Environmental Report 2002

1,31
MB

179
stron

5855
ID Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear

2002
rok Safety

Contents:

Dear readers, . 2

Contents:. 4

I. Introduction 10

I.1. Ecological modernisation 10

I.2 From idea to implementation – fundamental principles .10

Sustainable and future-proof? Of course! 10

Making Germany future-proof: Ecological renewal11

The national sustainability strategy .11

The overall context is important – Integration of environmental protection13

Ecology and economy – two sides of the same coin .13

I.3 Being practical – The tools of ecological modernisation 15

Flexible methods, inflexible objectives .15

II Working together towards sustainability – The role of the social groups 17

II.1 Environmental awareness – A key issue 18

II.2 Get involved: Taking part in environmental policy 20

Federal Government strengthens involvement .21

Environmental and nature conservation organisations – Important allies of environmental policy 22

Environmental responsibility on the part of private industry 22

Community participation – Local Agenda 21 24

Working together for the future – Gender mainstreaming.25

II.3 Well-armed: Environmental education and information.27

Environmental protection from childhood – Environmental education is vital27

Who? How? What? - The importance of environmental information.28

Information online .28

Setting an example 29

III International challenges.30

III.1 Europeanisation and globalisation of environmental policy30

III.2 Strengthening the process of ecological modernisation in Europe31

European sustainability strategy .32

Enlargement of the EU – an chance for the environment32

Environmental know-how for South-East Europe and the New Independent States 34

III.3 Environmental policy for one world .35

Advocate for the global environment: Strengthening the UNEP environment programme 36

Stepping up financing 36

Structuring globalisation.36

IV A climate of change – Climate protection and air pollution control 39

IV.1 The earth is perspiring – Getting out of the greenhouse .39

Climate change and its consequences .39

Taking responsibility and putting climate protection into practice – the Federal Government’s

policy.40

The national climate protection strategy41

How can the reductions be achieved? - Implementation.44

Climate protection – Ecologically essential, and economically rich in opportunities .46

Climate policy as a European and a global challenge47

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 48

Climate protection – Unthinkable without the EU .50

What is the way forward? - The next steps in international climate policy51

IV.2 Preserving the earth’s protective shield – protection of the ozone layer .51

We can manage without CFCs – the Montreal Protocol .52

No time to be idle – Protecting the ozone layer is an on-going task.53

Effective protection of the ozone layer – The EU’s activities 54

IV.3 Air pollution control55

A cross-media approach .55

Air to breathe – The Federal Government’s measures 55

Improving air quality throughout Europe .57

Summer smog .59

V New energy for the future – the phasing out of nuclear power and the new direction in energy

policy61

V.1 Global and national energy supply – not yet sustainable.61

Using energy, but consuming fewer environmental resources: Increasing energy efficiency.65

The ecological tax reform.66

Tapping the energy supply of the future: Renewable energy sources 68

A breakthrough for renewable energy sources – The Renewable Energy Act .69

Investing in the future – Promotion programmes for renewable energy sources 71

Solar, wind and other sources – The development of renewable energy sources73

Market power for renewable energy resources – Liberalised market structures 76

V.3 Nuclear safety and new disposal methods .77

A particular challenge – Nuclear safety77

Safety in nuclear power stations .77

If something does happen – Hazardous incidents 78

Chernobyl – The aftermath.78

Safety in east and west – Enlargement of the European Union .79

A radioactive legacy – The new disposal concept .79

What to do with the irradiated waste? - The quest for a repository site .81

Organised disposal – The national disposal plan 81

VI The environment and transport 83

VI.1 A growing economy, greater individualisation, and escalating traffic volumes 83

VI.2 More mobility – Fewer environmental impacts .88

Strategies for eco-friendly mobility88

Less is more – Traffic avoidance .88

Road traffic is not the only option – Rerouting traffic .89

Mobility and climate protection are not diametrically opposed – Economic instruments show the way

90

Putting less into the air – More sustainable transport through better technology92

Loud is out: Noise abatement .95

We can all do our bit – Eco-friendly mobility 96

New eco-friendly routes – The construction of transport routes 96

VII Live and Health .98

VII.1 Environment and health .98

Risk prevention and health protection .98

The action programme “Environment and Health”98

Chemical safety .99

Getting the chemistry right – Chemicals legislation in the European Union.99

The new Biocide Act 101

Chemicals with hormone-like effects .101

Reducing persistent toxins worldwide: The Stockholm Convention (POP Convention) .101

Controlled international trade in chemicals – the Rotterdam Convention102

Environmental radioactivity and radiation 102

Protection against electromagnetic fields.104

Responsible handling of genetic engineering .106

VII.2 Conservation of resources: Avoiding waste and closing substance cycles .108

Sustainable waste policy.108

Departure from the throw-away society – The same quality of life with less waste.109

New provisions governing individual product groups 110

Sustainable waste management thanks to new regulations for industrial and commercial waste115

Improved provisions for waste disposal .117

VII.3 Sustainable management of soil and land 119

Soil – A talented all-rounder .119

The target of sustainable development: A trend reversal in land use.119

Soil conservation demands European and international cooperation 123

VIII Conserving natural resources .125

VIII.1 Nature: More than just rare plants and obscure insects 125

Nature – Our threatened natural resource .125

Implementing modern nature conservation – The Federal Government’s policy .126

Nature conservation is international 131

The Wadden Sea – A unique habitat .134

VIII.2: Environmentally compatible agriculture and forestry.135

Land use and environmental protection belong together 135

The turning point in agriculture has begun 136

The forest – Habitat and recreation space .141

The forest – Still at risk 141

Conserving the forest – The Federal Government’s policy.142

More than just protection of the rain forests – Forest protection worldwide .144

VIII.3: Water is life – water management and marine conservation146

Many successes, ambitious challenges – Water protection in Germany147

The problem of nutrient discharges: Integrated solutions .147

New water legislation for Europe: The Water Framework Directive .148

Reducing pollution – Other measures by the Federal Government.149

Protection of river basins: Beyond national borders150

We don’t want to be up to our necks in water – Preventive flood alleviation 150

The contamination cannot go on – Marine conservation in peril 151

Water is life: International Freshwater Conference.152

Improved water supply through greater competition? 153

REGISTER154