Reducing land use: UBA launches pilot project
![Newly-built quarter away from any infrastructure](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w400h/public/medien/bilder/Boden_Flaeche_Hausbau_Baumaterial_Kaarsten-Fotolia_804073_M.jpg?itok=vk3He7KG)
Source: Kaarsten / Fotolia.com
An area the size of 113 football pitches is designated for new settlements and transport areas every day in Germany. A solution to this problem might be the introduction of a system of supraregional trade in land area certificates whereby every city and municipality has a limited amount of land area outside of existing settlements on which new building is allowed.