | No. 21/2012

Green building: part of energy system transformation

Take one solar power system, add heat pump and make sure to insulate well. Voilá, you’ve got the ideal conditions for future-oriented, green building. The Vice-President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Dr. Thomas Holzmann, believes construction at this standard is part of the necessary transformation of the energy system. “In terms of construction quality and technical standard, we are sh... read more

Press release from | No. 20/12

Scope of information about chemicals improved

REACH, the European chemicals regulation, has made a positive impact in its first five years. The enterprises concerned have registered and submitted critical information to the European Chemicals Agency on some 5,500 chemicals. This will make it possible to continue to restrict the use of substances of very high concern in the future. “This clearly owes to the European chemicals regulation REACH;... read more

Press release from | No. 19/12

Renewable energy: Huge development potential in the Middle East and North Africa

“More wind and solar energy can support economic development in North Africa and the Middle East and also secure climate-neutral access to energy for its population,” explains Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). He and Morocco’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Fouad Douiri, opened a two-day international conference on renewable energy in the Middle East and Nor... read more

Press release from | No. 18/12

Emissions trading: Germany announces interim volumes of allocations for third trading period

Free certificates will no longer be issued to power plant operators for electricity production in the third trading period (2013-2020). This announcement comes from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), where the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) is also located. Some 1.4 billion emission certificates distributed to 1,814 installations will be allocated free of charge in Germany between 2... read more

Press release from | No. 17/2012

Less greenhouse gases with less nuclear energy

Greenhouse gas emissions levels dropped in Germany in 2011 once again, as current calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) prove. Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane in particular continued to decline. The greater use of renewable energies has had a positive effect on the emissions development trend. In contrast, the level of fluorinated gases, or so-called F-gases, remained largel... read more

Press release from | No. 16/12

Emissions Trading: CO2 emissions fall in 2011 despite strong economy

At 450 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 1,640 power generation and industrial facilities required to participate in emissions trading in Germany emitted approximately one percent less climate-damaging CO2 in 2011 than in 2010. Despite a very strong economy and nuclear phase-out, the reduction of CO2 emissions has continued since 2008. According to preliminary calculations, CO2 emiss... read more

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