Umweltbundesamt
The recycling rate for municipal waste rose from 56 % in 2002 to 67.2 % in 2023.The target set by the Federal Government of increasing the recycling percentage for municipal waste to 65 % by 2020 has therefore been achieved.However, there is still a need for action for individual subgroups of municipal waste. read more
The volume of municipal waste fluctuates only slightly over time. In 2023 it stood at 48.9 million tonnes.The target of environmental policy is the avoidance of waste generation.This target has not been achieved for the municipal waste. To reduce resource consumption, municipal waste has to decline. read more
Between 2010 and 2023, the proportion of the population exposed to annual average PM10 concentrations above the WHO guideline value of 15 µg/m³ decreased from 90.5 % to 1.1 %.Since 2019, the share of the population exposed to PM10 levels above the EU limit value of 20µg/m³ (legally binding from 2030) has been below 0.5 %—and in 2023, it was 0 %.Current measures should be mainta... read more
Population-weighted exposure to PM10 in Germany was significantly lower in 2023 than in 2010.In 2023, the population-weighted PM10 exposure was 11.3 µg/m³—approximately 42 % lower than in 2010.This decline in exposure is due to decreasing emissions from stationary sources (such as power plants, waste incineration facilities, residential heating, and industrial plants) as well as measures implement... read more
Population-weighted PM2.5 exposure in Germany was significantly lower in 2023 compared to 2010.In 2023, the population-weighted annual average PM2.5 exposure level was 7.3 µg/m³—around 54 % lower than in 2010.This decline in exposure is attributable to decreasing emissions from stationary sources (such as power plants, waste incineration facilities, residential heating, and industrial plants... read more
The proportion of the population exposed to annual average PM2.5 concentrations above 10 µg/m³ (the EU limit value legally binding from 2030) has decreased significantly in Germany since 2010.However, between 2010 and 2023, nearly the entire population was exposed to fine particulate matter concentrations exceeding the current WHO guideline value for PM2.5 (5 µg/m³ annual average).Therefore, furth... read more
According to the data of the German Federal Statistical Office, the share of area under organic farming of agricultural land increased from 2.9 % to 11.2 % from 1999 to 2024.The Federal Government aims to increase the proportion of organically cultivated areas in agricultural land to 30 % by 2030.At the growth rate of recent years, this aim is expected to be missed in 2030. read more
Between 2019 and 2023, 51 hectares of land per day were newly dedicated to settlements and transport infrastructure.Originally, the increase was to fall to 30 hectares per day by 2020. According to the goals of the sustainability strategy, the daily increase now should be less than 30 hectares per day by 2030.The Integrated Environmental Programme of the Federal Environment Ministry specifies a re... 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.
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