Press

The world's oceans are becoming increasingly burdened by man-made noise. This noise can disturb or even harm marine animals. An international research project entitled "Hearing in penguins", which is funded by the German Environment Agency (UBA), shows that penguins, just like whales and seals, also hear and react to noise in the sea.

A study by the German Environment Agency (UBA) is the first to undertake a systematic investigation of the fate of plastics in the environment for Germany. These plastics are the quantities that are not removed by any relevant measures after their discharge. The study shows that about 133,000 to 165,000 tonnes of plastic per year remain in the environment due to transport.

The United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Science Council, the German Environment Agency, the Government of Kenya, Future Earth, and Sustainability in the Digital Age have joined forces to act as co-champions for a new global initiative called CODES (Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability).

The UMWELT & BAUEN award recognises projects that are already realizing the idea of a new European Bauhaus in terms of sustainable building. The prize will be awarded for the second time in 2021, this time in four categories. All stakeholders in the building sector are eligible to apply by the 25 May 2021 deadline.

The "Environmental Monitor" for 2020 from the German Environment Agency (UBA) draws a mixed picture of the condition of the environment in Germany. While there have been recent improvements in air quality or greenhouse gases, other indicators fare poorly.

On 15 March 2021 the European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) in Leipzig was awarded the contract for the sale of fuel emission allowances in the national emissions trading scheme (nETS). The German Environment Agency (UBA) had put this task out to tender on a Europe-wide basis as the body responsible for the implementation of the nETS. The first sale date is scheduled for October 2021.

This is the fifth time that the publishing house Matthes & Seitz Berlin is awarding the German Prize for Nature Writing in cooperation with the German Environment Agency and the Stiftung Kunst und Natur (Foundation for Art and Nature), which was already a cooperation partner last year. The competition is under the patronage of President Dirk Messner of the German Environment Agency.

The EU Commission will award prizes within the framework of EMW in two categories to the municipalities with the most innovative and ambitious programmes. An international jury draws up a shortlist of finalists. Two German cities are among the finalists this year.

Pharmaceuticals, detergents, pesticides etc. – ever more chemicals are polluting our waters. The Trace Substance Strategy of the German Federal Government focuses on preventing further inputs of such trace substances to the aquatic environment. UBA will move ahead on work to implement the Trace Substance Strategy at a newly established Federal Centre for Trace Substances.

The Chiemsee, Ammersee, Tegernsee, and Starnberger See are a few of the 14 impressive alpine lakes in Germany that enjoy popularity beyond the borders of the Alpine foothills. Clear, cold and comparatively oligotrophic water is their common property. Excessive algal growth is rare.

Germany produced about 739 million tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions in 2020 – roughly 70 million tonnes (8.7%) less than in 2019. These are the conclusions drawn from emissions data from the German Environment Agency (UBA) which were submitted according to the specifications of the Federal Climate Protection Act for the first time. The cut in emissions achieved is the largest since 1990.

Airborne ultrafine particles can be harmful to human health. A study by the German Environment Agency (UBA) at Frankfurt Airport has demonstrated that ultrafine particle (UFP) load in the vicinity of airports can be significantly elevated. Engine emissions are shown to be the major cause, contributing 90 per cent of total load.