Press | Umweltbundesamt

The EU Emissions Trading Directive allows industrial and firing installations with low greenhouse gas emission volumes to be exempted from the EU emissions trading scheme. In return, these small emitters must make compensatory payments or take measures to reduce specific emissions. The deadline for installations to file as a small emitter was 23 January 2012. The interested public may respond to t... read more

The European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) in Leipzig has won the contract to act as auction platform for emissions trading in Germany. This temporary platform will act as forum for the auction of German emissions allowances (EUA) in the third trading period (2013-2020) through March 2013 or longer. In addition to so-called ‘early auctions’ for the third trading period, the platform will also auction a... read more

A new book encourages children ages 8 and up to dive into the exciting world of water. Excellent narration by Britta Böger, together with both funny and loving illustrations by Stefanie Saghri, come together to tell a story that focuses on many interesting topics in the world of water in a way that both young and old can understand. read more

Germany’s waterbodies and soil are showing more and more traces of pharmaceutical residues, as proven by the latest data from research projects and water monitoring programmes. Several tonnes of pharmaceutical drugs are emitted to the environment every day, mainly through human excretion. Another one hundred tonnes per year owe to the improper disposal of old prescription medicine in the toilet. T... read more

The air in Germany in 2011 once again had excessive levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide pollution. Mean particulate matter levels were above those of the previous four years, and nitrogen dioxide pollution remained high. These are the results of an initial evaluation by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) of preliminary measurement data submitted by the Länder and UBA. Limit values... read more

The 2011 Report on the Environmental Economy, the second after the 2009 report, presents the latest developments, challenges and prospects of the environmental economy in Germany. It shows that Germany has already made significant progress on the road to new, environmentally sound growth. Today, much less resources, land and energy are used, and fewer pollutants are emitted, than just ten years ag... read more

At all larger waterworks, the incidence of exceedence of guideline limits is rare. The example of nitrate is one of elevated concentrations sometimes occurring in groundwater, whereas in drinking water there are no such incidences. Virtually all microbiological and chemical quality requirements comply with stringent legal guidelines at a rate of more than 99 percent. These are the results of an up... read more

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is issuing its 2011 EMAS Environmental Statement today, announcing ambitious goals in environmental protection within the Agency.  “As a specialist environmental agency the Federal Environment Agency can only credibly promote environmental protection by setting a good example and proving that it works”, are UBA President Jochen Flasbarth’s comments on the in-ho... read more