Water is a major source of all life. Streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans are a habitats for myriads of plants and animals. In addition, groundwater is the main source of drinking water and an underestimated natural habitat. Water mainly contribute to quality of life – food, daily hygiene and recreational activities. As a source of energy, transportation medium and resource, water is also a crucial economic factor. Due to increasing competition, effective protection and careful use of the water is crucial for biodiversity and sustainable uses of this important resource.
Restoring just two percent of land to rivers and streams could help Germany achieve many of the European water protection goals.This is the result of calculations carried out on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA). According to these findings, water bodies in Germany are currently lacking about 7,000 square kilometres of land.
Anyone looking to escape the summer heat can do so in one of Germany’s many (almost) pristine bathing waters. According to the German Environment Agency (UBA), bathing water quality in Germany remained consistently high in 2024 – just as in previous years.
TFA belongs to the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). German authorities demand new hazard classification of the substance considered toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment.
Glaciers are impressive natural wonders and have a decisive influence on the stability of the planetary ecosystem. These ice masses play a central role in the global water cycle, as 70 per cent of the world's freshwater resources are tied up in glaciers.
Water bodies can contribute to climate change as sources of greenhouse gases – this is the conclusion of a new UBA study. Modified water bodies in particular emit carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Renaturalisation and the reconnection of floodplains can help to reduce these emissions and enable water bodies to act as greenhouse gas sinks.
In the summer of 2022, an environmental disaster occurred in the Oder River: an estimated 1,000 tons of fish, mussels, and snails died. This began in the Polish part of the Oder and continued downstream into Germany. The cause was a toxic brackish algae called Prymnesium parvum.
Sponge city concepts are an essential basis for adapting cities to extreme weather events such as heavy rain, heat and drought. Many local authorities are working toward that aim. However, it is becoming increasingly important to remove barriers so that towns and cities can better prepare for changing climate conditions.
The German Environment Agency's (UBA) Environmental Monitor 2024 once again presents a mixed picture of the state of the environment in Germany. While there have been successes in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, many indicators show a clear need for action.
The shallow coastal waters of the Baltic Sea are not only popular with holidaymakers, but also provide a home for many creatures in seagrass meadows, dense algae forests, rocky reefs and mussel beds.
The AOK medical insurance association, under the leadership of AOK Baden-Württemberg, together with the IWW Rhine-Westphalian Institute for Water Research and with the support of the German Environment Agency, launched a pilot study on ecological sustainability in antibiotic supply.
Handling of fertilisers in German ports can cause nutrients to enter coastal waters. This can lead to oxygen depletion in the waters and have a severe adverse effect on living organisms. During transshipment, between 0.025 and 0.00000083 per cent of fertiliser can end up in the water. Protective covers between the ship and the quay wall and cleaning of the transshipment areas can counteract this.
In a new position paper, the German Environment Agency (UBA) advises testing carbon capture and storage (CCS) in waste management.
