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 unit covers a wide range of European environmental and climate policy and its respective legal proposals in the areas of climate protection and climate adaptation, regulation of chemicals, nature conservation including air, water and soil protection and the implementation of a comprehensive circular economy.
The unit also oversees some aspects of EU consumer protection policy.

Current dossiers:

• Climate Target 2040, Adaptation
• Soil Monitoring Law
• Water Resilience
• Waste Framework Directive (Textiles/ Food Waste)
• Green Claims Directive
• 8th Environment Action Programme Mid-term Review
  

The environment department is headed by Almut Nagel.

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

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