Making environmental law fit for the future

The Öko-Institut, Deutsche Umwelthilfe and the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues have joined forces in this joint project to provide constructive and critical support for the reform of environmental law (UGB) initiated by the German government. The reorganization of German environmental law was agreed in the coalition agreement of November 11, 2005. Under the leadership of the BMU, environmental law is to be simplified and consolidated in an Environmental Code. With our expertise in the discussion, we want to contribute to ensuring that German environmental policy takes up the ecological and social challenges at this crucial juncture. The existing regulations must be examined to determine whether they ensure the necessary protection of the environment, enable sustainable economic activity, are enforcement and innovation-friendly and are suitable for avoiding conflicts. The aim is to focus attention on the political significance of the proposed legislation so that a high standard of environmental law is maintained in Germany and the UGB guarantees genuine added value for people and the environment. In particular, it is also important to work towards ensuring that current and future requirements of climate protection and biodiversity conservation are better reflected in German law than has been the case to date. The project will continuously accompany the codification process of environmental law through expert opinions and workshops, including on the topics of integrated project approval, public participation, climate protection in the UGB, as well as nature conservation and biodiversity.