Dear Reader, The coronavirus crisis is proving to be a major challenge for Germany. This does not provide any reason to neglect the climate crisis, however. Although the consequences of climate change may have become less evident due to their slower development, they could nevertheless affect the world's population far more seriously over the long term. Despite the fact that greenhouse gas emissio... read more
Employment numbers in environmental protection sector rising steadily
![worker installing a thermal insulation on a facade of a building](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/2294/bilder/waermedaemmung_u._j._alexander_gettyimages-1076509046.jpg?itok=jIXuHqe7&c=3e286086e252a6d785a2681717f79f66)
Some 2.8 million people in Germany were employed in the environmental protection sector in 2017, says a recent report by the German Environment Agency (UBA). The importance of environmental protection for the labour market has continued to grow in recent years. In 2010, 5.9 percent of the labour force was employed in the environmental protection sector, rising to 6.4 percent in 2017 . read more
Federal contest prize for environmental building: "UMWELT & BAUEN"
![moderner Holzbau mit Flachdach im Grünen](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/376/bilder/kategorie_nichtwohngebaeude_haus_2019_uba.jpg?itok=AlLj6ftI&c=a6d7e58a9a77764b076d5e333814f572)
Due to the present circumstances, the deadline for the first-ever federal environmental building award called "UMWELT & BAUEN" has been extended. Contestants now have until 22 May 2020 to submit project entries. read more
CO2 emissions per kilowatt hour of electricity in further decline in 2019
![overhead electicity line and wind power plants](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/376/bilder/stromnetz_windkraft_gina_sanders_fotolia_27507713_m_0.jpg?itok=oSe5WejI&c=0d04156b81d12992973f03f9a0cd2ce7)
The specific CO2 emission factor of Germany's electricity mix continues to be on the decline, say the latest calculations done by the German Environment Agency (UBA) for 2019. The main relevant factors which contributed to this were increased electricity generated from renewables and less from coal firing as well as prices in emissions trading. read more
Renewables cover 17.1 percent of gross final energy consumption in Germany in 2019
![Photovoltaikanlage auf dem Dach des Umweltbundesamtes in Dessau-Roßlau](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/479/bilder/photovoltaik_dach-uba.jpg?itok=5fTW3C-5&c=f7a161830c0cbf756207b24b1803f7d9)
Renewable energies accounted for 17.1 percent of gross final energy consumption in 2019. This is compared to a share of 16.5 percent in the previous year. This puts the target of 18 percent which Germany must achieve by 2020 under the EU Renewable Energy Directive within sight. These are conclusions based on current data from the German Environment Agency (UBA). read more
2019 greenhouse gas emissions in Germany declined by 6.3 percent
![in einer futuristisch anmutenden Szenerie mit blauem Licht stehen Solarpanels auf einer Wasserfläche, im Hintergrund Windkraftanlagen und Strommasten](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/376/bilder/erneuerbare_kalafoto_fotolia_76545466_m_blau.jpg?itok=BrKiDvO4&c=176a5e38a3d055251cfc79e4c51eeee6)
Germany generated some 805 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 – 54 million tonnes (6.3%) less than in 2018. These are the results of a preliminary inventory of greenhouse gas emissions taken by the German Environment Agency (UBA), which continues the positive course of development of the previous year. With the exception of the global crisis year 2009, emissions reductions in 2019. read more
Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 1/2020
Dear Reader,The German Environment Agency began the year 2020 with a major new development: on 1st January, Professor Dr. Dirk Messner became the new President of the agency. Find out more in the “UBA news” section.Another development that affected the whole of Germany on 1st January was the introduction of the compulsory retail sales receipt. This edition of our newsletter also contains answers t... read more
German environmental industry remains strong
![Windräder bei Nacht](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/2294/bilder/windkraftanlagen_nacht_bildautor_filedimage_fotolia_233216486_m.jpg?itok=JZi6pxqY&c=f2c63a6534b9114242c24809426f68c2)
Enironmental protection continues to be an important factor in the German economy. Yet, Germany’s international competitiveness has declined markedly in the past ten years. This is the result of two recent reports by the German Environment Agency (UBA) on production, sales, foreign trade and on research and patent applications in the environmental industry. read more