Following the UN Climate Conference in Cancun, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) believes that greater efforts to protect the climate are both necessary and feasible in the European Union (EU). “The 20-percent GHG reduction target set to date is not an ambitious climate protection goal. Other EU members should follow the lead set by Germany’s ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 40 percent... read more
Packaging materials 2008: Recycling rates rose, consumption declined
Consumption of packaging in 2008 declined by 0.4 percent over 2007. A total volume of 16.04 million (mn) tonnes of packaging was logged as a result of consumers‘ collecting waste separately and from other sources. “Separate collection and recycling of packaging wastes occur at high rates in Germany,“ explains UBA President Jochen Flasbarth. The recycling rates achieved for various packaging materi... read more
Balancing emissions - protecting the climate
Climate protection is mainly about avoiding emissions at home, but a system of voluntary carbon offsetting through projects abroad makes it possible to do even more to protect the climate. However, who the providers and users of offsetting services in Germany are and which emission certificates are used remains largely unknown. Two recent studies done on behalf of the German Emissions Trading Auth... read more
Mercury from burst energy saving lamps
Energy saving lamps, or compact fluorescent lamps as the experts call them, are good for the climate but contain small amounts of mercury. Should a lamp burst the toxic heavy metal can escape to indoor air. The first basic sampling of two lamps done by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) revealed that mercury pollution immediately after breakage can be 20 times over the guideline limit of 0.35 mi... read more
Global warming: Pioneers of change wanted!
Pro-active parties who are adapting now to climate change are sought in a new contest launched by the Federal Ministry for Environment (BMU) and the Competence Center on Global Warming and Adaptation at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). Exemplary local and regional initiatives in climate change adaptation are wanted up to the 2 April 2011 deadline. There are many good beginnings in the areas o... read more
Extreme weather events require precautions and adaptation
Climate change leads to extreme weather events which pose health risks. On the occasion of an international symposium in Bonn Environment State Secretary Jürgen Becker said: ”Taking precautions against climate change is our top priority. Adapting quickly to changed conditions is necessary, and it is feasible.” Dr Srdan Matic, Environment and Health Coordinator for the WHO Regional Office for Europ... read more
International regulation of fluorinated greenhouse gases
The Federal Environment Agency sees a necessity for clear regulation of fluorinated greenhouse gases that is binding by international law so as to prevent an increase of their emissions worldwide. Since fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases, were developed primarily as a substitute for ozone-depleting fluorochlorinated hydrocarbons (CFC) the Federal Environment Agency applauds the addition to p... read more
Everyone - environment, economy, and consumers - stands to gain from conserving resources
According to the latest results of the Environmental-Economic Accounting of the Federal Statistical Office and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany is making steady progress in the area of protection of resources. The Federal government goal of doubling raw materials efficiency by 2020 over its 1994 level cannot be achieved with the measures in place up to now. Although raw materials effi... read more
