According to initial calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), total greenhouse gas emissions The contents of this press release refer to emissions only. Land use and changes to use are not taken into account. in Germany at the end of 2009 had declined by some 80 million tonnes (minus 8.4 percent) over 2008 levels. Since 1990 Germany had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 28.7 per... read more
Export of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): plenty of gold, and poison, too
More than 155,000 tonnes of what is sometimes hazardous electronic waste are exported annually from Germany to non-European destinations, a volume which includes some 50,000 tonnes of PC and television monitors alone. The latter often contain metals as well as flame-retardant bromide compounds such as hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ether (PentaBDE). Even defective appliances are often re-classi... read more
CeBIT 2010: Protecting climate and resources with Green IT
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will be present with information about green information and communications technology, also known as green IT, at the CeBIT computer trade fair held 2-6 March 2010 in Hannover. Visitors to the booth in Hall 8 will learn about the environmental strain caused by computers and the like and how it can be relieved. One example: the production of a single new laptop... read more
Aircraft noise causes illness
About one third of the population has voiced problems concerning aircraft noise, according to a representative survey done by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). Five million people report severe disturbance. The complaints lodged by the population are justified, as also reflected in a new UBA study by Prof. Greiser titled Risikofaktor nächtlicher Fluglärm [ Risk factor night-time aircraft noise... read more
New energy saving seal divulges power guzzlers
Hamburg/Berlin/Haan, 1 March 2010 - Variations on the theme of GreenIT are once again in fashion at this year’s CeBIT trade fair in Hannover. Producers are introducing low-energy computers-which have up to now mostly been relegated to a niche existence on the market. This is all the more reason for consumers to have a look at power consumption when shopping at retailers’ for consumer electronics,... read more
Fast, simple and competent: 1,400 producers already logged in Battery Act register
The register set up through the Act Concerning the Placing on the Market, Collection and Environmentally Compatible Waste Management of Batteries and Accumulators (Batteriegesetz - BattG) is off to a successful start. Since 1 December 2009 more than 1,400 producers representing more than 4,800 brand names have announced their presence on the market. Yet these numbers do not by far include all the... read more
Emissions trading: Emissions allowances for 2010
The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency has met its 28 February deadline to allocate emissions allowances for 2010. Some 1,600 operators will receive some 390 million free emissions allowances from the annual budget of a total 451.86 million allowances. read more
Federal Environment Agency: Possible safety risks in mobile air conditioning systems?
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has spoken in favour of use of the natural refrigerant R744 and against the use of the perfluorinated hydrocarbon HFC-1234yf (tetrafluoropropene) as a refrigerant in mobile air conditioners. German manufacturers in particular have up to now shown preference for the natural refrigerant R744 (CO2), yet a clear and final decision taken by the automotive industry... read more
