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05/03/2010

Climate protection: 2009 shows 8.4% decline in greenhouse gas emissions (13/2010)

Economic crisis causes biggest slump in emissions since foundation of the Federal Republic

According to initial calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), total greenhouse gas emissions in Germany at the end of 2009 had declined by some 80 million tonnes (minus 8.4 percent) over 2008 levels. Since 1990 Germany had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 28.7 percent as of late 2009. The industrial sector and manufacturing industry produced 20 percent less emissions.
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04/03/2010

Export of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): plenty of gold, and poison, too (12/2010)

Röttgen and Flasbarth: Study shows need for action to promote ecological recycling

More than 155,000 tonnes of what is sometimes hazardous electronic waste are exported annually from Germany to non-European destinations, a volume which includes some 50,000 tonnes of PC and television monitors alone. The latter often contain metals as well as flame-retardant bromide compounds such as hazardous polybrominated diphenyl ether (PentaBDE). Even defective appliances are often re-classified as “functional”, then usually shipped to Asia and Africa where they are only rarely recycled ecologically. These are the findings of a new study commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), which was presented at CEBIT in Hannover today.
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02/03/2010

CeBIT 2010: Protecting climate and resources with Green IT (11/2010)

Eco-design, longer use and high-standard recycling are keys to success

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) will be present with information about green information and communications technology, also known as green IT, at the CeBIT computer trade fair held 2-6 March 2010 in Hannover. Visitors to the booth in Hall 8 will learn about the environmental strain caused by computers and the like and how it can be relieved. One example: the production of a single new laptop requires an average 900 kilos of raw materials, almost 4,000 litres of water, and produces about 600 kilos of carbon dioxide emissions (calculated in CO₂ equivalents).
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