Servicemenü

Organisation

Inhaltsbereich

Independent Advisory Bodies

Overview

Council of Environmental Advisors
(Rat von Sachverständigen für Umweltfragen - SRU)

Established as early as 1972, the SRU has the task of appraising the environmental situation in Germany and drawing attention to undesirable developments and ways and means of avoiding or eliminating them. Its recommendations are addressed not only to the Federal Government, but also to the Länder, local authorities, industry and the public. The Council, which has seven members, submits an overall environmental expertise to the Federal Government every four years. The latest one - submitted in June 2008 - was entitled "Environmental Protection against the Background of Climate Change".

Special expertises comprise comprehensive investigations of specific environmental problems: a special expertise on "Climate Change and Biomass" was submitted in July 2007, another one on "Environmental Authorities under Reform Pressure: Challenges, Strategies and Perspectives" was submitted in February 2007.

The Council also issues statements of its views on topical issues of environmental policy, e.g. current legislation plans.

More information:

www.umweltrat.de

Advisory Council to the Federal Government on Global Change (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen - WBGU)

The WBGU, consisting of twelve scientists from a variety of disciplines, was set up in 1992 under the joint lead-management of the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Research Ministry.Every year it submits to the Federal Government an expertise on global environmental changes and their implications. In this expertise it is required to pay special attention to compliance with anddevelopment of the agreements reached at the United Nations world summit in Rio de Janeiro and the "Agenda 21" plan of action adopted there The expertises are to describe the nature and extent ofenvironmental changes including their ethical aspects, contain an analysis of the latest research findings, indicate any needs for further research, and make suggestions for environmental policyaction to avoid or eliminate undesirable developments.

More information:

www.wbgu.de
(Advisory Council to the Federal Government on Global Change)

Reactor Safety Commission (Reaktor-Sicherheitskommission - RSK) and Commission on Radiological Protection (Strahlenschutzkommission - SSK)

The work of the RSK and the SSK was placed on a new footing in 1999 with the aim of a clearer division of labour: responsibility for legal and technical risk assessment of nuclear facilities rests with the supervisory authorities of the Länder. The two commissions, whose composition now reflects the entire spectrum of scientific knowledge, are to undertake the necessary scientific analysis and draw up technical alternatives.
The SSK, founded in 1974, makes recommendations to the Federal Environment Ministry regarding protection from the risks of ionising and other radiation for the general public and for persons working in medical establishments, research, industry and nuclear facilities. Its 14 members are each appointed for a term of three years.
The RSK, founded in 1958, advises the Federal Environment Ministry on matters concerning the safety and security of nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants or interim storage facilities for spent fuel elements. It also plays a major part in the ongoing development of safety standards for nuclear facilities. The members of the Commission (usually 12) are each appointed for a term ofthree years.

More information:

www.ssk.de (Commission on Radiological Protection)www.rskonline.de (Reactor Safety Commission)

Commission on Process Safety (Kommission für Anlagensicherheit - KAS)

The Commission on Process Safety (KAS) unites the two previous advisory councils in the field of installation safety - the Commission for Hazardous Incidents (SFK) and the Technical Committee for Plant Safety (TAA). The KAS advises the Federal Government or competent Federal Ministry. At regular intervals, or for a specific reason, it will provide an expert opinion on the options for improving plant safety. It will also propose riles which are in line with the best available safety technology (safety rules).

Professor Dr. Jochum is the Chair of the Commission. The new Commission has 33 members corresponding to the groups to be considered pursuant to Article 51a para. 3 of the Federal Immissions Control Act (BImSchG).

More information:

www.kas-bmu.de (Commission on Process Safety)

Environmental Verification Committee (Umweltgutachterausschuss - UGA)

The Environmental Verification Committee (UGA) was set up in December 1995 on the basis of the Environmental Audit Act in order to secure the quality and transparency of environmental audits in Germany. The composition and tasks of the UGA are listed in Article 21 of the Environmental Audit Act, which regulates the carrying out of corporate eco-management in Germany in accordance with the European EMAS Regulation. The Committee advises the Federal Environment Ministry in the field of accreditation and supervision of state accredited environmental verifiers and is responsible, inter alia, for promoting EMAS in Germany. The guidelines on accreditation, examination and supervision and further UGA decisions are available on the Internet. The UGA comprises representatives of major groups interested in environmental auditing: industry, environmental verifiers, environmental and economic administrations of the Federation and the Länder, trade unions and environmental associations. The 25 members and their 25 deputies are appointed by the Federal Environment Ministry at the suggestion of the respective federal umbrella associations and organisations for a period of three years. The fourth appointment period began at the end of 2004.

Further information:

Website of the Environmental Verification Committee (UGA):
www.uga.de

Commission on Waste Management (Entsorgungskommission - ESK)

In the past, the Federal Environment Ministry received advice on safety-related issues of nuclear waste management by the Reactor Safety Commission's committee on waste management. Because of the increasing significance of waste management issues, Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel appointed eleven scientists to the newly founded Commission on Waste Management (Entsorgungskommission - ESK). The Commission's constituent meeting was held in Bonn on 30 June 2008. The Commission on waste management advises the Federal Environment Ministry on all aspects of nuclear waste management. These include conditioning, interim storage and transport of radioactive materials and waste, decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities as well as final disposal in deep geological formations. It thus complements the Reactor Safety Commission (Reaktorsicherheitskommission - RSK) and the Commission on Radiological Protection (Strahlenschutzkommission - SSK) which have been in existence for many years. The members of the Commission are independent and not bound by instructions. They represent a broad spectrum of positions based on the state of the art in science and technology. The Federal Environment Ministry appoints the members of the Commission for a period of up to three years. Immediate reappointment is possible.

Further information:

Website of the Commission on Waste Management: www.entsorgungskommission.de

Advisory Committee pursuant to section 32a of the Civil Aviation Act

The Advisory Committee pursuant to section 32a of the Civil Aviation Act (LuftVG) was established in 1971 with the Act for Protection against Aircraft Noise. The Committee falls within the remit of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Housing and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and advises the Ministries on issues of noise protection and pollution control in air traffic. It must be heard prior to the adoption of statutory ordinances and general administrative provisions pursuant to the Civil Aviation Act if these are aiming for protection against air traffic noise or air pollution caused by aircraft. The Committee can also issue recommendations on these topics. If the competent Ministries consider a recommendation by the Committee unsuitable or not feasible, they must inform the Committee in writing and state the reasons for their position. With its expertise the Advisory Committee represents many relevant disciplines and institutions in the areas of environmental protection and air traffic. In particular, these are the science and technology sectors, airport operators and airlines, national associations of local authorities, noise protection and environmental associations, noise abatement commissions at airports, aeronautical authorities, supreme aeronautical authorities, supreme environmental authorities of the Länder and the Federal Environment Agency. Since 2007 half the members of the Committee have been appointed by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVBS) and half by the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU).

Environmental Label Jury

The Environmental Label jury is the independent body responsible for awarding the Blue Angel (Blauer Engel) eco-label. According to its rules of procedure the Jury is composed of 15 individuals up to 13 of whom are appointed by the Federal Minister for the Environment in consultation with the chairperson of the Conference of Federal and State Ministers for the Environment for a period of three years. This is done with due consideration to all relevant social groups, such as representatives from environmental and consumer associations, trade and industry, to mention just some of them. Two additional members of the Jury are representatives of the Länder. One Länder representative is a person delegated by the Ministry for the Environment of the state (or Land) chairing the Conference of Federal and State Ministers for the Environment and the second one is delegated by the state that had previously chaired the Conference. The Federal Minister for the Environment appoints the Länder representatives for a period of two years. During the first meeting of each appointment period the Jury elects a chairperson from among its midst. The Jury meets twice a year for its rotational meetings. In addition to this, the committees (Basic Award Criteria, Marketing/International Affairs, Technological Progress) meet to discuss specific topics. The chairperson represents the Jury at events and discussions held between the meetings. Jury members are impartial and not bound by directives. They work in an honorary capacity. Tasks and Competences: Spurring Developments The Environmental Label Jury awards the Blue Angel eco-label to products and services which - from a holistic point of view - are of particular benefit to the environment and, at the same time, meet high standards of serviceability and health and occupational protection. The Jury decides on the products and services to be awarded the "Blue Angel" eco-label as well as on the underlying Basic Award Criteria and the respective compliance verifications. These are elaborated on a scientific basis by the Federal Environment Agency with the collaboration of RAL and the groups involved.