Dear reader,It is time for the air quality in every German city to be good enough to comply with the nitrogen dioxide limit value which applies in the EU. Concentrations over the limit are a health hazard, in particular for people who suffer asthma. UBA has taken a closer look at what the decisions reached at the Diesel Summit on 2 August 2017 can do to help the situation. Read about it here in th... read more
Environmental availability of raw materials
![in einer bergigen, trockenen Landschaft klafft ein riesiges tiefes Loch mit terrassenförmigen Plateaus in der Erde](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/376/bilder/kupfermine_chuquicamata_c_carol_meneses_fotolia_26138377_l.jpg?itok=KSFjSilv&c=ea04a98d7c5054305e27add026904e4d)
The availability of raw materials is determined by more than technical-geological, economic and political factors alone: the environmental risks of mining also has an impact. read more
Round Table Against Marine Litter goes into round two
![beach with a lot of plastic waste coming from the sea](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/478/bilder/platz_6_-_hutner_petra.jpg?itok=OUUKedgH&c=953a59fc163ebee8bccfa1c962c49083)
North and Baltic Sea coasts of Germany continue to be polluted with waste – interim report presents measures against marine litter read more
Who has the best ecodesign in Germany?
![Gruppenbild der 10 Jurymitglieder vor dem Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/2743/bilder/jurysitzung-gruppenfoto-druck.jpg?itok=JzK8GwVT&c=1da94c123c778cb0188a3d81c810bbea)
On 11 September a panel jury of environmental and design experts made the nominations for this year's Bundespreis Ecodesign (German Ecodesign Award). Twenty submissions in the areas of architecture, energy, nutrition, home living, interior design, mobility and fashion can now hope to receive an award at an awards ceremony to be held 27 November. read more
Urban Mining
![Skyline einer Großstadt von oben, abends, Hochhäuser, Straßen, Schienen](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/479/bilder/stadtansicht_frank_wagner_fotolia_71146119_m.jpg?itok=-ju2vIkZ&c=92d451d6ffadb3707b8bf84a7c1fe12c)
Why not tap the enormous sources of raw materials which we ourselves have created? read more
Emissions trading: EEX holds 500th German auction of emission allowances
![Hands in front of a laptop screen showing a trading picture.](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/2546/bilder/pressmaster_shutterstock.jpg?itok=j2sj7zxq)
The significant expansion of auctioning of emission allowances instead of the almost complete free allocation is one of the central steps forward which have been implemented in the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for the current third trading period. “The allocation via auctions complies with the polluter-pays principle most consistently and, in this way, creates the biggest possible in... read more
Diesel cars: Software updates are not enough for clean air
![Eine Abgasanlage, aus der Abgase entweichen.](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w550h/public/medien/421/bilder/auspuff_stefan_redel_fotolia_2464628_subscription_l.jpg?itok=cUyjqsUH)
Trotz Beschlüssen des Diesel-Gipfels: NO2-Konzentration bleibt hoch read more
telegram environment+health - No.: 01/2017
Dear reader,We are pleased to send you the latest "telegram environment + health" by the Environmental Hygiene Department at the German Environment Agency (UBA).Topic of the new issue 01/2017: Environmental injustice inside our bodies? - Human body burdens of dangerous chemicals in Brazil and Germany.You can find previous newsletter issues in our online archive on our website.Sincerely,your editor... read more