National Implementation of Agenda 21
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Information Provided by the Government of Germany to the
United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development
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This country profile has been provided by:
Name of Ministry/Office: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Date: 18 December 1996
Submitted by: Cornelia Quennet-Thielen
Mailing address: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, P.O.B. 12 06 29, 53048 Bonn, Germany
Telephone: (49-228) 305-2310
Telefax: (49-228) 305-3337
E-mail: g21-2004@wp-gate.bmu.de
Note from the Secretariat: An effort has been made to present all country profiles within a common format, with an equal number of pages. However, where Governments have not provided information for the tables appended to Chapters 4 and 17, those tables have been omitted entirely in order to reduce the overall length of the profile and save paper. Consequently, there may be some minor inconsistencies among the formats of the different country profiles.
All statistics are rendered as provided by the respective Governments.
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APELL | Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level |
CFC | chlorofluorocarbon |
CGIAR | Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research |
CILSS | Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel |
EEZ | exclusive economic zone |
ECA | Economic Commission for Africa |
ECE | Economic Commission for Europe |
ECLAC | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean |
ELCI | Environmental Liaison Centre International |
EMINWA | environmentally sound management of inland water |
ESCAP | Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
ESCWA | Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia |
FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
GATT | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
GAW | Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO) |
GEF | Global Environment Facility |
GEMS | Global Environmental Monitoring System (UNEP) |
GEMS/WATER | Global Water Quality Monitoring Programme |
GESAMP | Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution |
GIPME | Global Investigation of Pollution in Marine Environment (UNESCO) |
GIS | Geographical Information System |
GLOBE | Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment |
GOS | Global Observing System (WMO/WWW) |
GRID | Global Resource Information Database |
GSP | generalized system of preferences |
HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
IAP-WASAD | International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development |
IARC | International Agency for Research on Cancer |
IBSRAM | International Board of Soil Resources and Management |
ICCA | International Council of Chemical Associations |
ICES | International Council for the Exploration of the Sea |
ICPIC | International Cleaner Production Information Clearing House |
ICSC | International Civil Service Commission |
ICSU | International Council of Scientific Unions |
IEEA | Integrated environmental and economic accounting |
IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
IGADD | Intergovernmental Authority for Drought and Development |
IGBP | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (ICSU) |
IGBP/START | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training |
ILO | International Labour Organisation |
IMF | International Monetary Fund |
IMO | International Maritime Organization |
INFOTERRA | International Environment Information system (UNEP) |
IOC | Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |
IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
IPCS | International Programme on Chemical Safety |
IPM | integrated pest management |
IRPTC | International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals |
ITC | International Tin Council |
ITTO | International Tropical Timber Organization |
IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships |
OECD | Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
PGRFA | plant genetic resources for agriculture |
PIC | prior informed consent procedure |
SADCC | South African Development Co-ordination Conference |
SARD | sustainable agriculture and rural development |
UNCTAD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
UNDRO | Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator |
UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund |
UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
UNU | United Nations University |
WCP | World Climate Programme (WMO/UNEP/ICSU/UNESCO) |
WFC | World Food Council |
WHO | World Health Organization |
WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
WWF | World Wide Fund for Nature (also called World Wildlife Fund) |
WWW | World Weather Watch (WMO) |
The high standard of environmental protection in Germany is recognised at an international level and was also confirmed in 1993 in the OECD environmental audit. Clear environmental improvements have been brought about since the early 1980s in particular - especially in water protection and air pollution control. 95% of all households are connected to the public sewerage system. Waste water is treated according to the state of the art. Biodiversity in the Rhine is at levels not seen since the start of the century. Air pollution, too, has been greatly reduced by the installation of filters and catalytic converters as well as by modern heating and process technology. Even in large cities and industrial regions, "smog" is practically a thing of the past.
The progress achieved is largely based on a continuation of the threshold values for the emissions and for the discharge of pollutants into bodies of water. In this connection, measures were taken for all categories of polluters (power stations, commerce and industry, traffic, households, etc.). For example, the implementation of these threshold values for existing installations, both in the field of power stations and of industry, is of particular significance.
The environmental improvements achieved required high investments by industry and local authorities but, at the same time, led to considerable cost reductions in other sectors. Examples of this are the drop in material damage to buildings, technical constructions and cultural monuments as a result of improved air quality, as well as savings in operational costs, e.g. by more efficient energy use.
In 1990 the main focus of action of German environmental policy shifted. Climate protection, the move into a closed substance cycle economy that uses resources sparingly and - following the completion of German unity - the creation of the same ecological level of living conditions in the new Länder moved to the fore.
The Federal Government's climate protection programme, containing more than 110 measures in the most varied fields of action from traffic and housing construction to waste recovery and agriculture, clearly shows that the challenges of climate protection can only be met by a comprehensive overall strategy affecting all areas of policy. Even individual consumer decisions were put up to the ecological test for the first time. CO2 emissions in Germany decreased by 12.7% between 1990 and the end of 1995.
The implementation of the closed substance cycle economy is already bearing first fruit. After growing for decades, the waste volume fell by 10% between 1990 and 1993. In the same period the recovery quota rose from 20 to 25%. More and more raw materials are being managed with a life cycle approach.
In the new Länder a modern and clean industrial culture has already come about within a few years. The water quality of the Elbe has improved by several categories; air pollution has fallen by 50 to 70%.
Since the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio the international activities in the field of climate protection and biological diversity have gained in significance. In addition to the activities to flesh out the conventions signed in 1992, for which Germany took on an active role in hosting COP 1 to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Berlin in 1995, many activities to promote the transfer of technology in the environmental sector are taking place in cooperation with politics and business. Traditionally, the transfer of technology and the adaption of existing technology to the special needs of developing countries forms an integral part of Germanys development cooperation. The foundation of the International Transfer Centre for Environmental Technology (Internationales Transferzentrum für Umwelttechnik - ITUT) in Leipzig deserves particular mention.
In view of the forthcoming amendment of the Nature Conservation Act as well as the Federal Soil Conservation Act, issues of land use - which are central to biological diversity - have also come to the fore in national environmental policy. In particular, the agriculture, transport and urban development ministries will be increasingly involved in the strategies to bring about sustainable development.
Economic incentives should increasingly be used to mobilise the creativity and the environmental policy responsibility of industry and consumers for sustainable development. In this connection the efficiency of the solutions to the problems will play an important role in view of limited material resources. The trend is towards process and product integrated environmental protection strategies taking precedence over remedial filter and cleaning techniques.
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GERMANY
1. Key National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism(s)/Council(s). Federal Government of Germany
Contact point (Name, Title, Office): 1. Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), Section 412, Ministerial Counsellor Hans-Peter Schipulle 2. Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Section G II 1, Ministerial Counsellor Mrs. Cornelia Quennet-Thielen
Telephone: (1) 49/228-5353745; 2) 49/228-3052310 Fax: (1) 49/228-5353755; (2) 49/228-3053337 e-mail: (2) g21-2004@wp-gate.bmu.de
Mailing address: (1) P.O. Box 12 03 22, 53045 Bonn, Germany (2) P.O. Box 12 06 29, 53048 Bonn, Germany
2. Membership/Composition/Chairperson 2a. List of ministries and agencies involved: The Federal Chancellor and all Federal Ministries
2b. Names of para-statal bodies and institutions involved, as well as participation of academic and private sectors:
2c. Names of non-governmental organizations:
3. Mandate role of above mechanism/council: The Federal Government (Bundesregierung) consists of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministries. The Federal Chancellor determines the general policy guidelines. Within the limits set by these guidelines the Federal Ministers conduct the affairs of the departments on their own responsibility in close coordination with other Federal ministers involved. The BMU and BMZ (see above) are jointly in charge of coordination of the Rio follow-up, particularly the implementation of Agenda 21.
4. If available, attach a diagram (organization chart) showing national coordination structure and linkages between ministries:
Submitted by (Name):. Section 412, Mr Hans-Peter Schipulle / Mrs. Cornelia Quennet-Thielen
Title: Ministerial Counsellor/Ministerial Counsellor Date: 18 January 1996
Ministry/Office: Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Telephone: As above. Fax: As above. e-mail: As above.
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NATIONAL PRIORITY: | |
STATUS REPORT: The open, multilateral trading system and the intensification of the international division of labour accompanying trade liberalisation which is called for in Chapter 2 are favoured by the Federal government as a matter of principle because of their positive impact on economic growth and development. Germany supports the work of GATT, the OECD, UNCTAD and UNEP in this area. As the first tangible result, an OECD working group of trade and environment experts presented in 1993 process-related guidelines on the subject. The Federal government also supports the work of UNCTAD on UNCED implementation, especially in the areas of trade, raw materials, technology, services, poverty and privatisation.
To accelerate sustainable development, political conditions must be created at a national level in order to improve employment possibilities and living conditions through economic development that is at the same time ecologically and socially sound. The Federal government has therefore increasingly made the political dimensions of development - alongside the traditional economic and social aspects - the content of its official development assistance.
The German Government supports the developing countries, but also the countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States, on the basis of the Rio resolutions, in the implementation of a concept for sustainable development, the establishment of the pertinent legal framework, the building up of functioning environment institutions, the strengthening of their own personnel and institutional capacities, the transfer of environment-friendly technologies, and the fight against poverty as one of the main causes for production and living conditions which are non-sustainable and cause damage to the environment.
The distribution of bilateral official development assistance among the various regions and developing countries is determined by the development status and development potential of the individual countries, and by their willingness and ability to create a framework conducive to development co-operation. The extent to which a recipient country offers a political and economic framework conducive to development, and also its own efforts, determine not only the volume, but above all the type of co-operation.
Criteria for development assistance also include the human rights situation, participation and "good governance". Within its programme of co-operation in the field of economic and social development Germany supports i.e. training centres for human rights questions, human rights commissioners and legal advisers, the equipping of organs of the legal system and printing plants for independent newspapers. It has also supported studies to examine the direct and indirect environmental impacts of structural adjustment programmes. This included the organization of international conferences at which scientists, development policy practitioneers and representatives of the World Bank, the IMF and NGOs from industrial and developing countries discussed experiences and the methodical and practical problems in the analysis of the interrelation between structural adjustment and environment. Additionally, the German Government supports specific bilateral agreements in the field of environment with the aim to facilitate the transfer of know-how in environmental protection and of environmental technology.
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1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal government is responsible for international cooperation for acceleration of sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: The Federal Republic of Germany supports studies on tradeable CO2 emission certificates.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: see page 7.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 3: COMBATING POVERTY
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
Focus of national strategy
National poverty is not an issue of major concern. The
"Bundessozialhilfegesetz" (Federal Social Assistance Law) is the
relevant legislation in force. It has been reviewed and the actual
drafting was announced on 23rd March 1994.
Highlight activities aimed at the poor and linkages to the
environment
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information available
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: German development cooperation centres on environmental protection and combating poverty as a consistent frame of reference. A third key area is education.
Germany considers poverty as one of the main causes for production and living conditions which are non-sustainable and cause damage to the environment.
The German poverty alleviation strategy is based on a definition of poverty which does not just include material poverty. The ideas of participation and self-help are two of the guiding principles of poverty alleviation. Participation means that poor sections of the population share and take part in the decision-making processes which affect them at all levels. Participation also includes the process of achieving social consensus on necessary structural adjustments and reforms.
Detailed poverty analyses have been drawn up in the context of socioeconomic and sociocultural country analyses. Poverty alleviation is sought in all sectors and areas of assistance. This orientation of development cooperation to the key area of reducing poverty is also reflected in the increasing proportion of projects directed to basic needs (appr. 44%) and projects in LDCs (not quite 30%). Special priority is given to combating structural poverty by advising governments on reforms in public finance, social policy, social orientation of structural adjustment programmes, the establishment of social funds, securing property ownership in rural areas etc.
One example of the links between environmental protection, resource conservation and combating poverty is the Maharashtra project in India, supported by the Federal Government, where the links between population growth, increased environmental destruction and mass poverty have been broken by improving environmental conditions in the interest of the poor.
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1995 | |||||
Unemployment (%) | 9.3 (FRG) | 7.2 (FRG) | 10.2 | ||
Population living in absolute poverty | |||||
Public spending on social sector % (1) | 29,3 (2) | 27,0 (FRG) 27,0 (2) | 31,1 (FRG) 27,9 (2) | ||
(1) Public social benefits as recorded in the
national context in relation to the GDP (2) old Länder
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 4: CHANGING CONSUMPTION
PATTERNS
NATIONAL PRIORITY: | |
STATUS REPORT: National policy objectives/focus
In 1995, a policy debate on consumption and production patterns was held at the national level, which resulted in the "Waste Management and Product Recycling Act", "The Packaging Ordinance System", "The Climate Protection Programme" and the "German eco-symbol" (Blue Angel). Policies which affect material efficiency, energy efficiency, waste reduction, reuse and recycling are directed at producers, households and civil society.
The transport sector is one of the numerous examples where the Federal Government has used brochures and advertising campaigns to inform people and educate them to behave in an environmentally aware fashion. The campaigns draw attention to the need for changes in consumer behaviour, e.g. by providing tips on buying low-emission vehicles, and it promotes the use of bicycles and public transport. Since the end of the 1980s, the Federal Government has been supporting "environmental consultancy projects" for communicating information and advice for all areas and institutions in society where products are produced and disposed of, where energy is consumed, where services are offered, or where discussions take place. Examples include: "Handbook on Environmental Purchasing", or the "Handbook of Environmentally Friendly Shopping".
National targets
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1. Decision-Making Structure: There is no central organisation in Germany that is concerned primarily with consumption and production patterns. However, individual institutions such as the Federal Statistical Office, the Federal Environment Agency or private research institutions, such as the Institute for Practically Oriented Social Research (IPOS), collect data which provide information about production and consumption patterns, e.g. energy consumption (industry/private households), air pollution, number of vehicles, kilometres travelled, gasoline consumption, air transport figures, water consumption, and others.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: In the 1995 debate on consumption and production patterns, the government, parliament, industries, consumer groups, NGOs at large, media, local authorities and academia were involved. The Stiftung Warentest, a consumer interest organization, established environmental priorities for product tests. In 1995, the NGOs BUND and MISEREOR and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy presented the study "A viable Germany - a contribution to global sustainable development".
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: In 1992, the member states of the European Community adopted the "Regulations on a Common System for the Award of an Eco-Label". This eco-label is to be awarded to products which throughout their life cycle are less harmful than comparable conventional products. The German Government is urging rapid implementation of this regulation to give the consumer a uniform, transparent and informative EU-wide labelling system. As part of the pan-European research and technology scheme EUREKA, the working group PREPARE ("Preventive Approach to Environmental Protection in Europe") was established in 1990 in order to promote product and production integrated environmental protection in industry by exchanging information and organising meetings between environmental specialists from industry and representatives of science, research and administration. |
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1992 | 1995 | ||||
GDP per capita (current US$) | 10,148 (FRG)
| 23,738 (FRG)
| 27,769 (FRG) 10,649 (new Länder) 24,436 (total) | 32,521 (FRG) 16,831 (new Länder) 29,543 (total) | |
Real GDP growth (%) | 2,0 (FRG)
| 5,7(FRG)
| 1.8 (FRG) 7.8 (new Länder) | 1.8 (FRG) 5.6 (new Länder) | |
Annual energy consumption per capita (Kg. of oil equivalent per capita) | 4,283 (FRG)a 5,473 (GDR)a | 4,369 (FRG) 5,106 (GDR) | 4,123 | ||
Motor vehicles in use per 1000 inhabitants | 450.6 (FRG) 238.1 (GDR) | 515.1 (FRG) 344.2 (GDR) | |||
a 1989
With the entry into force of the packaging ordinance and the reorganization of waste management a reduction of 9% in waste packaging was achieved within only two years. |
Government policies affecting consumption and production.
1. Goals and Agents (Stakeholders)
Indicate with a (x) those agents which your Governments policies are meant most to influence.
Agents Goals | Civil society | ||||
Material efficiency | x
| x | |||
Energy efficiency: | |||||
Transport | x | x | |||
Housing | x | x | x | ||
Other | x | x | x | ||
Waste: | |||||
Reduce | x | x | x | ||
Reuse | x | x | x | ||
Recycle | x | x | x |
Comments:
2. Means & Measures and Agents (Stakeholders)
Indicate with an (R) those agents who assume primary responsibility for any of the policy measures indicated; indicate with an (I) the agents for which the impact is expected to be especially significant.
Agents Means & Measures | |||||
Improving understanding and analysis | |||||
Information and education (e.g., radio/TV/press) | R | R | R | I | I |
Research | I | R | R | ||
Evaluating environmental claimsa | |||||
Form partnerships | R | I | |||
Applying tools for modifying behaviour | |||||
Community based strategiesb | |||||
Social incentives/disincentives (e.g., ecolabelling) | I | R | I | I | |
Regulatory instruments | I | R | R | I | I |
Economic incentives/disincentives | I | R | I | I | |
Voluntary agreements of producer responsibility
for aspects of product life cycle | R I | I | I | ||
Provision of enabling facilities and
infrastructure (e.g., transportation alternatives, recycling) | R I | R | R | I | I |
Procurement policy | R I | R | R | I | I |
Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing performance | |||||
Action campaign | I | R | R | I | |
Other (specify) |
a Can not be answered without further explanation
b The wide variety of possible strategies allows for many different combinations
Comments:
AGENDA 21
CHAPTER 5: DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
NATIONAL PRIORITY: | ||||
STATUS REPORT: Population issues are integrated into all relevant policies. A national debate on the linkages between population and environment has been held. In order to create awareness of environmental linkages, some public information activities in the context of the ICPD, social summit, 4th World Conference on Women have been conducted by the media and some NGOs. A national report was forwarded to ICPD in 1994.
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1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry of Interior (BMI) is most directly concerned with demographic issues. It chairs the National Commission on Population and Development and an interministerial working group on population issues in Germany. In order to involve women in decision-making at all levels of population and sustainable development strategies, policies, projects and programmes, the government encourages raising awareness and enacted the "2. Gleichberechtigungsgesetz" (Second Act on Equal Rights of Men and Women) and the Bundesgremien-besetzungsgesetz" (Federal Bodies Law) on 14th November 1994.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: DM 8,8 million have been provided in support of the multilateral organization "International Planned Parenthood Federation". On a smaller scale, support is also given to German NGOs but is not exactly quantifiable. The German Government intends to spend around DM 3,15 billion over the next seven years for bilateral and multilateral initiatives in the area of population and sustainable development, and started in 1995 with 450 million. That is an increase of around DM 100 million over the originally planned figure.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Population policy is one of the German Government's substantive priorities which it translates into action through both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The principles and objectives for the planning and implementation of projects were set out in a policy paper (BMZ concept on population policy and family planning in development cooperation, 1995). By means of an integrated approach, cooperation addresses family planning services and the economic and social situation of the population, in particular the lives of women. It also addresses health services and the educational sector. The most important multilateral partners are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). German bilateral cooperation on family planning has a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. |
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||
Latest 1994_ | ||||
Population (Thousands) mid-year estimates | 79,365 | 81,187 | 81,422 | |
Annual rate of increase (1990-1993) | 0.8 | 0,3 | ||
Surface area (Km2) | 356,978 | 356,978 | ||
Population density (people/Km2) | 228 | 228 | ||
Other data
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 6: PROTECTING AND PROMOTING HUMAN HEALTH
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
The purpose of the Action Programme on Environment and Health,
which is part of an overall strategy, is to establish a
broader base for health-related environmental protection and
environmental medicine, with a view to responding to
present and future needs in this field.
The Programme will include the following activities:
- assessing the importance of known and suspected health risks
with a view to establishing appropriate priorities;
- elaborating an overall report on environment and health in
Germany;
- developing a comprehensive concept for risk assessment and
communication;
- promoting the scientific development of environmental
medicine;
- building up an information network on environment and
health;
- developing health-related environmental monitoring;
- identifying research priorities;
- intensifying international cooperation.
The AIDS policy of the Federal Government in co-operation with the
Länder relies primarily on the readiness of the
population to inform themselves about infection risks and means of
protection and to act accordingly. Education is thus
the most important task of health policy in the fight against AIDS.
It encompasses a range of information which is
disseminated via various media to the general public and to
specific target groups and supplemented by programmes
directed at the high-risk-groups. The fight against discrimination
of people with HIV/AIDS is emphasized. Transmission
via blood and bloodproducts has been eradicated by employing
appropriate measures. Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung (German
AIDS Foundation) is supported by prominent personalities from
politics, industry and the cultural scene. Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, the
German Association of more than 120 AIDS-Self-Help-groups has
become a nation-wide self-help network.
Based on anonymous mandatory laboratory reporting the number of
persons infected with HIV is about 50.000-60.000;
14.078 cases of AIDS were registered at the end of 1995.
In order to control communicable diseases, specific programmes are
integrated (horizontal approach) in the public health
systems supported by the Federal Government.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The task of implementing
health legislation falls to the Länder. In addition, there are
numerous areas of health care regulated by legislation enacted by
the Länder (for instance, legislation governing the
medical professions or medical boards and legislation relating to
the Public Health Service etc.).
The tasks involved in public health care fall within the
jurisdiction of the various ministries and authorities at federal
and state level. At federal level the responsibility for health
care matters lies largely with four ministries. In addition to
the Federal Ministry for Health these are:
- the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,
- the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety and
- the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology.
STATUS REPORT: At the Second European
Conference on Environment and Health, which was held in
Helsinki in
September 1994, the European health and environment ministers
agreed to draw up national action plans on
environment and health in their countries. Following this
decision, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Ministry for Health
started work on a Joint Action Programme on
Environment and Health.
Important government tasks within the health care system are
performed by the Public Health Service. The Public
Health Service carries out its activities at various levels in the
respective Länder:
through the health departments of the Länder
Ministries,
through the medical departments of those Länder which are
subdivided into administrative districts, and
through the Health Offices of the administrative counties and
towns not belonging to an administrative county.
The Public Health Service is for greater part responsible for
performing the following tasks:
Prevention and control of infectious diseases,
monitoring of the water, soil and air quality levels,
generally termed "hygiene",
supervising the activities of health care institutions;
hospitals, doctors' surgeries, dentists, non-academic
medical practitioners, pharmacies, blood donor centres,
dialysis centres, emergency and ambulance services,
supervision of public facilities; leisure and recreation
facilities, bathing facilities, sports facilities, children's
playground, camping sites, airfields, harbours and
railway stations,
supervision of the trade in foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and
toxic substances,
supervision of employees in all the medical professions,
health education and informing the public on health
matters,
health care in schools,
mother-and-child advisory services,
preventive health care and health counselling and nursing care
provided to patients suffering from tuberculosis
or from sexually transmitted diseases, as well as that
provided to the disabled, to persons in need of nursing
care and those suffering from addictions,
official certifications, reports and expert opinions,
collection and evaluation of data bearing significance for the
field of public health.
The practical work at the local level is performed by a total
of 524 Health Offices spread out over the Federal
Republic of Germany.
Since as early as the turn of the century, it is especially
the larger towns which have always had the facilities to
perform the tasks of the Public Health Service at the local level.
Each Health Office is headed by a specially qualified
Public Health Officer. In addition, depending on the size of the
respective Health Office, the staff employed there
include full-time and part-time doctors and dentists, social
workers and psychologists, sanitary engineers, assistant
radiologists and laboratory assistants, socio-medical assistants,
desinfectors and public health inspectors.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
available
3. Major Groups: Particularly in urban areas, young women
are hardly to be reached via regular public health
services. New projects in the area of urban health attempt to
tackle this problem through health advice at the workplace,
as well as lay women helpers in slum areas (Women-to-Women
Project). Rural and Urban youth are a target group
which is largely neglected by regular health services, as they are
not registered either by the mother-child services or by
facilities for adults. Germany therefore supports population
policy/family planning approaches, in which young people
are included, with the objective of developing self-responsibility
and getting preventive measures
accepted.
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: The Federal
government's conception of health policy within development
cooperation follows the Primary Health Care concept agreed at the
Alma Ata Conference of 1978. Its central elements
are the strengthening of primary health provision structures, as
well as reference facilities at district levels and the
maintenance of reproductive health. Germany is of the view that
population policy is of decisive importance for the
achievement of development policy objectives, in particular for
combatting poverty, environment and resource
protection as well as the improvement of lives of women. The
government has therefore instituted measures which
make limitation of population growth a focal point of its
development cooperation in the 1990s. The core of this
strategy is to establish population-political measures as a firm
part of cross-sectoral, integrated strategies. The Federal
government currently supports about 150 bilateral projects in the
health and population sector. The realisation of
projects in the provision of basic health has shown that
decentralisation, system development and diversification of the
project executing agencies (non-governmental and State), are
required for strengthening measures. Thus decentralised
planning and the development of local capacities, as well as local
and decentralised financing models have been
increasingly promoted. Germany also supports the WHO in its efforts
in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS
through separate contributions to the Global Programme on AIDS, and
is actively involved in the HIV/AIDS control programme of the EU.
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1980 | 1990 | 1994 | ||
Life expectancy at birth Male
Female | 69.0 (FRG) 68.8 (GDR) 75.8 (FRG) 74.6 (GDR) | 71.6 (FRG) 70.4 (GDR) 78.2 (FRG) 76.2 (GDR) | 73.4 (FRG) 70.3 (GDR 80.0 (FRG) 77.7 (GDR)
| |
Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) | 15 (FRG) 13 (GDR) | 9 (FRG) 9 (GDR) | 4.0 (FRG) 4.7 (GDR) | |
Maternal mortality rate (per 100000 live births) | 21 (FRG) 18 (GDR) | 5 (FRG)a 15 (GDR)b | 5.3 (FRG) 7.5 (GDR) | |
Access to safe drinking water (% of population) | 100 | 100 | 100 | |
Access to sanitation services (% of population) | 100 | 100 | 100 | |
a 1989 b 1988
|
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 7: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENT
DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Germany has made considerable efforts to reduce
the current housing bottlenecks and provide
adequate shelter not only for the resident population but also for
the people who have emigrated to the country. In order
to expand the supply of residential building areas, new regulations
were introduced which facilitate and accelerate more
exact planning. Sustainable land management is being pursued in
various ways in Germany. Settlement development
must be carried out on the basis of carefully worked out and
coordinated urban building plans. The plans are agreed on
by local authorities after discussion with citizens. The national
building planning law states that urban buildings must
consider environmental soundness and undeveloped land must be dealt
with sparingly. Interventions in natural and
habitat landscapes may only be undertaken to the degree that is
absolutely necessary, and are to be balanced by suitable
measures. A high level of environment consciousness among citizens
ensures that the interests of the environment carry
considerable weight in the democratic planning process. The
infrastructure for drinking water supply, waste water
removal and refuse disposal is of a high standard in Germany. There
is, however, a large backlog in the infrastructure of
East German cities due to the absence of investments over decades.
This problem is being addressed with the help of
intensive financial support from the Federal government and the
Federal States [Laender]. The government endorses the
elaboration of integrated action plans in local communities, which
should lead to environmentally sound settlement
development. In the same way, communities are also heeding the
appeal of UNCED to draw up local Agendas 21. A
model project for the development of an integrated approach was
carried out on behalf of the federal government near
Nuernberg in 1993. The project has an extensive action programme,
scheduled over several years, with the result that the
town will become an ecological model which:
* offers its citizens a green, healthy and, at the same time, urban
surrounding;
* reduces the need for traffic and uses environmentally sound forms
of transportation;
* consumes less energy and uses environmentally sound forms of
energy supply and use;
* recycles a great part of town refuse.
German cities and local communities have also undertaken
considerable efforts with regard to energy consumption. The
government promotes model projects for the development of community
plans for energy supply and the reduction of
CO2, which strengthen local synergy effects in the use of
energy.
With regard to expected environmental degradation due to increasing
traffic, transport policy stresses the following:
avoidance of unnecessary traffic; switching to environmentally
sound transportation; and employment of technical
improvements.
Germany has, inter alia, by implementing EU guidelines, approval
procedures for building materials which minimise
their dangers to health.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal government, the Federal States[Laender] and local communities are responsible for promoting sustainable human settlement.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: In Germany, the building of housing for low-income families with many children is promoted through the Federal Government, Federal States and local authority offices.
4. Finance: The Federal government has introduced financial promotion programmes for the new Federal States [Laender] which help local authorities bear the costs of planning and development of residential land.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Germany participated in the HABITAT II Conference and forwarded a report on Human Settlements Development and Policy to the conference. In preparation of Habitat II the Federal government, together with the OECD, held an international conference on Sustainable Urban Development in Berlin, March 1996. The follow-up activities after Habitat II are based on the National Action Plan, adopted by the German National Committee. These activities include a national follow-up conference in Mid 1997. The international activities of the federal government in the area of local community environment and development policy are concentrated on the following: * urban development and housing supply, including integrated urban development, urban management, slum clearance and the building of housing, * promotion of sustainable land utilisation planning, with an emphasis on participatory land utilisation planning. The federal government is preparing the following initiatives in the area of land utilisation planning: * holding workshops in Africa, Asia and Latin America on the concept of land utilisation planning; * pilot projects for registration and analysis of land rights and land ownership conditions in selected regions; * holding additional training seminars on the concept of Rural Regional Development. Project examples are: * PATECORE (Burkina Faso): Exemplary development methods and implementation of sustainable development; * advising ODESYPANO (Tunisia): Support of the State Development Office (ODESYPANO) in the application of participatory processes of village and regional development; * CEBU Upland project (Philippines): Active participation of the population in planning, implementation and supervision of sustainable development and local self-administration. |
| |||
Urban population in % of total population | 85.3 | 86.6 | |
Annual rate of growth of urban population (%) | 0.7 | 0.8 | |
Largest city population (in % of total population) | 8.0 | 7.9 | |
Other data |
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 8: INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN
DECISION-MAKING
(See pages vii and viii at the beginning of the profile)
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: In Germany, there is a highly developed planning
legislation that also prescribes sparing use of land
and soil as well as consideration of nature conservation concerns.
Compensation measures are to be taken in the event of
unavoidable interventions. In addition, Environmental Impact
Assessments are used for projects with a particular
environmental relevance as contained in the EU-EIA Directive.
Germany contributes to overcoming threats to the global
environment by strengthening international cooperation in the areas
of environment and development and by constantly
envolving and adapting its national environmental policy.
Germany's policy on the care of the environment, which has
been developed over the past fourteen years, is fully consistent
with Agenda 21.
In signing and ratifying international agreements, there is an
established administrative and legal process that
considers the relationships and overlaps between such agreements.
In order to simplify negotiations at the international
level, Germany contributes actively to the ongoing discussion on
the reform of the UN system.
1. Decision-Making Structure (please also refer to the fact sheet):
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: The German Government started to check all its instruments and fields of work under development cooperation as to their relevance for achieving the objectives of sustainable development and to gear them accordingly. Already today, the protection of the environment and natural resources in the narrower sense is - like poverty alleviation - a cross-sectoral task of German development policy and, at the same time, a sectoral priority. The integration of environmental aspects in development planning is pursued in the following ways: - inclusion of the issue "sustainable development" in the policy dialogue and stronger orientation of Germany's development policy to this guiding principle, e.g. in the preparation of country concepts and through measures to enhance policy coherence; - support for the partner countries in adjusting to the requirements of sustainable development, the preparation and implementation of their own national environment policies and the implementation auf Agenda 21; - sponsoring of programmes and projects of the partner countries which primarily serve to protect the environment and natural resources; - environment-friendly formulation of all development co-operation projects (environmental impact assessment); - additional support programmes for particularly endangered eco-systems (e.g. the tropical forests) and participation in the pertinent international initiatives; - contributions to regional endeavours aiming to achieve sustainable development and the reduction of key global dangers to the environment.
|
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 9: PROTECTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
The Montreal Protocol and its Amendments were ratified in
1992.
The latest report to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat was prepared
in 1996.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
was ratified on 9th December 1993.
The first report pursuant to the UNFCC secretariat was submitted
in 1994. A supplementary report on projections of
greenhouse gases and a Greenhouse gas inventory were submitted in
1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
The Government promotes policies and programmes in the fields
of energy efficiency, environmentally sound and
efficient transportation, industrial pollution control, sound
land-use practices, sound management of marine resources and
management of toxic and other hazardous waste. The Government and
the scientific community carried out studies on
health effects resulting from air pollution and depletion of the
ozone layer. Examples of the most important studies can
be found in:
* Results of the 4th session of the Status Colloquium of the
project "environment and health"
* MAK und BAT-Werte Liste 1995, conducted to examine health harmful
work substances.
Methodologies to identify threshold levels of atmospheric
greenhouse gas concentrations have not been developed,
but, in the area of environment and transport, observations of
emissions are comprehensive and systematic. In the area of
transboundary atmospheric pollution control the Government has also
facilitated the exchange of data and the exchange of
information at the national and international levels.
Germany is a signatory to the 1979 Geneva Convention on Long
Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LTRAP) of the
UN-Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and its protocols. On the
basis of these protocols in Germany substantial
emission reductions have been achieved, in particular as a result
of
the Ordinance on Large Combustion Plants,
the Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control
and
the introduction of the 3-way catalytic converter
and other traffic-related measures.
The rehabilitation and modernization of power systems have
very high priority. High priority is given to the use of
safe technologies in industry, transport and energy production,
research and development relating to appropriate
methodologies in industry, transport and energy production,
development of new and renewable energy systems, use of
endogenous technologies, awareness raising in the general area of
energy and fuel efficiency, product labelling aimed at
informing about energy and fuel efficiency, the use of
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), life cycle analysis of
products and environmental audits.
The German Government has also undertaken a review of current
energy supply mixes, and there is a mineral oil tax
and a motor vehicle tax. In order to have a less polluting and
safer transport system the establishment of mass transit
systems and the impacts on the environment and safety have been
addressed comprehensively (a structural reform of the
railway structures was undertaken after UNCED 1992); relative
cost-effectiveness of alternative systems and
transportation technologies have been addressed in part.
Germany has an excellent transit system with respect to both
environmental impact and safety. Further extension of
alternate transport systems is under consideration. The Government
also supports the conservation and enhancement of
sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases, including biomass,
forests and oceans, as well as other terrestrial, coastal
and marine ecosystems.
CFC-production ceased in May 1994. The Government has
strengthened early warning systems and response
mechanisms for transboundary air pollution resulting from
industrial accidents. Warnings reaching the center of the
Federal Ministry of the Interior are transmitted to the stand-by
service of the Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the responsible institutions of
the Federal States.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Bonn is a full fledged member of the National Coordination Mechanism for Sustainable Development and is responsible for the protection of the atmosphere. National legislation to protect the atmosphere has been reviewed and revised in part.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Capacity building and training to perform systematic observation and assessment on a national level are rated "good", whereas the national early detection system and the national capacity to predict changes and fluctuations are rated "adequate". In the area of transboundary atmospheric pollution control, the Government has provided training opportunities. On transboundary atmospheric pollution, the Government rates the country's capacity for observation and assessment and information exchange "good" and research capacities "average". The Government also encourages industry to develop safe technologies, e.g. eco-audits, eco-labelling and incentive programmes.
3. Major Groups: The Government and the scientific community carried out studies on health effects resulting from air pollution and depletion of the ozone layer. Non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other major groups supported activities that strengthen the scientific basis for decision-making, and that promote sustainable development, prevent stratospheric ozone depletion and reduce transboundary atmospheric pollution. On 27 March 1996, German industry provided a qualitatively improved and expanded version of the voluntary commitment it had made on 10 March 1995. Following intensive negotiations with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Ministry for Economics, German industry also agreed to have the implementation of its voluntary commitment monitored by an independent institute. In spring 1995, the German automobile industry made a voluntary commitment to the Federal Government regarding further reductions in the average fuel consumption of automobiles. According to this commitment, the average fuel consumption of automobiles sold in the year 2005 would be 25 % lower than average automobile fuel consumption in 1990.
4. Finance: Ozone contribution Year Interim Multilateral Ozone Fund US$26.45 million 1991-1993 Multilateral Ozone Fund US$46.73 million 1994-1996 Vienna Trust Fund US$ 54,551 1995 Montreal Trust Fund US$ 306,238 1995
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Germany participated at the HELCOM Workshop "Transport and Environment" in January 1995 and will contribute to the ECE Regional Conference on Transport and Environment in November 1997. To enable developing countries to comply with the obligations of the Montreal Protocol, bilateral support for phasing out CFCs in China, India and other countries is provided by using the environmental advanced hydrocarbon technology on a model basis. The Government has also acceded to EMEP and OSPAR agreements and ECE-Conventions. The German Government participates in strengthening the Global Climate Observing System at the national level. Three German institutions are operating and contributing to GCOS: the German Weather Service, the German Federal Environmental Agency and the Alfred-Wegener-Institute. With targeted programmes the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development also contributes to the implementation of strategies to combat warming of the earth's atmosphere in the developing countries, and has earmarked special funds for this purpose. The German Government has been particularly active regarding the establishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), jointly administered by the World Bank, UNDP and UNEP. It serves to finance additional costs which accrue to the developing countries in connection with environmental protection measures of global benefit. The German Government advocates the GEF being used in future as the central financing mechanism of the UNFCCC.
|
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||||
Estimates on emissions and expenditures on air pollution abatement at the national level | Relative composition of anthropogenic greenhouse gases 5 | |||||
1994 4 | 1990 | |||||
CO2-emissions (million tons) | | |||||
N2O-emissions (million tons) | ||||||
CH4-emissions (million tons) 2/ | ||||||
CFC-emissions (million tons) | ||||||
NOX-emissions (million tons) | ||||||
SOX-emissions (million tons) | ||||||
Expenditures on air pollution abatement (million DM) 3/ | ||||||
Footnotes:
1/ 2/ For former GDR waste water treatment and sludge not included (lack of data) 3/ Former FRG only, in 1991 prices 4/ preliminary date 5/ Includes only CO2, CH4 and N2O (pursuant to the IPCC 1994 Special Report, 100-year timehorizon). * Data for 1986; data for 1980 not available ** Data for 1992 |
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
OF LAND
RESOURCES
STATUS REPORT: Implementation of chapter 10 is mainly under the
authority of the Laender governments and local
authorities or autonomous bodies, e.g. universities. Activities at
the national level are limited to the setting of a
normative and legal framework. Exception: within the framework of
the Joint Task of Improving Agricultural
Structures and Coastal Protection the Federal Government is also
involved in planning and finance. Policies have been
developed in cooperation with Laender governments. Scientific
guidance for land capability assessments is lacking.
The high density of residential and industrial settlement in
Germany involves intensive demands on the soil. The
development of the land use structure in the Federal Republic of
Germany is characterised by a constant increase in the
land used for settlements and transport networks.
Although the land used for infrastructural purposes accounts for
only 11.2% of the total area of the Federal Republic,
locally the figure may reach 70% or even more. There is still a
tendency for growing demand on land for various uses,
especially in areas that are already densely settled.
The daily consumption of free land is currently over 70 ha. Core
cities in conurbations often have residential land use of
over 50%. The reason is the constant suburbanising process of the
population and work places that takes up free land,
i.e. the great increase in the number of inhabitants and jobs in
the surrounding urban area. Overall, in many
conurbations further settlement pressure is to be expected. This
leads to major conflicts between the conservation of
land resources on the one hand and the demands of use on the other
(examples: land sealing, loss of ecological free land
functions, fragmentation and indiscriminate settling of landscapes,
impairment of locational qualities by the
consequences of use).
Furthermore soil pollution results from former landfill sites and
abandoned production facilities, airborne pollutants and,
unless land use for farming follows the principles of good
agricultural practice, also from intensive farming. Thus,
rehabilitation of damaged soil sites and precautionary soil
protection are important tasks.
In the Federal Republic of Germany there is a wide range of general
and specialist planning instruments at Federal,
Land and local authority level for the planning of land resources
and the development of sustainable, environmentally
friendly land and settlement structures. Precautionary regional
planning should be undertaken to protect natural potential
and preserve the diversity of the cultivated landscape. Landscape
planning is indispensable in the fulfillment of the
nature protection and landscape management goals. The Federal
Nature Protection Law and the various state nature
protection laws form the legal basis for these goals. The laws
established landscape planning as a fundamental planning
instrument for nature protection and landscape management, in which
landscape planning translates the requirements
and measures into concrete terms.
This is a far reaching task. It encompasses populated and
unpopulated areas. It must consider the biotic and abiotic
factors of nature as well as the effects of land uses on the
environment. Not only the protection, but also the design and
development of the landscape and nature must be included.
The main task of sustainable management of land resources must be
to create a change in trends in the growth of land
used for settlements and transport. In particular the functions of
living and working should be brought more closely into
line with each other again. Key words here are: compact town, town
with short routes, decentral concentration, mixed
uses, compaction resulting from building, inner-city development.
Further fields of action are:
- The further development of town and country development
legislation towards precautionary environmental
action and sustainability.
- The further consideration of the contents of independent,
nationwide landscape planning in solving conflicts
between land use and natural resources (provision of a
basis for planning, yardsticks for assessement).
- The incorporation of environmental impact assessments in the
building procedures.
- The linking of land and settlement concepts that save land and
are sparing on landscapes with the local
agenda 21 process in accordance with the Aalborg Charter
and the HABITAT agenda of Istanbul.
- The creation of a cohesive network of ecologically important
regions at local and supra-local level (free land
association/biotope association) and the securing of
shares of free land.
The Federal Environment Ministry's initiative "Towards Sustainable
Development", "Sparing and gentle land use"
and the national action plan for sustainable settlement development
by the German National Committee HABITAT II
are part of the framework activities of the Federal Government on
the planning and management of land resources
that are part of the international context. Parallel to this, the
"Local agenda 21 process" is taking place at a local
level.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
In the process of accomplishing these demanding planning
tasks, there are still many questions which arise, even in the
western German states, despite their twenty years of experience
with landscape planning. For the eastern German
states, landscape planning is a new instrument which will prove to
be increasingly important in ensuring that economic
development and the demand for land can proceed in an
environmentally sound manner. For example, Brandenburg is setting up, as a continuation of the national park programme, started shortly before reunification, a system of large protected areas (national parks, biosphere reserves, nature parks) as model areas for renewal efforts aiming at sustainable development, the aim of which is to practice nature conservation and ecologically sound land use in a systematic and demonstrable fashion. In Brandenburg two UNESCO biosphere reserves and two nature parks already exist and a national park has been established with a view to creating a joint international park by including the portion on the Polish side. Saxony-Anhalt also intends to establish large protected areas. Bavaria established a Land Development Plan in 1994, instituting a range of instruments for regional planning and, in 1991, the Bavarian Soil Protection Programme. Special emphasis is given to the recultivation of former lignite and uranium mining sites in the New Laender. In 1992, a special programme was carried out, and since 1993, DM 1.5 billion have been allocated annually to this task.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Planning is responsible for legislation and guidelines. It is a member of the National Coordination Mechanism for Sustainable Development. Legislation related to this chapter was revised in 1993 and is currently in the process of being revised again with the aim of simplifying and unifying the provisions in the light of German re-unification and ensuring that their requirements take greater account of sustainable development. The most important acts are: - the Federal Building Code, - the Federal Land Utilization Ordinance, - the Federal Regional Planning Act, - the Federal Nature Conservation Act. The Federal Mining Act was revised in 1990 and environmental aspects were incorporated. In 1996, the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz) and the Federal Soil Protection Act (Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetz) were finally drafted and are under consideration by the Federal Parliament. Specific laws and regulations regarding agricultural and silvicultural land use have been amended and are in force. 2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Technological capacity has been strengthened and coordination mechanisms are being improved, in particular at local and regional levels. Land resource information systems are traditionally well developed and the establishment of soil information systems is planned. The scientific understanding of land-resource systems is mainly covered by universities and research institutions. They also provide training in the integrated approach and have implemented pilot projects. 3. Major Groups: Public participation in land use planning is mandatory. 4. Finance: Since 1993, DM 1.5 billion have been allocated annually for the recultivation of former lignit and uranium mining sites in the New Laender. 5. Regional/International Cooperation: During the German presidency of the council, the regional planning ministers of the European Union adopted a trend-setting paper entitled, "Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy" with sustainable development as its principal strategy. Bilateral cooperation under this chapter takes place with Germany's immediate neighbours, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS and with developing countries in the context of development cooperation. With several neighbouring countries, joint commissions have been established to coordinate individual regional development plans and to even develop joint land-use plans. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS, numerous projects for local and regional development have been developed, aiming at promoting democratic and participatory regional planning structures. An ecologically oriented land use planning project is at present being implemented at Lake Baikal in Siberia in the Russian Federation. In German development cooperation, the concept of participatory land use planning has been incorporated since the late 1980s. Land use planning is an important instrument of bilateral development cooperation and is frequently combined with other instruments, such as geographical information systems, regional outline planning and particiaptory rural appraisal. Successful participatory land use planning and management programmes have been supported in the Philippines, in Burkina Faso, Colombia, Zambia and other countries. Land use planning is also an important issue in national environmental and / or forestry programmes supported by Germany. |
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 11: COMBATING DEFORESTATION
NATIONAL PRIORITY: | |
STATUS REPORT: There is no deforestation in Germany. Forestry has low priority in terms of GNP, but high priority in terms of improving rural living conditions and safeguarding the multiple functions of forests in the entire area under managed forest. A National Forest Plan was elaborated in April 1994. A Federal Forest Inventory was undertaken in 1987. Since it covers only the former West Germany, both regional and Federal governments are currently examining the possibility of carrying out another inventory to cover the whole country for 2002 In 1983, the Federal Government initiated a "Save the forest" campaign to combat new types of forest damages. It involved the following measures: - Reduction of harmful emissions. From 1982 -1990, DM 35 million were spent on clean air policy and good results were obtained in the former West Germany. In the meantime, the Federal Emission Control Act was adopted in the New Laender. Through these measures the emissions of several pollutants could be noticeably reduced. Between 1989 and 1994 annual emissions of: - SO2 went down by 52 % to 3.0 million t; - NOx went down by 24 % to 2.21 million t; - ammonia dropped by around 24 % to 0.62 million t; - NMVOC dropped by 32 % to 2.14 million t. Future activities at the national level will focus on the reduction of harmful emissions from energy-producing and industrial plants, reduction of nitrogen and other emissions from traffic and agriculture. - Systematic annual surveys on the state of forests. - Implementing measures to maintain forest genetic resources. - Research and analyses, e.g. national forest soil inventory and needle and leaf analysis.
The National Programme on Forest Genetic Conservation covers, inter alia, the issues of tree-breeding, seed technology, seed procurement networks, germ-plasma banks, in-vitro techniques and in-situ/ex-situ conservation. Close to nature forest management is increasingly practised in regional forest administrations. This form of forest management aims for a forest close to natural conditions and in the long term for reaching ecological and economic stability, and it contributes to securing and maintaining biodiversity. New forest management measures, including abandonment of forest pasture and forest litter utilization have led to a regeneration of forest soil and to an increase of forest productivity in the last decades. The increase in tree growth being observed is also related to nitrogen deposition and climatic influences. Nevertheless forest soils are still adversely affected by atmospheric pollutants, especially nitrogen and sulphur. In order to improve the general economic conditions for the use of wood and wood products, the Government provides funding for research and development (new environmentally-compatible wood processing techniques, ecological balance sheets) and supports standardization on national and international level. Another important aim is the further development of the legal framework in this area taking the ecological preferences of wood as a renewable raw material and energy source into account. A Forestry Sales Fund was launched in 1990 which supports public information and the development and maintenance of markets for wood and wood products with modern methods and means.
|
Cross-Sectoral Issues
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (BML) is primarily responsible for the forest sector. The Ministry is a member of the National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism. It coordinates and provides a framework, mainly in the field of legislation and promotion. The tasks of the regional forest authorities include regional legislation and supervision in implementation, participation in planning procedures, giving advice, care and assistance in privately-owned forests and managing state-owned forests. In 1975, the Federal Forest Law was passed as a special skeleton law. In combination with current regional laws it obliges all forest owners to comply with sustainability and regular forest management. A broad spectrum of laws not exclusivly related to forestry are applicable to the forest sector. In the New Laender, the formation of new forest administrations and the formulation of new forest and hunting laws are largely completed.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The staffing situation in forestry is rated "adequate" at all levels. In 1987, 13,400 trained foresters were working in Germany, in 1992, 356 foresters graduated.
3. Major Groups: 46 % of the forests are owned by individual forest owners, largely with small wood lots. 20 % are communal forests. Only 34 % are state owned. International NGO activities in the forest sector are being coordinated by the Forum for Environment and Development. Framework plans for forestry which are only binding for forest authorities are first agreed with the forest owners involved. In the case of communal forests participation of citizens in forest management planning is often enabled by town councils. NGOs, science and the importers of tropical timber have developed a system of certification of tropical timber and forest products in order to improve the sustainable development of tropical forests. This system of certification has been applied in 1996 for the first time in Brasil, Gabon and Malaysia.
4. Finance: In the period 1984 - 1993, DM 531 million were made available for measures to stabilise forests against pollutants. Since 1982, DM 465 million have been spent on assistance for some 850 forestry projects, especially on projects investigating the causes of new types of forest damages. The Federal Government and the Laender support private and communal forests with appr. DM 160 million annually, mainly used to combat new types of forest damages. At the international level, Germany allocates between 250 and 300 million a year for bilateral cooperation for the preservation of tropical forests. DM 285 million were contributed to the pilot programme for the conservation of the Brazilian rainforests carried out by Brazil, the World Bank, the European Union and other industrialised countries. Germany also contributes to the GEF and the European Development Fund.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Germany has signed the International Tropical Timber Agreement. It supports the introduction of a CO2/energy tax at the European level. The Government is also in favour of worldwide harmonised standards for a sustainable form of forest management and supports initiatives which strive for internationally recognised certificates of origin for wood from sustainable production. This would help remove distortions in competition on the international timber market. Concerning development cooperation, the Federal Government encourages and supports developing countries to develop and implement strategies and plans that make an effective contribution to halting the destruction of forests, improve cooperation and make more efficient use of the funds provided. Bilateral development co-operation in this field aims at supporting strategic elements of comprehensive and integrated approaches to combat deforestation, with due attention to sector external causes and linkages of the problem, needed reforms of sector policy, legal and institutional frameworks and effective application of relevant planning instruments such as EIA. |
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||
1993 | ||||
Forest Area (Km2) | 73,600 (FRG) 29,780 (GDR) | 74,100 (FRG) 29,830 (GDR) | 107,400 | |
Protected forest area (Km2) | 5,900 | |||
Roundwood production (solid volume of roundwood without bark in mill m3) | 30.7 (FRG) 10.9 (GDR) | 73.5 (FRG) 11.3 (GDR) | 37.3a | |
Deforestation rate (Km2) | ||||
Reforestation rate (Km2) | 16.7 | 24.5 | 71.2 | |
a 1992
Between 1950 and 1989, the forest area in the former FRG increased by 4,500 km2 or 6%. Average stocks of compact wood in the commercial forests of the former FRG are appr. 300 solid m3 of standing crop per hectare, in the New Laender it is 190 solid m3 of standing crop per hectare, reducing an average of 270/ha for Germany. At 4 m3/ha/year, the long-term average felling rate is well below the growth level of 6 m3/ha/year. b The figures under "Reforestation rate" are actually areas of afforestation on previous agricultural land; reforestation in Germany takes place on 100 % of the previously harvested area (no concrete figures on harvested area are available though). |
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 12: MANAGING FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS: COMBATING
DESERTIFICATION AND
DROUGHT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries
Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification
Particularly in Africa
Each party shall file reports on implementation with the Conference
of Parties, as often and in the form to be determined. Parties are
to report on
development of national action programmes. The Conference shall
assist affected developing countries to make reports.
The Convention was signed in 1994 and ratified in 1996.
The latest report to the Secretariat of the Convention was prepared
in 19--. (Until today there was no report requested.)
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Combating desertification and drought is not relevant in Germany,
as there are no deserts or areas in danger of becoming deserts.
However, it is an important issue in German development cooperation
(see Regional/International
Cooperation).
Cross-Sectoral Issues
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information.
3. Major Groups: German NGOs have focused their activities in the field of desertification by forming a working group within the Forum for Environment and Development. The working group has followed the international negotiations on the Desertification Convention and undertaken intensive information work in Germany to present desertification as a worldwide problem. The group has, e.g., produced a media folder for education work.
4. Finance: At the signatory conference of the International Convention on Combating Desertification, the Federal Government pledged DM 5 million for immediate measures to combat desertification in Africa. In 1996, the volume of bilateral projects in progress for combating desertification was more than DM 2 billion.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: German development cooperation provides assistance for the implementation of national action programmes to combat desertification and financial and technical support for appropriate programmes and projects. Development cooperation in the area of combating desertification has undergone changes in recent years. The focus is now on strengthening endogenous capacity in integrated land management including local organisational structures. Herdsmen are now seen as experts in sustainable resource management and in sparing utilisation of the environment. Unlike large-scale agriculture and stationary livestock farming, herdsmen ensure environmentally and economically appropriate food production. Projects in this field include: - assuring access to resources for herdsmen, - advising them in land use rights and including them in planning, - land use arrangements that permit the necessary flexibility depending on rainfall and vegetation situation, - strengthening the role of herdsmen and farmers in institutions with a view to settling land use conflicts, - improving formal education for herdsmen. Another promising new approach is that of integrating rural development and food security measures in one and the same projects. Further issues playing an important role in projects to combat desertification are land use planning with special regard to land legislation and measures for the conservation of soil and water. Such projects are being implemented in many countries, especially in Africa and South America.
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STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||
Land affected by desertification (Km2) | ||||
Other data
|
AGENDA 21
CHAPTER 13: MANAGING FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS: SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN
DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY: High Priority | |
STATUS REPORT: As one of the seven Alpine countries, Germany actively cooperates with the other signatories to the Alpine Convention in the interests of sustainable development in the Alpine Region. The German Alpine Region covers 11,153 km2 (including foothill area 1) and is located in the State of Bavaria. The nature and intensity of utilisation of the Alpine Region (increasing volume and concentration of traffic, tourist activities, progressive settlement) have resulted in considerable loss of conservation-worthy landscape elements, biotopes and species over the past few decades. In 1994, a draft study was presented with a view to defining sustainable development in the Alpine Region and including proposals for further action. The Alpine-Adriatic Working Group conducted a symposium on "Distribution and effects of photooxidants in the Alpine Region" (1988) and on "Input of substances from the atmosphere and damage to forest soils in the countries of the Alpine-Adriatic Working Group" (1993). Forest damages in the Alpine Region are rated significant/serious (damage levels 2-4 according to the UN/ECE classification). Mountain forests are endangered through atmospheric pollutants, abiotic factors (wind storm, snow, ice, frost, fires), biotic factors (insect pests, fungal damage, wildlife browsing) and stresses due to forestry and recreation uses. Of decisive importance for the sustainable development in the Bavarian Alpine region are, in addition to the work performed by farmers and forest owners, the services of the water management and forest administrations in terms of the care for, and preservation of the mountain forests, the mountain torrent watersheds and the protection against harmful effects of snow movements. It is the very preservation of and care for the forests and the other natural areas that allow the long-term settlement of mountain zones. Furthermore, the Bavarian State Forest Administration has implemented since 1986, in close co-operation with the water management authorities, a rehabilitation programme for protective forests. This programme is aimed at the rehabilitation of ill-functioning protective forests. It is intended to last for some 25 years and covers a financial volume of approx. 520 million DM from the State Forest Administration and 300 million DM from the Water Management Administration. The programme also provides for the reduction of excessive game populations and the settlement of harmful forest pasture rights. In addition, the owners of agricultural and forestry land receive substantial financial support in the form of government subsidies. The Federal Government has initiated public relations work to inform the public on environmental issues in mountain areas, and there are various incentive schemes available for the preservation and sustainable use of mountain areas (e.g. for the management of protected forests, alpine pastures, alpine landscapes, ecological farming practices and infrastructure development). By order of the German Federal Environment Agency, the Alpine Research Institute Garmisch-Partenkirchen investigates aspects of sustainable development in the region. The programme for the conservation of forest genetic resources and the programme for the conservation of biological diversity also applies to mountain areas. The most important rivers in the mountain area are the rivers Inn, Isar, Lech and Iller. The German-Austrian Water Management Agreement is being implemented, covering the Alpine Region.
1 The area of the German Alpine region proper is 5,300 km2.
|
Cross-Sectoral Issues
1. Decision-Making Structure: Several Bavarian State Ministries, especially the Ministry for Regional Development and Environmental Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Transport, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Interior are responsible for sustainable development in the Alpine Region. They cooperate closely with local governments. Legislation was revised in 1994, when passing the Ordinance on the Bavarian State Development Programme. The following laws are also relevant to sustainable mountain development: - Convention on the Protection of the Alps (Alpine Convention, 1991) and the Alpine Convention Protocols on "Mountain Farming", "Regional Planning and Development" , "Nature Conservation and Landscape Management" and the Mountain Forest Protocol (1996) to the Alpine Convention concluded at the 3rd Alpine Conference in December 1994, - Regulation on the Alpine and National Park Berchtesgaden (1978), - Law on the Protection of Alpine Pastures (1932, amended 1982). - Bavarian Forest Law (1975), - Law on Forest Rights (1958). 2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information. 3. Major Groups: The following NGOs are involved in mountain development: - the German Alpine Association, - CIPRA (Commission Internationale pour la Protection des Alpes), - the Nature Conservation League, - the Mountain Rescue Service, - Association for Hill Farming Problems, and - Alpine Farming Association. In 1992, the Bavarian government and NGOs carried out 82 activities in nature and national park management, waste management, air quality control, the implementation of the Noise and Vibration Act a.o. at a total cost of DM 96.9 million. State susidies came to DM 16.4 million. NGOs are undertaking activities to inform the public on environmental issues in mountain areas. 4. Finance: From 1985 to 1994, the Bavarian State Ministry for Regional Development and Environment Affairs spent DM 30 million to investigate causes of forest damages in the Alpine Region. The annual expenditure for wild torrent and avalanche control schemes is 35 to 40 million DM. The Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry spends annually 15 to 20 million DM on forest-related measures in the Alpine Region. 5. Regional/International Cooperation: The Federal Government participates in the FAO/ECE Working Group on the Management of Mountain Watersheds and in the Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe that is dealing with mountain development. Sustainable mountain development is addressed within Germanys bi- and multilateral development co-operation in a wide range of projects dealing with land-use planning, watershed management, afforestation, forest conservation and management as well as rural development projects in mountain regions. Relevant regional institutions such as ICIMOD /Nepal and CATIE /Costa Rica are also supported. |
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS for the Bavarian Alpine Region | ||||
Forest area (km2) | 4145 | 4166 | 4169 | |
Cultivated land (km2) | 568 | 640 | 670 | |
Pasture land (km2) | 5213 | 5123 | 5089 | |
Water area (km2) c | 380 | 380 | 383 | |
Other area (km2) | 870 | 867 | 869 | |
Population | 1,240,030 | 1,333,082a | 1,386,000b | |
a 1990 b 1993 c German alpine region proper and foot hill area. |
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 14: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY: High Priority
STATUS REPORT: Since nearly 50% of the German territory is used
for agricultural purposes, the farming sector in
Germany is particularly important and has a special responsibility
for the conservation and development of the natural
environment. Principles and objectives of this chapter were being
taken into account by the German authorities and the
European Community before UNCED. Existing legislation has been
adjusted and new laws and legal regulations have been
enacted to satisfy increased demands. However, in view of high
intensity levels in crop and animal production (in terms of
mechanization and chemical inputs) and of output-oriented and
yield-oriented practices, much had to be done to bring about
better harmony between the agricultural sector and environmental
protection, nature conservation, nutritional and health
demands of consumers and animal welfare. The need for actions aimed
at environmentally sound production practices has
arisen from various factors of influence, among them
- degradation/loss of soil resources due to soil compaction, soil
erosion and soil contamination (resulting from use of plant
protection chemicals and fertilizers, from livestock residues and
other agricultural, urban and industrial effluents),
- degradation/loss of surface and groundwater due to
contaminants,
- emission of airborne substances (greenhouse gases) from
agricultural activities,
- depletion or loss of plant and animal genetic resources (wild
forms as well as varieties and breeds) due to intensification of
production and loss of natural habitats caused inter alia by
farming, urbanization, road construction, and tourism.
Strategies are being implemented to reduce the fertilizer
application rates by extensification programmes and through the
new Ordinance on Fertilization (Düngeverordnung), in force
since 6 February 1996. The ordinance concretely defines the
principles of good agricultural practice as regards fertilization
and provides, for the first time in Germany, for uniform
fertilizer practices. It gives legal stability to the farmers and
is likewise aimed at improved environment and water
protection. In order to promote environmentally sound livestock
farming, management techniques are being developed to
reduce nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, and new technologies have
been for the storage and placement of liquid manure.
More stringent legislation has been passed concerning the use of
plant protection products and several substances were
banned. Threshold values for toxic agents in sewage sludge and
waste have been implemented and certain applications of
these wastes in agriculture (as fertilizers) have been banned. The
construction of large livestock units requires government
authorization (in line with the EG regulation on the intergrated
avoidance and reduction of environmental contamination) if
the number of animals kept exceeds 20,000 layers, 40,000 young hens
or broiler chicks, 20,000 fattening turkeys, 2,000
fattening pigs, 750 sows or 6,000 piglets (10-30 kg liveweight).
Legal and administrative measures have been taken to improve
framework conditions for site-adapted, ecologically
sound production including ecological farming. This also applies to
the growing and using of renewable raw materials.
Studies have been conducted and are still in progress (e.g.
eco-balance sheets) to assess the value of renewable raw
materials from the environmental point of view. Results are
promising with regard to the contribution of inter alia
biogenic
fuels in reducing CO2 emissions, the use of oil of vegetable origin
as lubricants and in hydraulic systems in reducing soil and
water contamination and of biodegradable packaging materials and
ingredients of detergents.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for Sustainable Agriculture and it is a member of the National Coordination Mechanism for Sustainable Development. The implementation of coherent measures is primarily the responsibility of the Laender. The basis for a maximum of uniformity in the approaches taken is provided by the "Principles of Good Agricultural Practice" from 1987, which were supplemented in 1993. Legislation related to agriculture is comprehensive and most acts have been amended in recent years. Besides national legislation, many legal regulations of the European Union are also related to agriculture and environmental protection.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information.
3. Major Groups: The German NGO-Forum for Environment and Development founded a working group on sustainable agriculture with some 40 representatives of environment, development and farmers' organisations and organisations of the rural population. Several conferences have been held and a study carried out on the "Implications of Agenda 21 for revision of the German Plant Protection Act". The working group also presented an action plan on "Designing Agricultural Policy in Germany". The German Farmers' Association put forward a proposal entitled "Agriculture - Foundation for Sustainable Development".
4. Finance: The Federal Government has supported research and development in the field of renewable resources with DM 55 million and encourages the use of renewable raw materials, e.g. by tax exemptions for biofuels.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: The reform of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy in 1992 initiated a radical change in market organization intended to lower output levels in the farming industry. Environmental protection back-up measures have been approved and new regulations provide for programmes encouraging farmers to adopt environmentally sound agricultural practices. Community regulations also refer to the afforestation of agricultural land. The Joint Task of Agrarian Structure and Coastal Protection caters to requirements of nature conservation and landscape management and promotes marketing of agricultural products from ecological farming. EU regulations also refer to labelling of products from ecological farming and are to be extended to livestock production. Regulations for ecological animal production are being prepared. German development cooperation to promote sustainable agriculture covers a broad spectrum and embraces all subsectors of agriculture and rural development. German development cooperation aims at creating an incentive political framework through policy advices, and works on the institutional level through capacity building on input and output markets. It supports the establishing and strengthening of extension and research institutions as essential elements of a sustainable agriculture strategy. Such sustainable development programmes depend on an appropriate infrastructure system, health care services and training and education capacities. Sustainable agriculture is the backbone of food security and thus of social development, especially in rural areas. |
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | |||
Agricultural land (Km2) | 120,100 (FRG) 62,250 (GDR) | 118,670 (FRG) 61,650 (GDR) | 173,440 |
Agricultural land as % of total land area | 48.3 (FRG) | 47.7 (FRG) | 48,6 |
Agricultural land per capita (ha) | 0,21 | ||
Consumption of fertilizers (kg/Km2 of agricultural land as of 1990) | 24,211.6 (FRG) 24,184.9 (GDR) | 15,822 (all Germany) | 15,665 (all Germany) |
Other data |
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 15: CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
NATIONAL PRIORITY: High Priority
STATUS REPORT:
Convention on Biological Diversity
Parties are to develop national strategies, plans and programmes
for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and integrate
them into general
development plans.
Parties shall identify, monitor and maintain data on components of
biodiversity.
Parties shall introduce appropriate procedures requiring EIAs for
projects likely to have significant adverse effects on biological
diversity.
Parties shall submit reports on measures which it has taken for the
implementation of the Convention, at intervals to be determined.
The Convention was signed in 1992 and ratified in 1993. The latest
report was submitted in 1995.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
Parties to take appropriate measures to enforce regulatory
provisions and prohibit trade in specimens in violation thereof.
Convention also governs
treatment of animals in shipment.
Each party to prepare periodic reports on its implementation of the
convention and to prepare: (a) an annual report listing export
permits issued and species
involved, and (b) a biennial report on legislative, regulatory and
administrative measures taken.
The Convention was signed in 1975 and ratified in 1976. The latest
report was submitted in 1995.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
National policy for conserving biological diversity has been set
out and a country study has been published. Work is in
progress on a national strategy for the practical implementation of
the Convention of Biodiversity. A plan for conserving
forest genetic resources has existed since 1987. In 1990, a
proposal for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources
was published. In 1994, the Federal Agricultural Research Centre
presented a proposal for the conservation of animal genetic
resources. A comprehensive survey including information on
biodiversity ("Daten zur Umwelt" / "Data on the
Environment") is published every 2 years. Habitat destruction and
pollution are the most serious reasons for the loss of flora
and fauna.
Measures have been taken for in situ and ex situ conservation of
biological and genetic resources such as the establishment of
additional protected areas, preparation of new legislation and
support of institutions involved in this work.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is primarily responsible for biodiversity issues; the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for genetic resources in these areas. They are both members of the National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism. National legislation for biodiversity is being completed. Many aspects of biodiversity are also covered by EU legislation.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: In 1990 the Information Center for Genetic Resources was established in Bonn. In 1993, the Federal Nature Conservation Agency was created. It consists of working units previously belonging to a variety of institutions.
3. Major Groups: The Government is cooperating with NGOs. The German NGO-Forum for Environment and Development established a working group on biodiversity that actively participates in international negotiations on biodiversity and carries out education and information activities. Following the Birdlife World Conference (August 1994, Rosenheim), the German Nature Conservation League (NABU) is carrying out a survey of Important Bird Areas as indicators and points of focus for biodiversity programmes.
4. Finance: No information.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Under the auspices of the Conference of Ministers on Protection of Forests in Europe, Germany participates in the implementation of the 1990 Strasbourg resolution on "Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources" and the 1993 Helsinki resolution H2 "General Guidelines for the conservation of the Biodiversity of European Forests". Germany also takes part in the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources of FAO and in the creation of a pan-European system of protected areas, NATURA 2000. In the context of development cooperation, Germany supports countries in their efforts to conserve biological diversity with particular emphasis on the protection and management of relevant ecosystems such as tropical forests and other threatened natural habitats of biodiversity. Special attention is paid to integration of local people and other actors affected. New instruments have been developed and used within projects, such as supporting networks for better coordination of individual activities and donors, identification and testing of indicators, and improved methods for evaluating biological diversity. Future activities will be concerned with analysis of the relationships between ecological and economic causes of biodiversity loss, capacity building and transfer of know-how, integration of ex situ and in situ measures and increased participation of NGOs. In 1996 Germany hosted the International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources. A first Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture resulted from this conference.
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Protected area as % of total land area | ||
Number of threatened species | ||
Other data
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 16: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The Act Regulating Genetic Engineering came into
effect in 1990 and has been amended in 1993.
The law and its regulations lay down the administrative procedures
and safety measures for the contained use,
deliberate release and placing on the market of GMOs. The Act
Regulating Genetic Engineering has been adapted to
scientific and technical progress by reducing administrative
requirements without affecting the safety level.
1. Decision-Making Structure: Several ministries are involved
in the issue of biotechnology, including the Federal
Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry,
the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and
Technology and the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and
Development, as well as Federal departmental agencies and
Ministries in the Laender. Support is
provided by a scientific advisory body known as the Central
Commission for Biological Safety (Zentrale Kommission
fuer die Biologische Sicherheit - ZKBS).
Public participation procedures are integrated in the decision
making procedures of the competent authorities in the case
of: a) applications for the construction of certain industrial
installations, and b) applications for deliberate releases of
GMOs.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: The program,
"Biotechnologie 2000" (1990), provides research on
biological safety including a particular focus on research on gene
transfer and safety aspects of field release
experiments of genetically modified organisms. The Act Regulating
Genetic Engineering, in its version of December
1993, determines competent authorities that license and supervise
the use and release of genetically modified
organisms.
3. Major Groups:
National Research Centres:
Gesellschaft fur Biotechnologische Forschung
(GBF)
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)
Max-Delbruck-Zentrum fur molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH (KFA)
Forschungszentrum fuer Umwelt und Gesundheit
(GSF)
Government departmental research agencies (BML)
Institut fur Pflanzengenetik und
Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)
Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie (IPB)
Other major organizations:
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chemisches Apparatewesen,
Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie (DECHEMA)
Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI)
Max Planck Gesellschaft (MPG)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG)
Umweltforschungszentrum (UFZ)
Major companies:
Bayer, BASF, Hoechst, Schering, Boehringer Mannheim,
Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Grunenthal
4. Finance: About DM 500 million are spent on biotechnology
research and development (including genetic
engineering) in Germany every year.
a. Project funding of collaborative research
projects carried out by industry and science.
b. Special incentives for R&D projects of small
and medium sized enterprises.
5. Regional/International Cooperation:
EU: Committee of Competent Authorities for
Regulations
OECD: National Expert Group on Biotechnology/Working
Party on Biotechnology
Bilateral initiatives: The German government is
involved in various bilateral initiatives in this sector.
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development:
Upgrading:
- International workshop run by GTZ - Plant
Biotechnology in Technical Cooperation Programmes, October
1993, Philippines
- Development of upgrading programme of DSE -
"biotechnology: Micro-propagation and related techniques
for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources and the
improvement of crops"
- Participation in and financial assistance for
upgrading events run by the International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) in Argentina for
drafting legal provisions for release trials
in the states of the CONASUR group (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia,
Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay)
Participation in and financial assistance for:
- Third International Scientific Meeting on Cassava
Biotechnology Network (CBN III) in Kampala/Uganda,
August 27-31, 1996
- Capacity Building in Biosafety for Developing Countries:
Evaluation Criteria Development Workshop.
Organised by the Biotechnology Advisory Commission, Stockholm,
Sweden, May 22-23, 1996
- Workshop on "Consequences of Biotechnological Innovations
on the Economic and Social Situation in
Developing Countries", 18-19 April 1994
- Workshop on "Application of Agricultural Biotechnology and
Safety Considerations" 28. August to 4.
September 1993, Hainan Island-China
Application:
- Development and implementation programme for in
vitro propagation of bananas in Uganda and Ghana and
Yams and cassava in Ghana
- Breeding of virus-free and pathogen-free planting
stock in Bhutan
- Promotion of planting stock breeding in fruit and
grape crops using biotechnology measures in Algeria
- Use of marker techniques for the selection of
Alnus nepalensis sources with high N-fixation capacity in
Nepal
- Zimbabwe Fruit Tree Biotechnology
- Raising the efficiency of in vitro
micropropagation unit for date palm seedlings at the tissue culture
lab of
plant production at the Ministry of
Agriculture/Jordan
- Philippine-German Coconut Tissue Culture (PGCTC)
Project
- Asian Rice Biotechnology Network (ARBN) at
IRRI/Philippines
- Financial support to the "International Service for the
Aequisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA)
5. Regional/International Cooperation: (Cont'd)
Research: - Research Programme for enhancing cold tolerance in Phaseolus beans by gene transfer at the Centro International de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia - Research programme on fusion of somatic cells in sweet potatoes at the Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) in Lima, Peru - Research programme on DNA-marker-aided barley breeding at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Aleppo, Syria - Development of adapted, high yielding and disease-resistent tomate cultivers for highland regions in Africa (AVRDC) in Taiwan - Biotechnology in the Genetic Improvement of Selected Vegetables (AVRDC) in Taiwan - Progeny Analysis of Transgenic Common Bean Plants Carrying Marker Genes and Dev. of chilling tolerant bean plant (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia - Development and improvement of Heterotically Responsive Maize Gene Pools in Eastern Africa (CIMMYT), Mexico - Germplasm Characterization and Utilization of Tuber Crops (CIP), Peru - Potato Disease Resistance Mediated by Antimicrobial Proteins (CIP), Mexico - QTL Analysis by Molecular Markers (ICARDA), Syria - Application of DANN-Fingerprinting to Crop Improvement; - Molecular Markerassisted Breeding of Chickpeas (ICARDA); Syria - Use of DNA-Markers in Selection of Disease Resistance Genes in Barley (ICARDA), Syria - Refinement of Cryopreservation Techniques for Potoato (IPGRI), Rome - Morpho-physiol. and Genetic Characterization of Traits for Rice Resistance to Temperature Stress (WARPA), Côte DInvoire - Biological treatment of solid and liquid waste for agro-industry in Indonesia - Biotechnological improvements in plant breeding of oil palm and solanum cassianum plants in Indonesia - Cooperation in the field of biotechnology between Gesellschaft fuer Biotechnologische Forschung (GBF) and Centro di Divertimento Biologico (CDB), Jointville, Brazil - The Germany-Singapore Environmental Technology Agency (GSETA) was established in November 1991 following the signing of a bilateral Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. A unique characteristic of the agency is the involvement of the private sector in its activities which provides the environmental technology industry with the opportunity to contribute towards the process of technology transfer.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 17: PROTECTION OF THE OCEANS, ALL KINDS OF SEAS,
INCLUDING ENCLOSED
AND SEMI-ENCLOSED SEAS, AND COASTAL AREAS AND THE PROTECTION,
RATIONAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LIVING RESOURCES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was ratified on 14 October
1994
See also the attached tables on the next pages.
Germany's national policy on oceans is integrated into the
National Sustainable Development strategy as far as it
relates to fisheries within the Common Fisheries Policy of the EC.
It also has an integrated coastal area management
programme to encompass all marine activities within the EEZ.
The precautionary principle is one of the guiding principles
in German environmental policy. An environmental
impact assessment is mandatory for certain public and private
projects. In order to encourage the industry to reduce
waste water, fees on waste water discharges have been introduced.
The programme area of marine environmental
technology is also well covered, gaps are being addressed and all
activities are rated "very important".
Generally, the German Government has access to technologies
that serve to identify the major types of pollution of
the marine environment from land-based sources. All sewage related
issues are considered "very important". Sewage
may only be discharged after secondary treatment. Depending on the
population equivalents (pe) served, tertiary
treatment is required. Activities under programme the area "marine
environmental protection" are also rated "very
important". Germany is participating in activities in the area of
socio-economic and environmental indicators, systematic
observing systems, mussel watch programme. Several data bases are
in place for integrated coastal management:
MEDAB (Marine Environment Data Base), WATIS (Wadden Sea Information
System) and data bases of the national
park administration of the Federal States. These data bases contain
all necessary information for coastal zones. Since the
late 70s/early 80s, comprehensive assessments of the state of the
environment of coastal and marine areas have been
carried out and improvements can be measured.
1. Decision-Making Structure: Depending on the topic, matters are the responsibility of the Federal States, the Federal Government or, with regard to fisheries, the EC. The implementation of water resources management regulations in Germany, including integrated coastal area management, is exclusively a matter of Federal States and municipalities.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: All activities described in Agenda 21 have been addressed and rated "very important" or "important". Only infrastructure adaptation and alternative employment have been rated "not relevant". Capacity-building and training programmes have been developed by the German Government.
3. Major Groups: In Germany, NGOs are 'ad-hoc' participants at the national and local levels, in the private sector and small-scale artisanal fishermen. Major NGOs are Aktionskonferenz Nordsee e.V., Deutscher Bauernverband e.V., Deutscher Fischerei-Verband e.V., WWF Fachbereich Meere und Kuesten, Greenpeace e.V., Bundesverband der Industrie (BDI), Bundesarbeitskreis Duengung.
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Concerning the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources under national jurisdiction, the EU and Germany will take due account of the recommendations in the Common Fisheries Policy. Germany participates in many international programmes related to the protection of oceans, inter alia with the IOC, UNEP, the WMO and the European Union. Within Germanys development cooperation assistance is provided to developing countries (i.e. Mauretania, Namibia, Madagascar etc.) for the development of policies and the transfer of technologies in the field of sustainable fisheries, use and conservation of marine living resources and integrated coastal area management. In addition, Germany supports bilateral projects in a great number of developing countries aiming at reducing pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources (see also Chapter 21) |
| ||||
Catches of marine species (metric tons) | ||||
Population in coastal areas | ||||
Population served by waste water treatment (% of country's total population) | 85.7a | |||
Discharges of oil into coastal waters (metric tons) | b | |||
Releases of total P into Baltic Sea coastal waters (metric tons)c North Sea | 1,200 11,000 | |||
Releases of total N into Baltic Sea coastal waters (metric tons)c North Sea | 14,000 190,000 | |||
a 1991 b Overall estimates are not available due to analytical problems. c Data collection annually. Data include loads from countries upstream.
Regarding the population of coastal areas there is only the total population figure for the coastal Federal States Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein with 14,572,000 in 1993. For the area assessment and indicators, work has been undertaken by ICES and the Scientific Committee of NAFO. Various fish, fish disease and Benthos surveys have been carried out. |
Chapter 17 (Oceans) Continued:
Check the boxes in the column below left: | Check the boxes in the column below right: |
For level of importance use: | For level of implementation use: |
*** = very important | *** = fully covered |
** = important | ** = well covered- gaps being addressed |
* = not important | * = poorly covered |
N = not relevant | O = not covered; N = not relevant |
TABLE I. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE APPROPRIATE COORDINATING MECHANISM FOR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS AND THEIR RESOURCES.
a. Preparation and implementation of land and water use and siting policies. | ||
b. Implementation of integrated coastal and marine management and sustainable development plans and programmes at appropriate levels. | ||
c. Preparation of coastal profiles identifying critical areas including eroded zones, physical processes, development patterns, user conflicts and specific priorities for management. | ||
d. Prior environmental impact assessment, systematic observation and follow-up of major projects, including systematic incorporation of results in decision-making. | ||
e. Contingency plans for human induced and natural disasters. | ||
f. Improvement of coastal human settlements, especially in housing, drinking water and treatment and disposal of sewage, solid wastes and industrial effluents. | ||
g. Periodic assessment of the impacts of external factors and phenomena to ensure that the objectives of integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas and marine environment are met. | ||
h. Conservation and restoration of altered critical habitats. | ||
I. Integration of sectoral programmes on sustainable development for settlements, agriculture, tourism, fishing, ports and industries affecting the coastal areas. | ||
J. Infrastructure adaptation and alternative employment. | ||
K. Human resource development and training. | ||
L. Public education, awareness and information programmes. | ||
M. Promoting environmentally sound technology and sustainable practices. | ||
N. Development and simultaneous implementation of environmental quality criteria. |
TABLE II. TECNOLOGY (MARINE ENVIRONMENT)
A. Apply preventive, precautionary and anticipatory approaches so as to avoid degradation of the marine environment, as well as to reduce the risk of long-term or irreversible adverse effects upon it. | ||
B. Ensure prior assessment of activities that mey have significant adverse impacts upon the marine environment. | ||
C. Integrate protection of the marine environment into relevant general environmental, social and economic development policies. | ||
D. Develop economic incentives, where appropriate, to apply clean technologies and other means consistent with the internalization of environmental costs, such as the polluter pays principle, so as to avoid degradation of the marine environment. | ||
E. Improve the living standards of coastal populations, particularly in developing countries, so as to contibute to reducing the degradation of the coastal and marine environment. | ||
F. Effective monitoring and surveillance within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of fish harvesting and transportation of toxic and other hazardous materials. |
TABLE III. SEWAGE RELATED ISSUES
A. Sewage related problems are considered when formulating or reviewing coastal development plans, including human development plans. | ||
B. Sewage treatment facilities are built in accordance with national policies. | ||
C. Coastal outfalls are located so as to maintain acceptable level of environmental quality and to avoid exposing shell fisheries, water intakes and bathing areas to pathogens. | a) | |
D. The Government promotes primary treatment of municipal sewage discharged to rivers, estuaries and the sea, or other solutions appropriate to specific sites. | a) | |
E. The Government supports the establishment and improvement of local, national, subregional and regional, as necessary, regulatory and monitoring programmes to control effluent discharge. Minimum sewage effluent guidelines and water quality criteria are in use. |
TABLE IV. OTHER SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS:
A. Established or improved upon, as necessary, regulatory an dmonitoring programmes to control emissions, including recycling technologies. | ||
B. Promoted risk and environmental impact assessments to help ensure an acceptable level of environmental quality.n | ||
C. Promoted assessment and cooperation at the regional level, where appropriate, with respect to the input of point source pollutants from the marine environment. | b) | |
D. Taken steps to eliminate emissions or discharges of organohalogen compounds from the marine environment. | ||
E. Taken steps to eliminate/reduce emissions or discharges or other synthetic organic compounds from the marine environment. | ||
F. Promoted controls over anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous that enter coastal waters where such problems as euthrophication threaten the marine environment or its resources. | ||
G. Taken steps to develop and implement environmentally sound land-use techniques and practices to reduce run-off to water courses and estuaries which would cause pollution or degradation of the marine environment. | ||
H. Promoted the use of environmentally less harmful pesticides and fertilizers and alternative methods for pest control, and considered the prohibition of those found to be environmentally unsound. | ||
I. Adopted new initiatives at national, subregional and regional levels for controlling the input of non-point source pollutants which require broad changes in sewage and waste management, agricultural practices, mining, construction and transportation. | ||
J. Taken steps to control and prevent coastal erosion and siltation due to anthropogenic factors related to, inter alia, land-use and construction techniques and practices. |
TABLE V. ADDRESSING CRITICAL UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAMME AREA THE GOVERNMENT IS CARRYING OUT THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
A. Coordinating national and regional observation programmes for coastal and near-shore phenomena related to climate change and for research parameters essential for marine and coastal management in all regions. | ||
B. Providing improved forescasts of marine conditions for the safety of inhabitants of coastal areas and for the efficiency of marine operations. | ||
C. Adopting special measures to cope with and adapt to potential climate change and sea-level rise. | ||
D. Participating in coastal vulnerability assessment, modelling and response strategies particularly for priority areas, such as small islands and low-lying and critical coastal areas. | ||
E. Identifying ongoing and planned programmes os systematic observation of the marine environment, with a view to integrating activities and establishing priorities to address critical uncertainties for oceans and all seas. | ||
F. Research to determine the marine biological effects of increased levels of ultraviolet rays due to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. | ||
G. Carrying out analysis, assessments and systematic observation of the role of oceans as a carbon sink. |
TABLE VI. RATING OF ACTIVITIES IN THE AIR AND MARITIME TRANSPORT SECTORS IN THE SMALL ISLANDS DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS)
1. Frequency (external flights) | 1. Frequency (external shipping) | ||
2. Frequency (in-country flights) | 2. Frequency (in-country shipping) | ||
3. Cooperation at regional level in air transport and civil aviation | 3. Cooperation at regional level in shipping | ||
4. Cooperation at international level | 4. Cooperation at international level | ||
5. Economic viability of national air line | 5. Economic viability of national shipping line(s) | ||
6. Economic viability of regional air line | 6. Economic viability of regional shipping line (s) | ||
7. national level training in skills for air transport sector | 7. National level training in skills for maritime transport sector | ||
8. Access to training in skills for air transport sector within the region | 8. Regional level training in skills for maritime transport sector | ||
9. Access to international training for air transport sector | 9. Access to international training for maritime transport sector | ||
10. Supportive of ICAO |
a) = Sewage may only be discharged after secondary treatment. Depending on the population equivalents (pe) served, tertiary treatment is required (P (phosphate) elimination if pe >1000; N (nitrate) elimination if pe >5000). Further treatment such as disinfection by means of filtration and UV may be required on a case by case basis.
b) = For new installations, the application of best available techniques (BAT) is required.
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 18: PROTECTION OF THE QUALITY AND SUPPLY OF FRESHWATER
RESOURCES:
APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT,
MANAGEMENT AND USE OF WATER RESOURCES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The German public water supply is high-quality
and thoroughly monitored. In the new German
States, water consumption has declined sharply owing to the fall in
economic activity and a significant increase in water
prices, among other factors. The installation of water meters in
households has resulted in more conscientious use of
water. Efficient utilisation of irrigation water is achieved by
means of water recycling systems, which were originally
developed for horticultural operations.
Under a Federal Research Project on the "Development of a
Standard System for Measuring the Composition of
Groundwater" concerning the new German Federal States, an
interstate measurement network is to be established.
Uniform and/or comparable sampling and analytical methods have been
devised and the equipment of laboratories in the
new German Federal States has been upgraded. For conservation and
improvement of water resources, water legislation
has been amended by defining objectives for terrestrial inland
water bodies with an aim to improving detection of
pollution sources, developing effective environmental cleanup
programmes, and facilitating evaluation of the success of
rehabilitation measures. The requirements with regard to effluents
were made more stringent, setting uniform minimum
standards for communities and major industrial operations based on
the best technical means available and limiting the
discharge of hazardous substances, oxygen-depleting substances and
nutrients into water bodies.
Large scale integrated management of international water
bodies is being performed in Germany within the context of
international commissions.
Rhine: The work of the International Commission for the
Protection of the River Rhine against Pollution to achieve a
further reduction in pollutant discharges and improve the
ecological structures of the Rhine is aimed at creating the
ecological conditions needed for a return to the Rhine of salmon
(the "Salmon 2000" Programme).
Elbe: After implementing the emergency programme 1992 -
1995, the International Commission for the Protection of the
Elbe drew up the long-term "Action Programme for the River Elbe",
which provides for a comprehensive cleanup of the
river by the year 2010. The Programme was given additional
political weight by a joint declaration adopted at a
Ministerial Conference in December 1995.
Oder: With the signature of the Treaty on the International
Commission for the Protection of the Oder against Pollution
of 11 April 1996, the Oder Commission was established; one of its
priority tasks will be to draw up an Action
Programme on the reduction of pollution.
Danube: Under the Treaty on the International Commission for
the Protection of the River Danube, signed on 29 June
1994, a catalogue of measures for the reduction of pollution is
being drawn up on the model of other river protection
commissions.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Government and
the Federal States are primarily responsible for the
conservation, management and sustainable use of water resources.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: To ensure that the drinking water supplies in the new Federal States will also comply with the European drinking water guidelines, some DM 21,7 billion will be needed to modernise the drinking water supply systems in the new States. The cost for eliminating pesticide pollution from potable water supplies alone has already reached DM 121 million. For the new States, the list of required modernising and cleanup measures to safest pH values will incur costs of DM 1,17 billion. These costs are not exclusively for correcting the pH values; various other problem areas have been identified. According to a recently finalised study investments for the improvement and modernisation of drinking water plants and networks of some DM 850 million per year were made between 1992 and 1995, of which DM 450 million were invested in rural municipalities and DM 400 million in towns. Investments of the same amount are to be expected at least up to the year 2005.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: During the International Drinking Water Decade (1981 - 1990), Germany more than doubled its financial contribution to water and sanitary engineering projects in the field of development cooperation. Germany takes first place among donor countries in this sector, sponsoring over 10% of such projects world-wide within the scope of bilateral development cooperation. In the opinion of the German Government Water resource Management projects are test cases for the development of self-sustaining administrative, economic, social and participatory structures in the developing countries. To increase the effectiveness of these projects, special attention is focused on ensuring that the target groups, especially women, are involved on the basis of co-responsibility. Examples of project-oriented implementation of Agenda 21 are: * People's Republic of China: wastewater disposal in Yen-t'ai: this project is aimed at reducing wastewater-induced pollution of water bodies and associated health risks for the population of this port city. By pretreating industrial effluents, one of the principal goals is to reduce the release of heavy metals, phenols and hydrocarbons; * Tunisia: wastewater disposal in the valley of Wadi Majardah: the project's goal is proper treatment and disposal of the sewage produced by six cities; * Brazil: water body monitoring in Tiete: the Tiete River traverses the urban zone of Sao Paulo, absorbing in the process municipal sewage and industrial effluents from some 18 million people and 42,000 commercial operations. With the project's assistance, the national environmental agency will be able to implement a comprehensive cleanup programme for the river and ensure monitoring of its water quality. The project includes supply of measurement stations and training of technicians in operation of the systems. |
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Fresh water availability (total domestic/external in billion m3) average | 96/94 | |||
Annual withdrawal of freshwater as % of available water average | 48 | |||
Public water supply | 6.6 | 6.8 | 5.8 | |
Industrial water supply | 12.2 (1991) decreasing | |||
Thermal power plants | 29 (1991) | |||
People connected to the severage systems (%) | 83 (1987) | 89% (1995) | ||
Waste water treated (Old Federal States) in billion m3
1991 of which mechanically biological biological and removal of nutrients | 7,6 (1991) 0.2 2.9 4.5 | |||
NATIONAL PRIORITY: | |
STATUS REPORT: The main feature of Chapter 19 of Agenda 21 describes current EU law/regulations, which have been fully implemented in Germany. There is a high level of protection against hazards effected by chemicals. Examples: A procedure for notification of new substances in accordance with the German Chemicals Law. Substances are only permitted on the market if they have been previously tested by the manufacturer for any properties which may be hazardous to humans or the environment. Steps for dealing with existing environmental pollution. Installation of GLP ("good laboratory practice") monitoring system. To prepare for international harmonization of classification and labelling systems for hazardous substances and goods, three working groups were established in Germany together with industry and entrusted with the task of developing appropriate methods. The working groups are addressing the issues of environmentally hazardous properties and acute toxicity, as well as physical-chemical aspects.
For existing substances there is an institutionalized cooperation between science, industry and government, which has been working on a programme for existing substances since end of the seventies. This activity is supported by an Advisory Committee on Existing Chemicals of Environmental Relevance (BUA) which consists of representatives of science, industry and government. Germany is very committed on the work on existing substances of the European Community.
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1. Decision-Making Structure: The federal government is responsible for the environmentally compatible management of toxic chemicals and prevention of illegal international trade in toxic and hazardous products.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: In Germany the capacities for chemicals safety are very far developed. Therefore Germany is donor country for about 10 projects which give aid to capacity building to several developing countries. Most of the projects fall within the area of pesticide management. Another project will start in 1997 which item is chemicals management.
3. Major Groups: Three kinds of NGOs are involved: scientific groups, consumer and environment groups, industry and trade groups.
4. Finance: Direct financial contribution to IFCS-Office (200.000 DM/a) IPCS: more than 1,5 Million DM/a OECD-Chemicals Group: 250.000 DM/a BUA-Existing chemicals work: 1 Million DM/a Capacity Building: 2,5 Million DM for three years R+D about 4,5 Million DM/a.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: At the international level, the German Government is very involved in the implementation of Chapter 19 of Agenda 21, inter alia, through work in the IPCS (International Programme on Chemical Safety). IPCS elaborates the Concise International Chemicals Assessment Documents (CICAD) which is mainly supported by Germany as well as the Environmental Health Criteria documents and the Health and Safety Guides. Germany also supports the OECDs programm for existing substances. Furthermore, Germany is committed to the programme on existing substances of the European Union. Regardless of this, about 190 national reports for 230 existing substances are available. Most of them are translated into the English language to be used on international level. ( See also 2.).
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 20: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS
WASTES,
INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN
HAZARDOUS WASTES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
Parties shall cooperate to disseminate information on transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes. Parties shall cooperate to promote
environmentally
sound low-waste technologies, to transfer technology and cooperate
in developing codes of practice. Parties to assist developing
countries.
Parties shall immediately inform affected parties as to accidents.
Prior to the end of each calendar year, parties shall provide the
following information
on the preceding calendar year: (a) the authorities handling
Convention matters; (b) information regarding the transboundary
movement of hazardous
wastes; (c) measures adopted to implement convention; (d) available
statistics on human health and environmental effects of generation,
transport and
disposal of hazardous wastes; (e) information on agreements entered
into; (f) information on accidents; (g) information on disposal
options; and (h)
information on development of waste-reduction technologies;
The Basel Convention was signed in 1989 and ratified in 1994. The
latest information was provided to the Basel
Convention Secretariat in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Since 20 July 1995 the Federal Republic of Germany has been a
contracting party to the Basel Convention. By means of
the Act implementing the Basel Convention of 30 September 1994 the
content of the Basel agreement is converted into
national law insofar as this is not already the case under Council
Regulation (EC) No. 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the
supervision and monitoring of the shipments of waste within, into
and outside of the European Community. The Act on
the Movements of Wastes as a part of the Act implementing the Basel
Convention specifies the duty to re-import for
illegal, unauthorised and impracticable shipments of hazardous
wastes.
The waste exporters required to notify must ensure financial
security for their waste shipments, on the one hand. On the
other hand, they must make payments into the solidarity fund for
the return of waste for each tonne of waste to be
exported. The solidarity fund for the return of waste pays for the
return of waste from abroad whenever a solvent operator
with a duty to reimport cannot be found in time.
Anyone who has caused, arranged or carried out an illegal or
impracticable movement of waste in line with Articles 25
and 26 of the EC-Regulation on the shipment of waste or the wastes
moved are obliged to re-import the same pursuant to
Section 6, para. 1 of the Act on the Movements of Wastes.
A central focal point has been set up in the Federal Environment
Agency. It is responsible for the transit permits and the
information exchange, among other things vis-à-vis the
Secretariat of the Basel Convention. The Act on the Movements of
Wastes still prescribes the procedure for notifying the
authorities. Among other things, this procedure ensures that the
responsible authorities are informed of the notifications made.
Transactions arranging the movement of wastes are subject to
official authorisation pursuant to Section 12 of the Waste
Management Act.
Infringements against the above-mentioned laws shall be punished by
Section 326 and 330 of the Penal Code.
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information available
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available.
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Within development cooperation the German Government supports a number of technical assistance projects (two at the global, 8 at the country level in Africa) to further the sound management of hazardous wastes.
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Generation of hazardous waste (t) | ||||
Import of hazardous wastes (t) | ||||
Export of hazardous wastes (t) | ||||
Area of land contaminated by hazardous waste (km2) | ||||
Expenditure on hazardous waste treatment (US$) | ||||
Other data
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 21: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES AND
SEWAGE-RELATED ISSUES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The objective of the German Government's policy
on waste is to achieve a recycling-based economy
that conserves resources and the environment. The new act for
Promoting Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management and
Ensuring Environmentally Compatible Waste Disposal entered into
force on 7th October 1996. The main features of the
act are:
- It calls for manufacturers and distributors to assume extensive
responsibility for their products.
- The act has changed the former scope of the term
"waste", decisively expanding it. According to the new concept of
the
act in line with the principle of prevention, waste is considered
to be everything which arises in production,
manufacture, processing or consumption, the generation of which was
not the original intention of the process.
- In order to promote an economy based on closed substance cycles,
the following obligations are introduced:
* As a matter of priority, waste is to be avoided where
this is provided for in industrial production procedures or this is
required to promote the development and manufacture of low-waste
products on the basis of relevant product -
related ordinances.
* Where waste cannot be avoided, it must be recovered in an
environmentally friendly way.
* Where waste recovery is not possible or not permitted,
the act requires waste to be disposed of in an environmentally
friendly way.
- According to the act the owners or generators of waste
are in the first instance themselves responsible for waste
avoidance, recovery and disposal.
- In order to promote this environmentally
recycling-based economy, balance sheets for different substances
and materials
must be drawn up.
Based on the Act for Promoting Closed Substance Cycle Waste
Management and Ensuring Environmentally Compatible
Waste Disposal the Federal Government has issued 7 statutory
ordinances and one guideline, also entered into force on 7th
October 1996, containing requirements of waste supervision,
transport licenses, specialised waste management companies
and associations, waste management concepts and waste-life-cycle
analysis.
Manufacturers have changed their packing habits and production of
packaging materials has decreased in Germany.
Compared to 1991, the year the packaging ordinance came into force,
the amount of packaging used decreased by 1.3
million tonnes. Secondary packaging has almost disappeared from the
market. The amount of private post-consumer
packaging recycled has increased to 4.9 million tonnes. The portion
of beverages sold in reusable containers was kept
stable above 72 %. In spite of these efforts a certain proportion
of waste remains for disposal of which the German
goverment is prescribing uniformly high nationwide standards. These
standards are laid down for special waste in the
Technical Instructions on Special Waste of 1991 and for waste from
settlements in the Technical Instructions on Waste
from Human Settlements of 1993. In addition to general provisions
on recovery, the Technical Instructions on Special
Waste particularly contain requirements for chemical/physical and
heat treatment as well as for storage and underground
and above-ground landfilling. The Technical Instructions on Waste
from Human Settlements primarily contain stringent
requirements for the properties of waste for landfill, as well as
separate determination of components that can be
recovered. The former can only be achieved by heat treatment.
Concerning the use of sludge from wastewater treatment plants, the
new version of the corresponding ordinance that
entered into force on 1 July 1992 has introduced substantially more
stringent maximum permissible concentrations of
cadmium and mercury. Maximum levels for dioxin/furans and PCBs have
also now been prescribed for sludge.
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information available.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available
3. Major Groups: No information available
4. Finance: No information available
5. Regional/International Cooperation: See also Chapter 18 (freshwater). German bilateral development co-operation in the field of freshwater supply includes as a rule meassures in the field of sanitation and the mangement of wastes and sewage systems.
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Generation of industrial and municipal waste (t) | ||||
Waste disposed(Kg/capita) | ||||
Expenditure on waste collection and treatment (US$) | ||||
Waste recycling rates (%) | ||||
Municipal waste disposal (Kg/capita) | ||||
Waste reduction rates per unit of GDP (t/year) | ||||
Other data
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 22: SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF
RADIOACTIVE
WASTES
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Since June 1992 the following progress has been
made in the field of ultimate disposal of radioactive
waste: Measures have been taken to inter alia
retrofit and upgrade the Morsleben repository for low level and
intermediate radioactive waste (LLW) containing radionuclides with
relatively short half-lives. Deposition activities have
been continued in 1994. Plans for the Konrad repository for
radioactive waste with negligible heat generation are now in
the process of gaining official approval. In 1992/93 a public
hearing was held which lasted 75 days. The licencing
authority discussed the almost 300.000 objections raised against
the project with the applicant and the intervenors. It is
currently estimated that after the plans for this repository have
been approved, (expected in 1997), it will take another 3
to 4 years until it can begin operation. In connection with the
project for final disposal of heat-generating high-level
radioactive waste (HLW) and spent fuel elements in salt formation
studies have been conducted above and below the
ground to determine the Gorleben site's suitability. The
reconnaissance is going on. Until disposal of radioactive wastes
can be performed in the planned repositories, it is necessary for
them to be safely accommodated in suitable interim
storage facilities. For this purpose, preparations have been
initiated at two sites (Ahaus and Greifswald) for establishment
of additional interim storage capabilities. These storage
facilities are mainly intended for radioactive waste from ongoing
operation and shutdown of nuclear power plants, and from
reprocessing of spent fuel elements. Final disposal of
radioactive waste is a national responsibility. Consequently, no
radioactive waste has been exported for final disposal
elsewhere. The Government advocates refraining from exporting
radioactive waste to countries in which safe and
environmentally sound management of it cannot be ensured. The
safety standards for transport of radioactive wastes in
Germany are on a par with valid international provisions. No major
accidents or failures have occurred in recent years.
So as to harmonize national regulations on transport of radioactive
waste within the European Union and achieve a
uniformly high standard, the Government is now working on an
ordinance to translate corresponding EU guidelines into
national law. It is also participating in endeavors to update and
enhance international transport regulations in the IAEA.
Air transport of large quantities of radioactive materials and
highly radioactive materials will require the use of highly
accident resistant packaging and is being dealt with in this
context.
1. Decision-Making Structure The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is primarily responsible to the final disposal of radioactive waste. The other waste management steps before disposal belong to the responsibility of the operators (waste producers) under the Supervision Federal States of the Governments as regulatory body.
The acting of the authorities and the operators is determined by the Federal Atomic Act which is completed by subordinate law (ordinances) and partly by adopted EU-Directives.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information available.
3. Major Groups: The final disposal is carried out by the Federal Office of Radiation Protection (BfS), a subordinate body of the BMU. BfS makes use, as a third party, of the Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Bau und Betrieb von Endlagern für Abfallstoffe (DBE) operating the disposal facilities. Other waste management activities including interim storage is carried out by the utilities and on behalf of the utilities by the Society for Nuclear Service (Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service; GNS).
4. Finance: The utilities as waste producers are obliged by law to have funds available for the future decommissioning of plants and the final disposal of waste. At present, the fund amounts to 45 Billion DM.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: The Federal Republic of Germany supports regional and international research projects dealing with management of radioactive waste, focusing on final disposal in deep geologic formations. As a signatory to the London Agreement of 1972 (convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter), Germany has committed itself to foregoing sea burial of medium- and high-level radioactive waste. For years, the German Government had been actively urging a ban on the disposal of radioactive waste in the northeast Atlantic. This was achieved at the international meeting of the Oslo-Paris Commission (OSPARC)in September 1992. At the consultative meeting of the signatory states of the London Convention in 1993, the German Government voted in favor of extending the ban to all of the earth's seas. The corresponding resolution was adopted with a qualified majority. The German Government shares the concern regarding the disposal practices of some of the former Eastern-Bloc countries that have come to light and has supported the elaboration of national plans for the safe management of radioactive waste in those countries. Therefore the German Government supports strongly the work on the Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management at the IAEA and is expecting that a great number of States will join the Convention.
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STATUS REPORT ON PARTICIPATION BY MAJOR GROUPS AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS | |
Ch. 24: GLOBAL ACTION FOR WOMEN TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was signed on 17th July 1980 and ratified on 10th July 1985
24.b Increasing the proportion of women decision makers
From 1992 to 1996, the percentage of women in parliament increased from 20.5% to 26.3%.
24.2.e assessing, reviewing, revising and implementing curricula and other educational material with a view to promoting dissemination of gender-relevant knowledge.
Curricula and educational material already promote gender relevant knowledge and are being revised.
24.2.f and 24.2.c formulating and implementing policies, guidelines, strategies and plans for achievement of equality in all aspects of society including issuing a strategy by year 2000 to eliminate obstacles to full participation of women in sustainable development. Policies/strategies etc. are being drawn up.
24.2.d establishing mechanisms by 1995 to assess implementation and impact of development and environment policies and programmes on women
Mechanisms are in place in development cooperation.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
In the legislative sector, there have been decisive advances in the equal rights of women and men in the FRG. The Second Act on Equal Rights of Men and Women, the constitutional obligation to actively promote equal rights, the framework structure and institutional preconditions for the achievement of de facto equal rights have been substantially improved and disadvantages have continued to be purposefully removed. Strategies for the implementation of the platform for action of the 4th World Conference of Women (Bejing 1995) were elaborated in 1996. A host of recommendations made at the World Conference on Women have already been realised in Germany.
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Ch. 25: CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 25.4 establishing processes that promote dialogue between the youth and government at all levels and mechanisms that permit youth access to information and opportunity to present their views on implementing A21. Name relevant youth fora (3-4 most important): 1. 2. 3. 4.
Describe their role in the national process: No information.
25.6 reducing youth unemployment Youth unemployment 1992:______________ 1996:________
25.5 ensuring that by year 2000 more than 50% of youth -- gender balanced -- have access to appropriate secondary education or vocational training.
The goal set in Agenda 21: No information.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
No information.
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Ch. 26: RECOGNIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
26.3.a establishing a process to empower indigenous people and their communities -- through policies and legal instruments:
26.3.b strengthening arrangements for active participation in national policies
26.3.c involving indigenous people in resource management strategies and programmes at the national and local level.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
Not applicable.
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Ch. 27: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: PARTNERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 27.5 developing mechanisms that allow NGOs to play their partnership role responsibly and effectively. 27.6 reviewing formal procedures and mechanisms to involve NGOs in decision making and implementation. 27.8 promoting and allowing NGOs to participate in the conception, establishment and evaluation of official mechanisms to review A21 implementation.
These mechanisms exist already and NGO inputs are important.
27.7 establishing a mutually productive dialogue by 1995 at the national level between NGOs and governments.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): In order to strengthen contributions of major groups to sustainable development at local, regional, national and international levels, the Government has been applying the cooperation principle as a basis for action on environmental policy since the beginning of the eighties. This principle promotes the optimum level of participation by social groups in the formulation and assertion of environmental goals and measures and the environmental reponsibility of citizens, industry and major groups. Given the far reaching ecological structural change going on in the economy and in society at large, the principle of cooperation is gaining in significance. The activities of NGOs in the Rio follow-up process are coordinated by the German NGO Forum on Environment & Development. The Forum's main task is to monitor and promote the implementation of Agenda 21 at national and international levels. It also follows the implementation and development of the adopted conventions (climate, biodiversity and desertification). Substantive issues are dealt with in the Forum through eleven task forces: biodiversity, desertification, women, trade, youth issues, climate, lifestyle, sustainable development. sustainable agriculture, urban and regional development and forests. Some of the Forum's main publications in 1995 were "The 95 Climate Summit in Berlin - a guide from the focal point on environment and development, Bonn 1995"; "Ten core demands - German NGOs on the 1995 Climate Summit, Bonn 1995"; "Desertification - a global challenge, media map produced by the Task Force on Desertification, Forum on Environment and Development, Bonn 1995"; "Three years after Rio, Bonn 1995"; "The Fourth World Conference on Women in Peking - a guide". One important NGO contribution in the spirit of Chapter 27 is provided jointly by BUND (Bund fuer Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) and MISEREOR. The study addresses the issues related to life in a Germany which is viable for the future in terms of the environmtal aspects of development. Major Group organizations also participitate in national and local environmental impact assessment projects, the implementation of national sustainable development projects and occasionally in the design of national sustainable development projects and policies. The German Government included representatives from Major Groups in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, in the World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) in Copenhagen, in the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) and in the delegation to the CSD 1996. In Germany there is a strong associative movement which is independent in its work and funded largely from its own resources. Due to their commitment and initiative, these groups have an important stimulating effect on sustainable and environmentally sound development. As part of its educational work on development policy, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development supports school and non-school projects of German NGOs that serve to raise awareness of problems of environment and development either in Germany or abroad. Within its development cooperation programme, the Federal Government collaborates with the Climate Action Network, Earth Action, Earth Times, IISD, EEB, The Woodstock Research Center, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, ICLEI, WWF, IUCN and WRI. In addition to direct grants, measures have been taken to integrate international NGOs and scientific and technological communities more closely in the implementation of bilateral technical cooperation projects (e.g. IUCN: land use planning in Ecuador; WWF: nature conversation in Cote d'Ivoire). The Federal State of Brandenburg is carrying out the following model projects: - measurement of wind power potential in Cuba - assessment of the risk to the environment of contaminated sites in Russia - protection of species in Mongolia - protection of the rain forests in the Philippines.
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Ch. 28: LOCAL AUTHORITIES' INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA 21.
28.2.d encouraging local authorities to implement and monitor programmes that aim to ensure participation of women and youth in local decision making.
There are at least 300 local Agendas 21. They involve 25 % of population and 90 % involve representation of women and/or youth. All local authorities in Germany (18.000) work for actions for "Sustainable Development". The Government supports local Agenda 21 initiatives.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): The Association of German Cities and Towns (Deutscher Städtetag - DST) carried out an action programme on Local Agenda 21. The DST has produced a guideline for all German cities and towns to implement a "local Agenda 21". Over 90 % of the local authorities deal with the task "sustainable development" in their areas.
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Ch. 29: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF WORKERS AND THEIR TRADE UNIONS. 29.2 full participation of workers in implementation and evaluation of A21. 29.3 a to e (By year 2000, (a) promoting ratification of ILO conventions; (b) establishing bipartite and tripartite mechanism on safety, health and sustainable development; (c) increasing number of environmental collective agreements; (d) reducing occupational accidents and injuries; (e) increasing workers' education and training efforts.
ILO Conventions have been ratified. The Government and trade unions disagree if workers take some part in National Agenda 21 discussion and implementation or not.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
In accordance with the Works Constitution Act, the Works Council has numerous rights in decision making that are relevant from an ecological point of view: monitoring compliance with environmental protection laws that may also have beneficial effects on employees (cf. various provisions contained in the Chemicals Act, the Hazardous Incident Ordinance and the Federal Immission Control Act), codetermination with regard to the working regulations on environmentally compatible behaviour by the employees (waste avoidance and disposal), inclusion of ecological aspects in the planning of buildings, technical installations, working methods, work processes, and the workplace, and intervention in favour of environment-friendly products and manufacturing processes.
As a result of the German system of autonomy in collective bargaining, the collective bargaining partners conclude collective agreements on their own responsibility without any government intervention. They are free to take into account the defined objectives.
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30: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 30.6 increasing the efficiency of resource use, including reuse, recycling, and reduction of waste per unit of economic output.
30.18.a encouraging the concept of stewardship in management and use of natural resources by entrepreneurs.
List any actions taken in this area:
No information.
30.18.b increasing number of enterprises that subscribe to and implement sustainable development policies.
No information.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
No information.
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Ch. 31: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY. 31.3.b improving exchange of knowledge and concerns between s&t community and the general public.
31.9 developing, improving and promoting international acceptance of codes of practice and guidelines related to science and technology and its role in reconciling environment and development.
Brief comments on this chapter not already described in chapter 35 (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
No information.
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Ch. 32: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF FARMERS. 32.5.c promoting and encouraging sustainable farming practices and technologies.
32.5.e developing a policy framework that provides incentives and motivation among farmers for sustainable and efficient farming practices.
32.5.f enhancing participation of organizations of farmers in design and implementation of sustainable development policies.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page):
No information.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 33: FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS
Financial resources and mechanisms are also covered
under each sectoral chapter of Agenda 21 where
relevant. This summary highlights broader national financial
policies, domestic and external
(including ODA)
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: In Germany, Development Cooperation policy is
reviewed constantly as a direct consequence of
UNCED. German development cooperation takes account of the
objectives and recommendations contained in Agenda
21, and concentrates on the key areas which present special
bottlenecks in the respective developing country. In 1994
and 1995 approximately, DM 1 billion, or 25% of all bilateral
commitments, were allocated to projects mainly dealing
with environment and resources protection. In 1995, Germany was
"lead country" within the European Union for the
preparation of the financial issues deliberations for the 3rd
CSD.
CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: Regarding the
provision of additional grant funds for sustainable development,
US$240 million and US$26.45 million respectively
have been provided for the GEF and Montreal Protocol Fund since
1992. Germany also makes considerable
contributions to the UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological
Diversity, the Capacity 21 Programme, CGIAR and
CIFOR. Targeted bilateral programmes have been developed to
contribute to the implementation of international
strategies to combat global environment risks in developing
countries and special funds have been earmarked for this
purpose. Normal debt relief in the context of the Paris Club total
DM 166.8 million. For "debt for nature swaps",
DM 50 million were made available in 1993, DM 80 million, in 1994,
DM 110 million, in 1995, and DM 200 million,
for 1996. Agreements have been made with Bolivia, Cote d'Ivoire,
the Cameroons, Ecuador, Honduras, Congo, Peru,
Jordan, Vietnam, Phillipines and Nicaragua.
NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: Since 1992, no environmental
taxes, levies or charges have been introduced on
the federal level. Taxes and charges with an environmental
component are already levied in Germany (e.g. waste-water charge,
mineral oil duty differentiated by unleaded and leaded gasoline and
emission-oriented motor vehicle tax).
These are taxes where the environmental aspect is one of several
important aspects (e.g. mineral oil duty was
increased on 1st January 1994).
ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES: An
intensive discussion is underway on
phasing out environmental unfriendly subsidies.
ODA policy issues
Germany is a donor country.
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ODA funding provided (Total DM in million) | 11 826 | 11505 | 11057 | - | - | |
Net flow of external capital from all sources as % of GDP | ||||||
Other data In 1994, ODA contributions amounted to DM 11.057 billion. Compared with 1993 (DM 11.505 billion), this is a decrease of DM 448 million or 3.9 %. The ODA/GNP ratio fell from 0.36% to 0.33% Other official funding rose compared with the previoius year by DM 2.7 billion to DM 5.740 billion; this was the highest level to date. The reason for this rise was mainly a large volume of debt reschedulings and compensation payments from federal guarantees. Private flows at normal market conditions rose in 1994 by DM 11.0 billion to their highest level ever, namely DM 20.438 billion. This was due above all to higher levels of bilateral contributions in the fields of direct investment, bonds and shares and bank loans, but also to a rise in multilateral contributions (bonds and shares and bank loans). Private development aid rose in 1994 by 11.0% to DM 1.591 billion, the highest level yet. In 1994, total flows amounted to DM 38.827 billion or 1.17% of GNP, after reaching a level of DM 25.422 billion or 0.80 % of GNP in the previous year. According to the German Governments financial plans up to 1999, the volume of the development aid budget, which covers about 70% of total ODA, is set to increase slightly over the next few years. However, due to the forecast rise in GNP, it is not possible to rule out a drop in the ratio of ODA to GNP.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 34: TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY,
COOPERATION
AND CAPACITY-BUILDING
Transfer of environmentally sound technology,
cooperation and capacity-building is also covered under each
sectoral
chapter of Agenda 21 where relevant. This summary highlights
broader national policies and actions relating to
chapter 34.
STATUS REPORT ON LINKS BETWEEN NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
INFORMATION NETWORKS/SYSTEMS: Technical cooperation is the main
instrument for the transfer of
environmentally sound technologies and for capacity-building.
Within the framework of development cooperation
Germany supports partner countries in the establishment and
expansion of their scientific and technological competence
and promotes the adaptation and dissemination of technologies. It
also supports the development and application of
processes and products which are tailored to the particular needs
and conditions of individual countries and contribute
to the development of their natural resources. Germany provides
funds to employ an increasing number of experts
from developing countries within the framework of technical
ccoperation to maximize the use of local potentials and
contribute to capacity-building. The German Appropriate Technology
Exchange - GATE - is a special working unit of
GTZ operation mainly in the fields of renewable energies,
environmental and resource protection, village technology,
building and construction, food processing, water supply and
sanitation and organic agriculture.
The question-and-answer service run by ISAT ("Information and
Advisory Services for the Adaptation of
Technologies") on the basis of wide-ranging documentation aims to
provide information and advice on technologies.
The question-and-answer service not only helps to mobilize existing
abilities and skills and promotes self-help activities
by non-governmental organizations, but also assists craft trades,
small-scale industry and local authorities in developing
countries by providing information and advice. The programme
PROTRADE has included in its advisory services for
firms in developing countries aspects of manufacture of clean
products and modifications to production processes by
using environmentally sound technologies. This applies especially
to the food industry and the production of
footwear/leatherware, furniture and textiles.
As Germany is a worldwide leader in the export of modern
environmental technologies, the Federal Government and
Federations of German Business, Trade and Industry and the DIHT
(Deutscher Industrie- und Handelstag) have
established the International Centre for Transfer of Environment
Technology "ITUT" in Leipzig. The Transfer Centre
is part of an initiative by industry, research and the Federal
Government to improve the transfer of technology to the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America and
is to re-inforce and consolidate technical,
scientific and political cooperation in environmental protection
between Germany and the partner countries.
In line with its two complementary objectives ("Promotion of global
environmental protection" and "Supporting the
export of German environmental technology") the Transfer Centre is
divided into two independent institutions, a non-profit association
and a limited company.
The founding members of the non-profit association to promote the
international transfer of environmental technology
(ITUT e.V.) are the Federal Republic of Germany, the Free State of
Saxony, industry associations, trade unions, public
banks and scientific institutions.
The association acts as an information and communication centre on
environmental protection know-how with the
objective of promoting the transfer of knowledge in the field of
environmental protection as a way of helping to solve
regional and global environmental and developmental problems in the
partner countries, strengthening environmental
awareness and the harmonisation of legal systems and environmental
standards worldwide.
ITUT GmbH (limited company) is an interface for the supply and
demand side to facilitate the transfer of
environmentally sound technology from Germany to the partner
countries for small and medium-sized businesses in
particular. In this connection the limited company cooperates
closely with 9 environmental area managers who are
based in the overseas chambers of commerce in selected partner
countries.
Currently the establishment of highly modern industrial structures
with integrated environmental protection is becoming
a dominant issue in Germany, especially in the new
municipalities.
The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce
together with the Federal Ministry for the
Environment are joint sponsors of the "Umweltbuero Ost der
Deutschen Wirtschaft", established in September 1992.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
To strengthen environmentally sound technology transfer, capacity-building and institutional development, no general needs assessment exercises are being supported. However, within the framework of many development cooperation projects, specific targeted assessments are undertaken. As a result of a study commission on "evaluation of the impact of technology", an office has been established in the German Parliament. In 1995 the office commissioned a study on the evaluation of the impact of the transfer of bio-technology in developing countries. The study concluded that it was appropriate to transfer technology only if the conditions and policy framework in a country allowed the direct use and benefit by and for the population. Environmental advice, related technology and know-how transfer are increasingly becoming an integrated part of the projects of German industry and its self-governing organizations acting on an international level. The more favourable the economic and political-institutional conditions are, the more effectivly it will be possible to employ environmentally sound technologies.
MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: In the context of its technology cooperation and technical assistance programme, the German Government has in ten cases either established credit-lines on environmental issues or contributed to environmental funds. The aim is to facilitate investment in secondary or integrated technologies, particularly for small and medium-scale enterprises. Due to the German Government Transform Advisory Programme an annual figure of approx. DM 5,5 million is channelled into advisory services which include environmental issues. Some of these activities are organized in the context of technology transfer. The Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau and the DEG have special credit lines for banks in developing countries that can be used for environment related investments. In 1992, the Government allocated DM 93 million to the promotion of universities in developing countries (e.g. in India, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico), a considerable proportion of which is contributing to strengthening capacity in the environmental sector. The Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development Cooperation (ARTEFACT) provides grants to students from developing countries for special training in the field of appropriate technologies.
Describe any work being undertaken at the national or local levels regarding efforts to promote clean production processes and/or the concepts of eco-efficiency. These processes may include training, preferential financial arrangements, information dissemination and changes in legal or regulatory frameworks.
Seventy-three Chambers of Commerce and representatives of German business in foreign countries form an important network for the transfer of knowledge and technology related to the environment. As of January 1996, in certain bilateral Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai, Bombay, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Sao Paulo, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw "Environmental Area Managers" reporting to the DIHT and ITUT have been installed. It is the intention of the Government to extend the project. As of January 1st, 1997, an Area Manager will be assigned in Mexico. It is the aim of German Industry to make a contribution using German expertise to relieving the strain on the environment at national and international levels. In Tunisia, the German Government will support the development of a training centre for environmental technology. The project will focus on training personnel of the Ministry of the Environment, its related authorities and environmental officers from industry and commerce. In the area of joint ventures and other partnerships between developed and developing countries, the "Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG)" is implementing a project in Rio Lajas, Costa Rica, which entails the construction of a hydropower plant whose reservoir would be fed by three rivers to ensure water supply during periods of peak demand. This project focuses on the use of renewable sources of energy, the exploitation of natural water resources, the low impact on the landscape by sound construction methods and the avoidance of large-scale earth moving or flooding. The DEG also conducted country studies in Thailand and India which form the basis of joint ventures between local and German companies. Another project is the DACASA, the electricity generation project in Guatemala. DACASA is a family firm which, since 1986, has been active in the processing and marketing of sugar cane. A thermal power plant has now been built and the power produced is to be sold to the state power generation company and fed into the national grid. In order to enhance South-South cooperation, the Forum for Appropriate Technology (AT Forum) was established in mid-1993. It includes the ISAT project, the GTZ and the DED, as well as 15 non-governmental organizations. The aim of this forum is to improve cooperation in the area of "Appropriate Technology". |
In 1995, a Colombian NGO consultancy organized a seminar on post-harvest technology in Columbia. ISAT "Information and Advisory Services for the Adaptation of Technologies" is another project run in technical cooperation. ISAT works with NGOs in countries of the South which emphasize the adaptation and dissemination of technology in their own development. The Federal Republic of Germany supports investment projects in neighbouring countries which are designed to reduce transboundary pollution and to serve as models applying advanced technology. Two examples are the sewage treatment plant in Swinemuende, Poland and the desulphurization plant at Prunerov power plant, CR. The Federal Government promotes foreign direct investment of German enterprises, inter alia, through investment protection agreements, capital investment guarantees, double taxation agreements and joint ventures. It supported the first German-Chinese workshop on the establishment of a hazardous waste management system in China and, in 1994, the Sino-German Special Waste Days in Beijing. The Germany-Singapore environmental technology agency (GSETA) represents a joint endeavour in supporting environmental protection efforts in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The agency aims to facilitate and support transfer of know-how in environmental protection and of environmental technology in the Asia-Pacific region through events organised jointly by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Environment of Singapore, for example further training measures, seminars, workshops and specific conferences on environmental management and environmental technology. These events also are to provide opportunities for contacts between participants and providers of environmental technology. More than 600 experts from the environmental administrations of 17 Asia-Pacific states were present during the 11 events organised. Providing developing countries with information on know how and environmental technology is one goal of several bilateral agreements between the Federal Government and developing countries. The Federal Government also started an initiative to support the private sector in the transfer of advanced environmental technologies and cooperation schemes in overseas markets (i.e. China, Brasil, Mexico). Germany also supports two projects for phasing out CFCs in India and China.
Provide information on the adoption of environmental management systems. National reaction to environmental management system standards such as the ISO 14000 Series and others. Please note efforts made at the national level to promote their adoption and the creation of certification infrastructure in order to facilitate access to these standards to local industry. On the basis of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1836/93 allowing voluntary participation by companies in a Community eco-management and audit scheme Germany has enacted a "German Act concerning the accreditation of environmental verifiers and environmental verification organisations and the registration of eco-audited sites". The act has entered into force on 15 December 1995. Until now 120 environmental verifiers and environmental verification organisations have been accredited and approximately 410 participating sites have been registered. Besides that, Germany prepares for the implementation of the ISO 14000 series concerning environmental management systems. Therefore Germany has adopted a certification procedure which is based on the approach laid down in the German Act. This enables the German industry to have access to the EMAS-System as well as to the system of the ISO 14000 series. With regard to the EMAS-scheme it is considered to make use of the possibility given in Article 14 of the EMAS-Regulation to include sectors outside industry into the scheme.
List and describe programs or work under way to facilitate the transfer of ESTs to small and medium sized enterprises. Please note efforts to facilitate access to financial resources and other transfer strategies.
A special project is in preparation for assisting SMEs with the introduction of environmentally oriented management methods.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 35: SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH NEEDS AND
PRIORITIES:
Research on global change and sustainability in Germany is
undertaken above all with support from the Federal Ministry of
Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) and the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG,
German Research Association). In addition, some research
institutions and projects receive funding from other Ministries
such as the Federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU), via the
Federal Environmental Protection Agency
(UBA), the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV), via the German
Meteorological Service (DWD), among others. The
Länder also support (in some cases in co-operation with the
Federal Government) research projects and research
establishments dealing with global change and sustainability.
Federal Government R & D expenditure on environmental
and climate research amounted to DM 1,030 million in 1994, of which
DM 435 million went to ecological research,
DM 345 million to support of innovative environmental protection
technologies, and 249 million to climate and
atmospheric research.
Ecological research is to make available the necessary information
to show where and when the regeneration and
development capacity of natural ecosystems are jeopardized by human
intervention. The focuses of ecological research
in Germany are on studies of "urban ecology" (including topics such
as sustainable municipal water management,
possibilities of steering ecologically compatible mobility in urban
regions), of the rehabilitation of landscapes spoilt by
lignite mining in the new Länder, on forest ecosystems and
agricultural landscapes research as well as on the
renaturation of running waters. Furthermore, there is a priority
entitled "Biotope and species protection".
Support for innovative environmental protection technologies
pursues the goal of developing methods and processes
designed to avoid future environmental damage from the outset by
means of integrated technologies, or to reduce
contamination by means of integrated technologies or by means of
remedial measures. The relevant funding concept on
clean production (PIUS) was presented in 1994. Other research
activities, among other things, deal with the avoidance
and utilization of waste (for example in construction and
paper-making) and with the rehabilitation of abandoned
hazardous sites.
Climate and atmospheric research in Germany concerns itself
particularly intensively with the problems of global
change which are assumed to result from anthropogenic influences on
the climate. The focus has so far been on the
investigation of the physical bases of climate change, and less on
climate research. Climate impact research currently
focuses on only a few research activities for the purpose of
testing methodological approaches and clarifying newly
emerging issues of interdisciplinary co-operation. The pilot
project undertaken jointly by BMBF and the five German
coastal Länder ("Climate change and the coast") studies the
German coastal regions for possible climate impacts
including potential socio-economic consequences.
Several panels of experts have been set up to define the current
state of the art and the research priorities to be derived
from it in connection with the range of problems involved in global
change and sustainability.
In the past, there were the "Enquete Commission of the German
Bundestag on Protecting the Earths Atmosphere" and
the Climate Advisory Council. The German Advisory Council of
Environmental Experts (within the purview of BMU)
publishes a report at intervals of two years. Of particular
relevance to the topic of global change and sustainability are
the annual reports of the German Advisory Council on Global Change,
(WBGU). These annual reports have in recent
years been entitled: "Ways towards Global Environmental Solutions"
(1995), "The Threat to Soils" (1994), and "Basic
Structure of Global Human-Environment Interactions" (1993). The
implications of the problem of global change for
German science are the subject of the WBGUs annual report for 1996,
which is entitled "The Research Challenge".
STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY: The model of sustainable development set up in Agenda 21 is the foundation of the Federal Governments Environmental research programme, which is in preparation. The programme specifies the following central tasks for research: participation in the definition of environmental goals and creation of new techniques and action strategies for sustainable development. Greater emphasis than in the past is to be placed on the application of the research results in practice. The programme outlines three major tasks for environmental research: contribution to safeguarding environmental systems, elaboration of concepts for socially and environmentally compatible economic activity, and creation of framework conditions for environmentally compatible action. The programme will be released in spring 1997. Within the NATO-Committee on the Challenges for Modern Society Germany as a pilot country together with the United States of America conducts a pilot study on "Environment and Security in an International context", examining the interrelationship between environmental degradation (pollution, ressource scarcity) and (military) conflict with the aim to develop recommendations for security and environmental policy.
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Year | |||
Number of scientists, engineers and technicians engaged in research and experimental development | 296,727 (FRG) 195,073 (GDR) | 1989 | |
Total expenditure for research and experimental development (US$eq.) | $ | 19-- | |
Other data
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 36: PROMOTING EDUCATION, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
TRAINING
STATUS REPORT:
a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable
development
The Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and
Technology and the Ministries of Education and
Environment of the Federal States are responsible for most
activities falling under chapter 36 of Agenda 21. Those
Ministries are not members of the National Coordinating Body for
Sustainable Development and they have no advisory
or consultative bodies on environmental education. The Federal
Ministry for Education, Science, Research and
Technology supports research projects, pilot projects and
conferences, also in cooperation with NGOs. The Federal
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology receives
support from the Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal
Environmental Agency primarily in the field of
"Promoting Environmental Awareness". The Federal Government,
however, has advisory bodies called "Scientific
Advisory Council on Global Environmental Changes
(Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale
Umweltveraenderungen, WBGU)" and the "Council of Environmental
Advisors" (Rat von Sachverständigen für
Umweltfragen) which try to raise awareness on environmental issues
and on comprehensive global and national measures
to promote environmental education. In the area of education,
school curricula have been reviewed and revised to
address adequately environment and development as a cross cutting
issue at primary, secondary school, college and
university levels and in vocational schools. As school curricula
are determined by the several Federal States, there is no
single national curriculum. To provide environmental education,
audio visual tools and printed materials are often used
at all school levels. Special classes, workshops and seminars are
often used at university level, occasionally used at
secondary school level and in vocational schools but not at primary
school level. Environmental issues have become an
integrated part of school and vocational education. There is,
however, still a great deal to be done since environmental
education largely takes the form of a cognitive learning process
attached to scientific and technical subjects. The
complexity of ecological questions is not demonstrated graphically
enough and lessons rarely lead to environmentally-sound action. At
universities, there is not sufficient scope to explore the
interdisciplinary possibilities of these issues. At
all school levels and at university level the topics of
environmental health, safe drinking water, sanitation, food,
ecosystems, recycling and energy saving are dealt with in part;
however, the extent of coverage depends upon individual
teachers.
b) Increasing public awareness
The Federal and State Ministries are encourageing partnerships,
mobilizing resources, providing information and
assessing the needs of different population groups. At the state
level, there is a wide range of "out-of-school"
environmental activities and numerous projects where schools
cooperate with non-school environmental education
bodies. The German "Bundeswehr" also runs regular in-service
courses on environmental protection for managment,
officers and personnel.
c) Promoting training
Predominantly at the Federal State level, pre-service and
in-service training programmes are available for teachers,
administrators, educational planners and non-formal educators in
all sectors concerning the nature and methods of
environmental and development education. The German "Bundeswehr"
runs regular in-service courses on environemntal
protection. In cooperation with UNEP and UNESCO the Federal
Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety offers environmental management training courses
for experts from developing countries. These
courses are held at Dresden University of Technology.
ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS:
Most awareness raising programmes and activities aimed at the
population at large are especially by environmental and
nature conservation associations, youth organisations and other
groups of society, sometimes with financial assistance
from the Federal Government and the Länder. In some regions
there are pilot or demonstration projects (Klimabuendnis
der Staedte, 1000-Dächer-Programm). Steps have also been taken
to foster opportunities for women in non-traditional
fields and to eliminating gender stereotyping in curricula.
Environmental and conservation societies and associations and
environmental centres of some federal states support projects on
environmental education.
FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES: No
information available
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
GERMANY (Cont'd....)
Enrolement of students at various levels:
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||||||
First or Primary school level | Secondary school level | Vocational schools | College/University level | |||||
Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
1980 | 50% | 50% | 54 | 46 | 57 | 43 | 63 | 37 |
1990 | 50% | 50% | 51 | 49 | 56 | 43 | 67 | 33 |
1995 | 50% | 50% | 50 | 50 | 57 | 43 | 62 | 38 |
Footnotes/Comments: Data available covers only the "old states" of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1980 and 1990.
STATISTICAL DATA/INDICATORS | ||||
| 1980 | 1990 | Latest | |
State Indicators | ||||
a. | Adult literacy rate (%) | 99% | 99% | 99% |
b. | Population reaching grade 5 of primary education (%) | 100% | 100% | 100% |
c. | Mean number of years of schooling | 9 | 9/10 | 9/10* |
Response Indicators | ||||
a. | % of GDP spent on education | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.88 |
b. | Females per 100 males in secondary school | about 100 | about 100 | about 100 |
c. | Women per 100 men in the labour force | 61.3 | 66.7 | 72.4 |
* in some states 10 years full time schooling
AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 37: NATIONAL MECHANISMS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
National capacity building is also covered under
sectoral chapters.
Donors: You may wish to describe here how Agenda 21
has influenced your ODA policies in this area.
Developing countries: You may wish to describe any
new national mechanisms for capacity building - and any changes in
technical cooperation.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL ENDOGENOUS CAPACITY BUILDING:
No information.
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 38: INTERNATIONAL
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Ch. 38: Brief summary of any particular UN System response affecting this country/state:
In summer 1996, Bonn became a seat of the United Nations. Two important institutions from the field of environment and development policy started their work in Bonn: the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Volunteers Programme. The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS Secretariat) is already based in Bonn. Germany is also seeking to become the seat of the Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification. The intention is to consolidate Bonn's position as a centre of international environment and development policy.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 39: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS
Ch. 39: International Legal Instruments are covered under the relevant sectoral chapters. This is a listing of major agreements/conventions (not already covered) entered into and relevant to Agenda 21:
No information.
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AGENDA
21 CHAPTER 40: INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING
This chapter is also covered under sectoral and
other chapters of this profile. The matrix below gives an overview
of how national authorities rate the available information for
decision making.
Rating of available data and information suitable for
decision-making
2.
International cooperation and trade
3.
Combating poverty
4.
Changing consumption patterns
5.
Demographic dynamics and sustainability
6.
Human health
7.
Human settlements
8.
Integrating E & D in decision-making
9.
Protection of the atmosphere
10.
Integrated planning and management of land resources
11.
Combating deforestation
12.
Combating desertification and drought
13.
Sustainable mountain development
14.
Sustainable agriculture and rural development
15.
Conservation of biological diversity
16.
Biotechnology
17.
Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources
18.
Freshwater resources
19.
Toxic chemicals
20.
Hazardous wastes
21.
Solid wastes
22.
Radioactive wastes
24.
Women in sustainable development
25.
Children and youth
26.
Indigenous people
27.
Non-governmental organizations
28.
Local authorities
29.
Workers and trade unions
30.
Business and industry
31.
Scientific and technological community
32.
Farmers
33.
Financial resources and mechanisms
34.
Technology, cooperation and capacity-building
35.
Science for sustainable development
36.
Education, public awareness and training
37.
International cooperation for capacity-building
38.
International institutional arrangements
39.
International legal instruments
40.
Information for decision-making
Germany participates in the CSD Work Programme on Indicators and in the OECD approach for Indicators for Environmental Reporting. Work is in progress for an Environmental Economic Accounting System. The "Environmental Report 1994" provides information at the national level. In the context of the Alpine Convention special indicators are being planned for sustainable mountain development. Germany also participates in the development of indicators for sustainable forest management. Important information on trends in the environment are set out in the German Government's reports on the state of the environment. The constant flow of statistics gathered and published by the State and Federal Statistical Offices also play a significant role.
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Federal Environmental Agency in Berlin and the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden are involved in the work on indicators for sustainable development. There is an informal "network" of experts of different Ministries and research institutes established by the BMU for information exchange and the development of indicators for sustainable development at the national level.
The following data bases are available with data for sustainable development: - STATIS-BUND (statistical information system), - UGRIS (partly to be developed), - UMPLIS (environmental planning and information system), - LANIS (special information on nature conservation).
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is drawing up a plan for the possibilities of satellite remote sensing for environmental policy and environmental research and for an environmental observation programme. The Government is participating in the creation of the European Earth Observation System, in the development of the Centre for Earth Observation and in several more EU initiatives. It also participates in the GCOS, the GTOS and the GOOS.
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Latest 199- | ||||
Number of telephones in use per 100 inhabitants | 40.1 | 45.7 | ||
Other data
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Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
Last updated 1 November 1997