environmental law

There are essentially two types of sanctions: less serious offences are classified as administrative offences and are punishable by a fine. More serious offences constitute a criminal offence and can be punished either with a monetary penalty or imprisonment. Which offences are sanctioned and whether an offence constitutes an administrative offence or a criminal offence is determined by law.

Participation rights play a major role in environmental protection. The public can add weight to environmental protection and nature conservation as subjects of public interest and serve as a counterweight to economic interests. This brings more balance to government decision-making.

Immission control is one of the key areas of environmental protection law. Its aim is to reduce potentially harmful impacts on human beings and their environment (immissions) by means of risk prevention and precautionary measures.

A uniform Environmental Code shall harmonise and simplify the host of individual environmental laws.

In accordance with the German Constitution (Basic Law – Grundgesetz, GG) anyone asserting that their rights are being infringed by public authority may have recourse to the courts (Section 42 (2) Code of Administrative Court Procedure – Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung, VwGO).

Intensive agriculture is a major source of pollution and other environmental damage. It is responsible for a considerable share of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany, biodiversity loss, pollution of environmental media and threats to natural soil function.