The European Commission issued a legislative proposal with seven measures for reducing waste on European beaches. The main aim of the proposal is to reduce the input of the most frequent plastic waste categories (top litter items). These are mainly single-use products such as food containers, cups, plastic bottles and cigarette butts, but also balloon sticks.
Limit values only seldom exceeded – nitrate in drinking water not present in high concentrations
Wanted: Innovative ideas for environmental protection and climate action in cities
From 27 to 29 November 2018, the German Environment Agency (UBA) is hosting the fourth European Resources Forum (ERF) and National Resources Forum (NRF) in Berlin. Both conferences have established themselves as important platforms for the scientific and political debate about a sustainable use of natural resources in Germany, Europe and internationally.
Persistent substances in the water can lead to long-term problems.
The stationary installations in Germany that take part in the emissions trading system emitted around 438 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.
The use of treated wastewater, e.g. for agricultural irrigation, can alleviate pressures on water resources. At the same time it poses risks as treated wastewater can contain pathogens and chemicals. By May 2018 the European Commission wants to publish a regulatory proposal for requirements. UBA President Krautzberger and EU Parliamentarian Wölken invited for a discussion on 22 March in Brussels.
Energy sector emissions lower, transport sector higher
The course of these streams is often straightened, changed and deepened to drain their floodplains and make them usable for agriculture.
Volatile organic compounds are partly of natural origin, partly contained in articles of daily use, and can constantly reach our nose and skin. What health effects can VOCs have? How can unwanted exposure be reduced?
Statistics for 2014 indicate roughly 6,000 premature deaths due to cardiovascular diseases which are linked to background concentrations of NO2
A research report commissioned by the UBA has analysed a range of options for designing the EU Innovation Fund (IF), a financing instrument created under the EU Emissions Trading System to support demonstration projects for low-carbon innovation in the power sector and industry. From 2019 onwards, this fund will use revenues from auctioning emissions trading allowances for this purpose.
