Topics | Umweltbundesamt

Primary raw material use per capita, or the raw material footprint, decreased only by 1 % between 2010 and 2021.These figures include raw materials which were required for the production of consumed goods at home and abroad.German raw material consumption is too high by international comparison and is to be reduced further. read more

The efficiency with which an economy uses energy can be measured by the "final energy productivity" indicator.Between 2008 and 2022, final energy productivity increased by 26%.Reducing energy consumption is more important than increasing energy productivity.The European "Energy Efficiency Directive" and the German "Energy Efficiency Act" set ambitious targets for reducing final energy consumption. read more

In 2019 the indicator was at 75.3 percent and remains far from the target value of 100 percent.Particularly the values of the sub-indicators for agricultural land and inland waters have shown a negative development in recent years.In the German Sustainable Development Strategy, the Federal Government envisages that the indicator should rise to 100 percent by 2030. Considerable additional effort is... read more

In the 2022 representative survey, 17 % said they were actively involved in environmental protection and nature conservation. In 2020, the figure was 19 % and in 2018 and 2016 12 % and 6 %.The indicator shows that the positive trend of previous years has not continued.Considering the single-digit percentages for active engagement from 2006 to 2014, the 17 % from 2022 represents a relatively large... read more

Between 2010 and 2021, the proportion of the population exposed to PM10 concentrations above the WHO guideline value decreased from 90.5 % to 20.3 %.Comprehensive measures to reduce particulate matter pollution in Germany are absolutely essential for health protection.New EU limit values for particulate matter, which are to apply from 2030 as part of the revision of the EU Air Quality Directive, a... read more

Population-weighted particulate matter (PM10) levels in Germany were significantly lower in 2021 than in 2010.In 2021, the population-weighted particulate matter exposure was 13.0 micrograms per cubic meter on average for the year. This is 33 % less than in 2010.The decrease in exposure is due to declining emissions from stationary sources (e.g., power plants, waste incineration plants, domestic f... read more

Population-weighted particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Germany were significantly lower in 2021 than in 2010.In 2021, the population-weighted particulate matter exposure was 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter on average for the year. This is 42 % less than in 2010.The decrease in exposure is due to declining emissions from stationary sources (e.g., power plants, waste incineration plants, domestic f... read more

The use of pesticides is to be halved by 2030, according to the draft EU regulation on pesticide reduction. This goal is to be verified using pesticide sales data. In the view of the German Environment Agency this method is misleading. Pesticides that are no longer approved are weighted too high. Decreasing sales figures would indicate a decreasing trend, which does not happen in the field. read more