Publications

Environmental protection has developed into an important factor in the German economy. This can be seen from the development of the environmental economy, a cross-sectoral industry comprising all businesses that supply environmental goods and services.

We are all aware of the importance of climate protection. We are also aware that time is running out. What is needed is the creation of a climate-neutral society where the amount of CO₂ and other climate-damaging gases released into the environment does not cause further damage. We must start now and make essential elements of a climate-neutral lifestyle part of our daily lives.

The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) intends to enable farmers to engage in multifunctional production by providing incentives or compensating farmers for measures and public goods not sufficiently remunerated by the markets but for which there is a societal demand.

In this issue:

• Strategies for more environmental justice
• Berlin pilot project on environmental justice
• Research and activities from Germany and Switzerland

Climate protection strategies today basically pursue two approaches: Firstly, measures should be taken to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emisssions. Secondly, measures should be implemented that enable humans and the environment to adapt to unavoidable climate change.

Official implementation of the Water Framework Directive on 22 December 2000 marked the beginning of a new era in the annals of water management. The Water Framework Directive sets the ambitious goal of attaining “good status” for Europe’s rivers, lakes, groundwater bodies and coastal waters by 2015 in accordance with a clearly defined timeline.

Recycling of Household Waste in Armenia: Personnel training, data collection including waste analyses, recommendations for waste management actions. -- Final Report.

The Federal Environment Agency’s mission is to provide sciencebased advice to the German Government. The Agency’s core activities include early identification of problems, identifying current or foreseeable environmental impacts as well as potential environmental issues and develop solutions to face these hazards.

Man has used land for agriculture for thousands of years. Now as before far more than one million people work in agriculture in Germany. Agriculture serves, first of all, to feed the population - either directly by cultivating food or indirectly by producing fodder for livestock. Lately agriculture has also become an energy supplier producing energy plants for use in biomass power stations.

Beschreibung

Even if we succeed in achieving the EU target of reducing global warming to 2°C, it will be absolutely essential to adapt to changing climatic conditions. The greenhouse gases cur-rently present in the atmosphere will influence the climate in coming decades.

There is no doubt that climate gas emissions must be drastically reduced and this applies to traffic in urban areas as well. The good news is that it could also provide an opportunity to enhance quality of life in towns and cities. The result could be a lively town, a pleasant atmosphere, fewer traffic jams, less noise and  more space for cyclists and pedestrians.