Umweltbundesamt
Germany emitted 728.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020. This is around 71 million tonnes or 8.9% less than in 2019, and 41.3% less compared to 1990, according to the results of final calculations submitted by the German Environment Agency (UBA) to the European Commission. Emissions have fallen most significantly in the energy sector. read more
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) generated 5.3 billion euros for Germany through auctioning in 2021, a sum double that in 2020. An additional 7.2 billion euros was generated through sales of certificates in the new national emissions trading system (nEHS), which came into effect in 2021 and targets the heat and transport sectors. read more
Dear Reader,The website Distributing Drinking Water, Evaluation Criteria and Guidelines has been updated as follows:The information document Information on the evaluation of starting substances for cementitious materials in contact with drinking water has been revised.Your department for Drinking Water and Swimming Pool Water Hygiene at UBA. read more
Dear Reader,On the website distributing-drinking-water/ approval and harmonization – 4MS initative the following update has been made due to the further inclusion of materials:The following document has been updated in the navigation box „documents“:Common Approach on Metallic Materials - Part B: Positive List of compositionsDepartment for Drinking Water and Pool Water Hygiene read more
Sales volumes of plant protection products (pesticides) in the agricultural sector remain high, says data from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). After a temporary decline in sales in 2018/2019, farmers demonstrated greater demand for specific problematic active substances, including insecticides that are dangerous to bees and herbicides critical to groundwater. read more
The share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption will decline in 2021 – from 45.3 percent in 2020 back down to a level similar to 2019 of around 42 percent. While total electricity consumption increased, five percent less electricity was generated from renewable sources than in the previous year due to weather conditions. read more
Dear readers,They are bad for the climate, often also for air quality and our health and cost Germany many billions of euros every year. We’re talking about environmentally harmful subsidies. This issue of the newsletter "UBA aktuell" deals with how Germany can reduce these and, in doing so, also gain financial leeway for socio-ecological change. Other topics: How can health and the environment be... read more
The construction sector is the second-largest consumer of plastics with a volume of some 2.6 million tonnes used in 2017. However, proper guidelines for the recycling of plastic building products are still lacking, and recycling volumes are not recorded adequately. read more
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
