Climate change and environmental problems do not stop at national borders and can only be tackled through joint action of states. Over the years climate and environmental policy have therefore become a core issue of the European Union. European environmental law helps to efficiently cope with transboundary issues while at the same time creating a level playing field for industry inside the European Single Market.

With the European Green Deal, the Commission has presented a roadmap for a sustainable European economy in 2019. That roadmap is currently being fleshed out and developed through various initiatives and proposals on environmental and climate policy.

The work of the environment department covers a wide range of European environmental and climate policy and its legal form - climate protection and climate adaptation, regulation of chemicals, nature conservation including air, water and soil protection and implementation of a comprehensive recycling economy.

The department also oversees some aspects of EU consumer protection policy.

Current dossiers:

• “Fit for 55” package: Revision of EU climate protection law to adapt to the new 2030 climate targets, including the Commission's proposal for the establishment of a climate social fund
• Revision of the Batteries Directive
• Sustainable product policy as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan (including the Sustainable Product Policy Legislative Initiative, EU strategy for sustainable textiles)
• Implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Sustainability Strategy for Chemicals
• Amendments to the EU ozone regulation and the EU regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The environment department is headed by Dr. Stefanie Pfahl

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

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