Press

The condition of Germany's rivers continues to improve. The Rhine and many other rivers have many more fish species than 30 years ago. Salmon – once virtually wiped out – are once again at home in German waters. Some stretches of the Danube have “good” to “very good” ecological status, rating best among all Germany’s rivers. There is still a need for action along the Weser and Ems rivers.

German Environment Agency publishes annual publication Schwerpunkte 2016 and is calling for a much quicker dismantling of environmentally harmful subsidies

The nominees for the Federal Ecodesign Award 2016 have been selected. A total of 26 projects, services and concepts have won over the interdisciplinary jury for their design and benefits for the environment.

Germany and 25 other Parties to the Antarctic Treaty signed the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty on 4 October 1991, thereby laying down the toughest and most comprehensive environmental protection regulations ever agreed for any region on Earth. 37 states have signed the Protocol to date.

The German higher federal authorities responsible for human and environmental safety reviewed the joint research strategy "Nanotechnology - Risks related to Nanomaterials for Humans and the Environment ".

2,000 cities and municipalities from all over Europe are participating.

2016 has made it especially clear what is going to happen when anthropogenic climate change and the resulting warming of the Earth meet the natural climate phenomenon El Niño. Global temperatures have jumped to new highs: it has been the hottest summer worldwide and may well be the hottest on record since 1880. The numerous droughts and flooding incidents have shown the extreme side of weather.

People with higher incomes usually consume more energy and resources – regardless of whether they perceive themselves to be environmentally aware or not. These are the findings of a new study by UBA.

German Environment Agency honours four climate adaptation projects

Krautzberger: Move more goods to the rail, substitute fossil fuels.

Antibiotics used in livestock breeding and in human medicine can find their way into groundwater says a recent study by the German Environment Agency (UBA). Maria Krautzberger, President of UBA, commented: "Groundwater must stay clean. This is the reason why the German Environment Agency has issued a recommendation for a threshold for antibiotics in groundwater."

Some 2.2 million people were employed in the environmental protection sector in Germany in 2012, say updated figures from the German Environment Agency (UBA), which is an increase of 245,000 jobs (12.5%) compared to 2010. Great increases in employment have notably occurred in the services sector associated with environmental protection.