News

Earthworms are an important indicator of soil fertility. They aerate the soil, promote root growth, improve water absorption, produce humus and contribute to soil fertility: the new standard test method examines the impact of chemicals on individual species and the earthworm community in field trials.

The next step towards implementing the requirements for environmental risk assessment of nanomaterials: The new standard test method investigates the solubility and dissolution rate of nanomaterials under relevant environmental conditions. It therefore represents an important new building block for an appropriate environmental risk assessment within the framework of chemical safety regulations.

The German Environment Agency (UBA) has published its scientific opinion on the EU's climate policy ambition — outlining what it will take to achieve the EU climate targets and make Europe's path to climate neutrality credible, coherent, and fair.

Germany's federal agencies responsible for human and environmental safety present research needs from a regulatory perspective.

The CASRI workshop, held on 26–27 May 2025 in Helsinki, marked a strategic milestone toward a transnational sustainability R&I agenda. Experts from 14 countries and 47 organisations aligned national insights into shared priorities, reinforcing the role of Environmental Protection Agencies as co-creators of Europe’s environmental R&I landscape.

For the first time, binding requirements for the sustainability of textiles are planned for the European market. The basis for this is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, which came into force in 2024. A study of the German Environment Agency (UBA) has identified five possible product aspects for which requirements could be made and about which consumers should be informed.

How can our built environment become healthier, more climate-friendly, and more resource-efficient? Recommendations for all levels of politics and administration — from the EU to local government — were developed in the EU Interreg project NonHazCity3 and are now presented with policy briefs and a short video. The focus: digital transparency of ingredients of building products and circularity.

The German Environment Agency’s (UBA) website has undergone a major technical upgrade. We have taken this opportunity to redesign the homepage and implement a range of further improvements. Below you will find an overview of what’s new and how you can share your feedback with us.

The results of COP30 are disappointing and reflect the complex geopolitical situation that prevented substantial progress. The proposed roadmap for a global phase-out of coal, oil and gas failed due to a strong opposition. Despite immense differences, many smaller decisions and successes were achieved.

Starting on November 10th — 10 years after the Paris Agreement—the international community will once again negotiate the future of global climate action. This time, the talks will take place on the banks of the Amazon in Belém, Brazil, a symbolic location. The focus will be on new national climate action contributions and the measurability of adaptation progress.

Pollution of the environment by pharmaceuticals is a growing problem. Environmentally sound disposal helps to reduce their unnecessary entry into the environment. To address this issue the German Environment Agency has set up the portal ‘Pharmaceuticals and the environment.’ It provides information and recommendations for pharmaceutical and medical professionals as well as for consumers.

In 1985, the first German Environmental Survey on Health (GerES) was launched. Since then, this series of surveys has been investigating the exposure of the German population to pollutants. The data are used to inform the public. It also provides an important scientific basis for policy decisions on environment, health, and chemicals. Here’s a timeline of the survey's major milestones.