Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 6/2018 | Umweltbundesamt

Failing to protect the environment comes at a cost

More heavy rainfall due to climate change can mean high costs in case of floods. Source: asafaric / Fotolia.com

Protecting the environment can sometimes be inconvenient and cost money. But it is even easier to lose sight of the costs when no action is taken, or when that which is, proves insufficient. And yet these costs are anything but insignificant. Greenhouse gases, air pollution and other environmental hazards damage our health, destroy ecosystems, cause animal and plant species to die out and create a considerable economic burden. As a result of the more frequent cases of flooding due to torrential rain and higher waters, climate change caused by greenhouse gases, for instance, is resulting in production outages, losses of harvests and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

It is possible to put a figure on the costs – at least an approximate one. In this respect, with its Methodological Convention 3.0 for the Assessment of Environmental Costs, the UBA has presented updated cost rates. Accordingly, one tonne of CO2, for example, causes damage to the value of 180 Euros. Extrapolated in terms of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Germany in 2016, that is equivalent to 164 billion Euros. The figure for particulate matter emissions (PM2.5) from road traffic, for example, is 59,700 Euros per tonne.

According to the latest figures from the UBA, with its considerable emissions of airborne pollutants and climate-unfriendly greenhouse gases, electricity generated by burning lignite in Germany in 2016 was responsible for environmental damage with a value of 31.2 billion Euros. That is equivalent to 20.81 Cents per kilowatt hour. By way of comparison: one kilowatt hour generated by wind energy results in an environmental cost of just 0.28 Cents. President of the UBA, Maria Krautzberger: “The steps for protecting the environment and our climate will enable us and future generations to make several billion Euros of savings through lower levels of damage to the environment and human health. This is something that we shouldn’t forget in the discussions on air pollution control or the phasing out of coal.”

Protecting the climate: continue the privileged status of wind turbines

To call a halt on climate change, it is necessary for emissions of greenhouse gases to continue to fall. This is an area in which renewable energies play an important role, with wind energy, in particular, offering considerable potential. The UBA therefore recommends continuing with the privileged status of wind turbines and avoiding the introduction of blanket proximity-based restrictions on distances from residential areas.  read more (in German)

Nitrogen dioxide pollution in 2017 – updated data available

Based on the data from the air monitoring networks in the German federal states, the UBA completes its official reporting on air quality to the EU. Following an update from the federal state of Hesse, two changes have occurred to the list of cities which exceed the thresholds regarding the average annual NO2 value: with 72 µg/m3, Darmstadt is now the third most polluted city, while Frankfurt is in 12th place, with 54 µg/m3.  read more (in German)

German environmental study on adult human health – GerES VI

As part of the German environmental study on adult human health (GerES VI), from 2018 until 2021, teams of researchers working on behalf of the UBA are gathering data on the environmental impact on the adult population. The teams are visiting the participants at home and measuring harmful substances in urine and blood samples, conducting interviews and, among others, examining drinking water, house dust and the quality of the indoor air.  read more (in German)

Lettuce plants do not absorb any pathogens from soil

In the agricultural sector, sewage sludge is used as a fertiliser. It frequently contains bacteria which can trigger illnesses in people. With the cultivation of lettuce plants in soil of this kind, these bacteria are not easily absorbed by the plants. The agricultural use of sewage sludge, however, can support the dissemination of antibiotic resistances in the soil. This is the conclusion of a UBA study.  read more (in German)

UBA study: awareness for socio-ecological change

A recent study by the UBA is addressing people’s ideas on a social change in the direction of sustainability and, as regards this situation, the opportunities that they are able to envisage for taking action in their living environment. The socio-scientific report is being published to complement the study entitled “Environmental awareness in Germany 2016”.  read more (in German)

New UMID: perception and communication of risks

How can citizens be appropriately and sufficiently informed about the possible risks? The latest edition of the UMID journal addresses the subject of the perception and communication of risks. Other topics: ultra-fine particles in the environmental air, heat-related indicators and geo-information systems.  read more (in German)

Lower greenhouse gas emissions thanks to renewable energy

In 2017, the use of energy from renewable sources such as solar power, wind power or biomass in Germany prevented greenhouse gases with a climate impact of approximately 177.1 million tonnes of CO2 (CO2-equivalents). Facts like this and many more are available in the latest Emissions Balance report from the Working Group on Energy Statistics (AGEE).  read more (in German)

How does emissions trading work?

Why is there a trading system for or with greenhouse gas emissions? Who determines the framework conditions and how does emissions trading actually work? An explanatory film gives answers to these questions and explains the contribution made to the protection of the climate by emissions trading.  read more (in German)

How can independence from economic growth succeed?

The world over, societal well-being depends on whether the ecological limits of the planet are complied with. A new report by the UBA is presenting ideas on how this can succeed in industrialised nations like Germany. Accordingly, protecting the environment should not be made dependent on a short-term increase in economic growth.  read more (in German)

Protecting quiet areas: tips for noise action planning

Places in which inhabitants of urban areas go to find peace and quiet, such as local parks, are an important part of the noise action planning according to the EU Environmental Noise Directive. To date, however, few cities have made use of the “quiet areas” designation. A new brochure from the UBA provides help with the selection of the areas and the approach and highlights the wider statutory conditions.  read more (in German)

Packaging Register: manufacturers can now register data

From 1 January 2019, manufacturers in Germany will be legally obliged to register data on certain packaging at the Central Packaging Register (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister / ZSVR). They are already able to forward this data online. In addition, inspectors who are interested in playing a role within the scope of the Packaging Act can now register in the ZSVR inspection register.  read more (in German)

1 million

Some one million employees in Germany work in organisations which comply with the strict standards of the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). With the EMAS, it is possible to achieve and transparently present improvements in energy or material efficiency, and also in the reduction of emissions, waste water and refuse, at a specific location. “Indirect” environmental factors, such as the environmental compatibility of products and services, procurement, the conduct of subcontractors and the commuting distances of employees are also documented and assessed. In addition to businesses, public sector organisations also participate in the EMAS.