Press | Umweltbundesamt

The free Daten zum Verkehr [Transport Data] brochure published by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) provides an overview of current developments on roads, railroads, and in the aviation and shipping sectors. Its focus is on the impact on soil, air and water of our present system of passenger and freight traffic. Tables, charts and case studies provide clear illustration of existing inter-rela... read more

A mere ten percent of Germany’s surface waters achieve “good ecological” status.  On World Water Day UBA President Jochen Flasbarth said, “Many rivers, lakes and streams have become generally clean.  Oxygen deficiency now occurs only rarely. However, there are still too many rivers and streams in Germany that have been narrowed and straightened. As a result, only a few bodies of water achieve posi... read more

As of 22 March 2010 onwards new environmental provisions will apply to wood-fired heating systems, stoves and other small combustion plants fired with solid fuels. Wood is a renewable energy source and therefore an appropriate fuel for heat generation in terms of climate protection. However, burning wood in small combustion plants indoors releases various air pollutants such as particulate matter... read more

The President of the Federal Environment Agency Jochen Flasbarth has made an appeal to the energy supply sector to focus all efforts on ensuring a 100-percent coverage of electricity supply through renewable energy by mid-century. Climate protection dictates that fossil fuels gradually be replaced by renewable energies.  At the 2nd EVU summit in Heiligendamm, UBA President Jochen Flasbarth said to... read more

It is in each and everyone’s own hands to prevent the production of greenhouse gases when planning holiday travel. For those who cannot avoid air travel there is still a way to make a voluntary commitment to compensate for emissions. However, the money must be spent on sensible and effective projects. The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has issued... read more

According to initial calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), total greenhouse gas emissions The contents of this press release refer to emissions only. Land use and changes to use are not taken into account. in Germany at the end of 2009 had declined by some 80 million tonnes (minus 8.4 percent) over 2008 levels. Since 1990 Germany had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 28.7 per... read more

More than 155,000 tonnes of what is sometimes hazardous electronic waste are exported annually from Germany to non-European destinations, a volume which includes some 50,000 tonnes of PC and television monitors alone. The latter often contain metals as well as flame-retardant bromide compounds such as hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ether (PentaBDE). Even defective appliances are often re-classi... read more

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will be present with information about green information and communications technology, also known as green IT, at the CeBIT computer trade fair held 2-6 March 2010 in Hannover. Visitors to the booth in Hall 8 will learn about the environmental strain caused by computers and the like and how it can be relieved. One example: the production of a single new laptop... read more