Topics | Umweltbundesamt

The current coronavirus pandemic has refocused attention on the fact that more than two thirds of known infectious diseases in humans originated in animals. The majority of infectious diseases that have emerged in recent years were transmitted from wild animals or farm livestock to humans. read more

The crisis has created situations and images that seemed utopian in "normal" times, in addition to the manifold, sometimes serious, negative social and socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Inner cities with less traffic, wild animals reclaiming their habitats, a reduction to the essentials. read more

Over the past several decades, the global community was following a development model that seemed unsustainable. The adopted path of development led to consequences with a potential for serious impact on the environment, economies and societies. COVID-19 crisis precipitated the situation by transforming it from a dangerous regional health threat to an all-consuming global pandemic and economic ... read more

During the early days of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic a “witty expression” did the rounds on social media in Germany. “Now the young are helping the old” - by not attending parties and staying at home. “Tomorrow (after the pandemic) the old will help the young” - by – finally – adapting their lifestyle to the challenges of climate change. read more

Irrespective of the health issues, the coronavirus pandemic that we are currently experiencing demonstrates that rapid and radical responses of governments and business, as well as rapid lifestyle changes, are possible. Suddenly, we’ve found we are able to adjust personal habits and routines (e.g. not shaking hands) read more

The Corona crisis is perceived by many as a historical caesura. As a result of a zoonosis, the pandemic with the Sars-CoV-2 virus occurred, which out a spotlight on the global interdependencies between society, nature and economic activity. The containment of the virus requires drastic measures and as a result new fundamental questions arise about the values of economic activity, ... read more

„I am sorry but we need to amputate your toe!” – This was the statement that changed everything for Erik. The 68-year-old overweight diabetic man stared at me, the doctor, in disbelief, swallowed hard, and looked down at that toe of his right foot that was totally black. This moment was the start of a long healing process of his foot, and of his life. ... read more

While the future of humanity has always been unpredictable, major challenges⁠ — like the current pandemic — have been an inevitable part of our shared history. What is different now, however, is that human beings have become the dominant force of planetary change. In other words, the Anthropocene has arrived, and with it an unprecedented opportunity to steer our collective future. read more