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Public authorities

As Germany’s main environmental agency, we provide government employees with a full range of job related information and resources such as Web content, brochures, and conferences. We also offer concrete recommendations and guidelines on matters such as drinking water quality and indoor air quality. And if you’d like to see the government agency you work for aid the cause of environmental protection and use eco-friendly products and green electricity, then you should have a look at our helpful hints, as well as our specimen RFPs.

Waste | Resources

Resource-efficient products should be cheaper

quarry

More than 16 tonnes of metal, cement, wood and other raw materials per person are consumed in Germany every year – that’s 44 kilos per day. This places Germany at a high level compared with other countries around the globe and other EU states. These are the conclusions drawn in the resources report published by the German Environment Agency (UBA).

Chemicals, Water

Sandoz chemical spill, 30 years onward: Salmon have returned to the Rhine

Ein breiter, ruhiger Fluss. Rechts und links viel grüne Natur mit Bäumen.

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.

Health

German Environmental Survey: positive mid-term assessment

Six children on a lawn sich in einer Kette bei den Händen gefasst und hüpfen lachend in die Luft

The first half of the Fifth German Environmental Survey (GerES V) was completed at the end of May 2016. By that time, the number of participants had reached 1,326 children and adolescents and their parents, from 101 locations. The study examines the extent to which children and adolescents in Germany are exposed to environmental stressors.

Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

New Urban Agenda – Toolkit for modern cities

city of Quito

Presenting the global roadmap for sustainable urban development over the next twenty years: the New Urban Agenda. It is the key outcome of the UN Habitat III Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development which ended on 20 October 2016 in the Ecuadorean capital Quito.

Climate | Energy

Global record temperatures and flash floods in Germany – small taste of the summer of the future?

passage underground overflooded by rain

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.

Water, Sustainability | Strategies | International matters

Technical guides advise on sewage sludge management

sludgy water in a facility for waste water treatment

Two English-language technical guides are now available to countries where modernisation of facilities for waste water treatment and sewage sludge management is imminent, e.g. to comply with EU requirements.

Economy | Consumption

Employment in environmental protection breaks the 2-million mark

worker with tools and crash helmet

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.

Short link: www.uba.de/t86302en