The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the urgently needed sustainability transformation face new challenges due to the Russia’s war against Ukraine. Especially in European societies, many initiated changes are currently re-evaluated under the unprecedented geopolitical situation ("Zeitenwende"), such as energy supply, mobility, and agriculture. The German Environment Agency... read more
sustainability
Sustainability | Strategies | International matters
Resilience in the face of multiple crises
12th – 14th December 2022, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany. Resilience in the face of multiple crises – Pathways and obstacles toward a resilient sustainability transformation. read more
Sustainability | Strategies | International matters
Preventing corruption for a sustainability transformation
Preventing corruption as precondition for a successful sustainability transformation, 14th – 16th February 2023, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany read more
Waste | Resources
Resource use in Germany
German raw material consumption totaled 1,328 million tons in 2019, or 16 tons per capita. This represents only a slight change in the trend up to 2018. In 2019, raw material consumption in Germany will fall slightly. And preliminary calculations for 2020 also indicate a decline. read more
Digitalisation
UBA application lab for AI and Big Data
The German Environment Agency is establishing an application lab for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to make AI usable for environmental and sustainability applications. As a space for innovation and experimentation, the lab will focus on the added value of AI for humankind and the environment and identify research questions on the sustainable use and operation of AI applications. read more
Water
Germany’s HELCOM Chairmanship 2020 – 2022
On 1 July 2020, Germany took over the chairmanship of the Helsinki Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea for two years. Selected pressures, the protection of species / habitats and climate change are among Germany's priority topics. The focus is on the revision of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which will be adopted by a ministerial conference in October 2021. read more
Soil | Land
Curbing overdevelopment
Average per capita land use in Germany for residential purposes alone amounted to 47 square meters in 2011 – a figure that is likely to rise. At the same time, new construction on greenfield land is on the rise, while increasing numbers of apartment buildings, other structures, and lots stand empty. In our view, this overdevelopment should be curbed, and land should be used sparingly. read more
News on Sustainability | Strategies | International matters
International Mountain Day 2018: Sustainable Alps
December 11th is the designated International Mountain Day. The day was designated by the UN to show the important role of mountain regions for sustainable development. In line with this, UBA has published a background paper describing the Alpine region on its way to becoming a model region for green economy. read more