Sustainability and environmental problems usually have a wide range of causes, and they are often global. Solutions must therefore be found at international level. International cooperation in environmental protection has gradually become a more important issue over the last two decades. UBA's most important target groups are EU and UN institutions, the OECD and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The German National Sustainability Strategy is particularly relevant for German sustainability policies. UBA exercises foresight to develop strategies to influence developments in the long term and with due regard for processes and resources.
Fertile soils are essential for life. Their preservation is set to become one of the United Nations’ global sustainability goals, under the heading “land degradation neutral world”. A legal study commissioned by UBA looked into how this goal could be implemented at international level.
The planned free trade agreement known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), if improperly designed, could result in a softening of EU environmental standards.
A delegation of directors from Environmental Protection Agencies across Europe (EPA Network) met with the First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans to discuss a paper with recommendations compiled by the group.
The European Environment Agency has released its report ‘The European environment – state and outlook 2015'. According to the document, Europeans enjoy cleaner air and water today, less waste is sent to landfill and more resources are recycled.
What can be done with the sewage sludge which is generated during waste water treatment? How can valuable materials be recovered and pollutants prevented from entering the environment? The German Federal Environment Ministry (BMUB) invited a Polish delegation on a study tour to promote exchange between the two countries. The group visited exemplary sewage sludge utilisation plants in Germany.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has begun an advisory assistance project managed by UBA, entitled “Environmental monitoring using satellite remote sensing methods based on the example of spring flooding in the Republic of Bashkortostan/Russia”.
Poor air quality can have serious impacts on our health and the environment. How is Europe’s air quality? What are the main sources of air pollutants? How do they affect our health and the environment? What does Europe do to improve air quality?
Urban transport in the EU is undergoing a change. This is the outcome of the latest Transport and Environmental Reporting Mechanism (TERM) Report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Commercial ocean fertilization activities are now subject to an international ban, although certain research activities will be permitted. This was the decision taken by the Parties to the London Protocol on 18 October 2013 and which has now been publicised.
The Agriculture Commission at the German Federal Environment Agency (KLU) assessed the outcome for a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union.
UBA invites to participate in an Expert Workshop in Berlin on 24 October 2018. Presentations and discussions in Working Groups aim to explore options to support environmental protection of the High North from afar. International and national guests are invited as speakers to discuss environmental policy options to support Arctic, mainly addressed by more sustainable development.
