Diesel passenger cars exceed European limits for nitrogen dioxide (NOx) on roads at higher levels than previously thought. In 2016 emissions were assumed to be 575 mg NOx/km, but the diesel-fuelled passenger car fleet in Germany actually had average emissions of 767 mg NOx/km. These findings are based on new calculations done on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA). read more
Hendricks: "Germany must reduce its ecological footprint to a tolerable level"
International conference discusses concept of planetary boundaries read more
Most Germans want to be less dependent on their car
Representative survey on environmental awareness by the Federal Ministry of Environment and UBA: 91 per cent said that life would be better if they did not have to depend on a car for mobility. read more
Emissions trading: Emissions reductions in Germany only minimal
The roughly 1,900 fixed installations participating in emissions trading in 2016 had emissions worth 453 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents, or 0.6 per cent less than in 2015. The lower emissions in the emissions trading sector thus did not offset the 3.8-per cent increase over 2015 in Germany’s transport sector emissions which the UBA had calculated in its short-term forecast. read more
Future-fit city: Much more money needed for buses and trains
Air pollution, noise, traffic jams, too few green spaces – these are the problems that plague many people living in cities. In a new publication UBA paints a picture of how the future-fit city might look. read more
Land take: Make goals binding
An area of 66 hectares of new land is consumed every day in Germany, with severe negative effects on the environment. UBA recommends a fixed quota regime for land and a certificate trading system. read more
Water body type 2017
Just in time for World Water Day on March 22, the German Environment Agency (UBA) has chosen the water type of the year 2017: the deep, big, lime-deficient highland area lake. This is good news in ecological terms: nearly 80 per cent of the lakes have “good” ecological potential according to the criteria of the EU Water Framework Directive. read more
Climate footprint 2016: Transport sector and cool weather cause spike in emissions
Nearly 4 million tons more greenhouse gases emissions than in 2015 – transport sector tops 1990 levels read more