Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) demands that those responsible for water pollution such as pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturers as well as data centers should bear the costs for a fourth stage of purification in sewage treatment plants. The EU Municipal Wastewater Directive requires manufacturers to cover at least 80 percent of the costs. Schneider emphasizes that the financing must be fair and not borne by citizens.
In view of numerous bear attacks, Romania has doubled the shooting quota to almost 1,000 animals. President Dan signed the law after a failed objection. Animal rights activists sharply criticize the move and want to involve the EU.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider wants to place greater burdens on data centers and pharmaceutical companies in the event of water shortages. Operators should pay more for water or invest in more economical cooling technology to protect citizens.
German Environmental Aid is calling for increased use of electric buses in German cities. Only in Mannheim, Freiburg and Karlsruhe do over half of the buses run on battery electric power. In major eastern German cities, the proportion is highest in Leipzig at 19.6 percent, while Magdeburg has zero percent. Almost 80 percent of buses still run on diesel power, and many cities plan to purchase new combustion buses by 2030.
German Environmental Aid is calling on German cities to make greater use of electric buses. According to a study of the 40 largest cities, only in Mannheim, Freiburg and Karlsruhe do more than half of the buses run on battery electrics. In Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Mainz and Kassel the proportion is significantly lower, although almost 80 percent of buses in Germany still run on diesel.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has called on the federal states to invest more in water infrastructure in order to counter the consequences of low water levels on the Rhine and Lake Constance. He emphasized that water is a central factor for security and the economy and that the federal states should use funds from the special fund. The Federal Network Agency warned of possible impacts on energy supplies due to reduced shipping capacities, while the IHK forecast possible economic damage amounting to billions due to low water levels in the Rhine. Schneider is planning a special conference in Berlin with EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall about a new approach to water.
On Batu Bolong Beach in Canggu, volunteers from the Trash Hero organization collect trash as mass tourism in Bali leads to environmental problems, infrastructure strain and social tensions, including deportations of foreigners and controversies over construction projects such as the planned glass elevator on Nusa Penida.
The level of Lake Constance has fallen to 2.49 meters, an extremely low value for the time of year due to the lack of snow in the winter, low rainfall and high evaporation. Shipping traffic in the Untersee has been stopped, and Federal Environment Minister Schneider is warning of a permanent rethink of how we deal with water in Germany.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider is calling for a more sustainable use of water in Germany in order to respond to drought and low water levels. He advocates water retention in the landscape, while NRW Minister Oliver Krischer calls for additional federal investment.
The low water levels in rivers such as the Rhine are putting a strain on nature and the economy. Minister Schneider is calling for a fundamental change in the way water is used, while the Federal Network Agency warns of possible consequences for coal-fired power plants.
A Suezmax-class oil tanker anchors off the island of Rügen and is causing great concern for residents and environmentalists. The citizens' initiative and Greenpeace warn of the risks, while authorities demand a safe distance.
In the Lünten Forest in Westmünsterland, a scientifically supported project will investigate the rewetting of former moor areas in order to quantify the contribution of moors to biodiversity and climate protection. The LWL Museum of Natural History Münster, the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association and the University of Münster are involved. Initial successes show the return of rare species such as willow tits and moor frogs as well as the spread of typical moor vegetation.
Under the motto “It burns!” Around 19,000 people in 112 German cities demonstrated in human chains for a new political beginning, more climate protection and social justice. The campaign symbolically reached from Karlsruhe to Berlin.
The water level of Lake Constance in Konstanz has fallen to 2.49 meters. The causes are a winter with little snow, low rainfall and high evaporation. The State Office for the Environment expects a further decline, despite announced rainy days.
At the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane lives 18-year-old koala Maximus, who is attracting attention because of his age and weight. The world's oldest koala sanctuary will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary and is committed to conserving the species, which is threatened by habitat loss, bushfires and the disease chlamydia. Experts are working on vaccines and stressing the role of zoos in species conservation.
A study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences warns that rising sea levels by 2100 could make about two-thirds of flooded land areas suitable for existing invasive species, with the North Sea particularly affected, although dikes and a lack of displacement of native species are currently limiting their spread.
The planned designation of a national park in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district is triggering a public dispute between conservationists and business representatives. While supporters emphasize nature conservation and tourism opportunities, critics warn of restrictions on forestry use and dubious economic benefits due to a lack of tourist attractions.
The flooding of the active brown coal opencast mines Vereinigtes Schleenhain and Profen could be delayed due to low water levels and falling groundwater levels, as experts from the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Leipzig planning office warn. Lake Pereser is set to become the largest post-mining lake in the region.
After a foggy start, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland can expect sunny and dry weather on Tuesday with temperatures between 21 and 25 degrees. Clouds will move in on Wednesday, followed by rain and thunderstorms. On Thursday it will cool down significantly to highs between 11 and 16 degrees with further rain and stormy winds from the northwest.
Thanksgiving Sunday in Bavaria commemorates the work of farmers while agriculture suffers from heat and drought. The harvest of grain, potatoes and fruit has declined significantly, while hop production is suffering from market overload. The figures from the State Office for Statistics show declining farm numbers and yields.
The evergreen cherry laurel, a popular garden shrub, is increasingly spreading in forests, especially in areas close to settlements, and hinders natural forest regeneration by forming impenetrable thickets. Environmental organizations such as BUND and Nabu warn of its invasive effect, which is encouraged by the illegal disposal of garden waste. While it is already causing problems in Baden-Württemberg and Karlsruhe, it is not yet an issue in the state forest. Its planting has been banned in Switzerland for two years and it is not yet on the EU list of invasive species.
In view of climate change, HessenForst is switching forest conversion from reforestation of clear-cut areas to conversion under existing trees, with beech trees particularly subject to drought stress being removed at an early stage in order to promote climate-adapted forest generations and to secure high-quality wood products, while the Hessian Forest Owners Association criticizes the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and calls for its change.
Under the motto “It's burning!”, around 19,000 people in 112 German cities demonstrated for more climate and environmental protection. The participants formed human chains that were supposed to run symbolically from the Federal Constitutional Court to the Federal Chancellery.
