The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) sees excellent opportunities to renew the global economy in environmental protection. “Whereas it used to be seen as expensive and a damper to growth, environmental protection now has the potential to be the engine of prosperity in modern economies“, said UBA President Jochen Flasbarth upon publication of the annual Schwerpunkte 2012 report in Berlin. At unchan... read more
Healthy water from private wells
Nearly one per cent of the population in Germany relies on a private well for its drinking water. The Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV) also sets quality standards for the drinking water in these very small water supplies, which are typically found in rural areas. A new Federal Environment Agency (UBA) publication on healthy drinking water from private wells has recommendations for operation and... read more
REACH taking a close-up look at bulk chemicals
The bulk chemical Bisphenol A with hormone-like properties is to be subjected to a new assessment, as according to the provisions in the European Chemical Agency‘s (ECHA) action plan. The fluorinated refrigerant R1234yf used in mobile air-conditioning systems in passenger cars will be re-assessed. The EU has established its use in newly registered vehicles since 2011. The rubber additive PAN is al... read more
Who’s looking through green-tinted glasses?
How can you direct people’s attention to an urgent environmental problem? Anyone with a creative answer to this can enter the Wir und die Zukunft: der grüne Blick environmental contest. Entries can include videos, photos or even poems. The work should focus attention on one of the urgent environmental problems of our time such as global warming, plastic waste in seas and oceans, or urban road tra... read more
Emissions trading: Small installations have a choice
The EU Emissions Trading Directive allows industrial and firing installations with low greenhouse gas emission volumes to be exempted from the EU emissions trading scheme. In return, these small emitters must make compensatory payments or take measures to reduce specific emissions. The deadline for installations to file as a small emitter was 23 January 2012. The interested public may respond to t... read more
Emissions trading: UBA accepts bid on German auction platform for 2012-2013
The European Energy Exchange AG (EEX) in Leipzig has won the contract to act as auction platform for emissions trading in Germany. This temporary platform will act as forum for the auction of German emissions allowances (EUA) in the third trading period (2013-2020) through March 2013 or longer. In addition to so-called ‘early auctions’ for the third trading period, the platform will also auction a... read more
Setting the course for discovery in the bathtub
A new book encourages children ages 8 and up to dive into the exciting world of water. Excellent narration by Britta Böger, together with both funny and loving illustrations by Stefanie Saghri, come together to tell a story that focuses on many interesting topics in the world of water in a way that both young and old can understand. read more
Painkillers contaminate Germany’s waterbodies
Germany’s waterbodies and soil are showing more and more traces of pharmaceutical residues, as proven by the latest data from research projects and water monitoring programmes. Several tonnes of pharmaceutical drugs are emitted to the environment every day, mainly through human excretion. Another one hundred tonnes per year owe to the improper disposal of old prescription medicine in the toilet. T... read more
