High temperatures and heat waves are adding up to public health problems – and the impact of climate change is becoming more noticeable also in Germany. The federal states and local authorities can draft and implement heat wave action plans to protect public health. The German Environment Agency (UBA) has developed a master plan in collaboration with many experts from various disciplines. read more
Too much fertiliser: drinking water could become more expensive
Drinking water could become markedly more expensive in many regions across Germany, and it is because of the high levels of nitrate groundwater contamination. A family of four could then expect to add another €134 per year to their water bill. read more
Data on the Environment 2017: More climate protection action required
UBA's Daten zur Umwelt 2017 [Data on the Environment] publication offers a complete overview of all environmental sectors in Germany. It concludes that greater effort is required to achieve the national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent until 2020; air quality in cities continues to be too heavily polluted. In contrast, drinking water quality remains good. read more
Fresh perspectives! Art – Culture – Science – in dialogue with sustainable development policy
UBA announces recipients of "Artist in Residence" programme on the Isle of Vilm read more
Germany's bathing waters are clean machines
Some 98 per cent of the bathing waters in Germany fulfil the quality requirements of the European Bathing Water Directive. read more
International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) launched
The ISC3 is located in the UN-city of Bonn and will be the driving force enabling emerging economies and developing countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. read more
"Mobile" chemicals - when filters become useless
The German Environment Agency wants better protection of drinking water against "mobile" contaminants, chemicals which have entered the water cycle because they do not bind to solids such as sand or activated carbon. read more
One in five Germans suffers from railway noise – unnecessarily
The German Environment Agency (UBA) is campaigning for rail freight noise reduction. Solutions include cladding train wheels and brakes to reduce noise directly at the source. Financial reward for quiet trains must be increased, for example with lower track access charges. read more