Hydraulic fracturing technology, used to extract natural gas from unconventional deposits, can lead to groundwater contamination. There is particular concern and uncertainty regarding the use of chemicals and the disposal of flowback, the wastewater produced by the process. more

The 6th World Water Forum was opened today in the French town of Marseilles under the motto "time for solutions". Access to water and sanitation is one of the greatest and most urgent challenges affecting the entire human race. Almost 900 million people worldwide cannot access clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people have no access adequate sanitation. According to UN estimations, in the year 2025 two thirds of the world's population will be affected by water shortages. more

On 10 February 2012, the Council of the European Union adopted the regulation amending EC Regulation 648/2004 on the use of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in consumer laundry detergents and consumer automatic dishwasher detergents which was adopted by the European Parliament in a first reading on 14 December 2011. It is expected to enter into force in March 2012. more

On 27 October 2011 the European Commission presented its proposal for a regulation on safety of offshore oil and gas prospection, operation and production activities, thus taking concrete steps resulting from the Deep Water Horizon platform disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
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The ecological importance of wetlands for climate protection is being increasingly recognised. So far, the Federal Environment Ministry has provided more than € 27 million from the International Climate Initiative (ICI) for wetland conservation projects.
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On 2 October 2010, Ursula Heinen-Esser, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry accepted the UNESCO certificate recognising the German-Dutch Wadden Sea as World Natural Heritage on behalf of the German government.
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Ursula Heinen-Esser, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, acknowledged the protection of the Elbe river as an outstanding example of international cooperation. more