Search

Although environmental voluntary agreements have long been considered an element of a distinctly 'German' policy mix, this was only truly the case during the 1980s and 1990s, and the use of this instrument has since come to a sudden end. In the literature, the (assumed) ever-increasing use of such agreements is explained by either the power of business in times of globali-sation or the agreements' particular functionality as opposed to statutory regulatory instruments. This article, based on a macro-study of voluntary agreements in Germany and 13 in-depth case studies ranging from 1977 to 2005, argues that neither functionality nor power alone can account for the use of voluntary agreements. Rather, institutions, in particular European law, play a role, as does party politics. Business power is not irrelevant, but its impact is highly dependent on other factors; there is little evidence for a general problem in the use of regulatory law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several international developments regarding environmental policy and law. It discusses how human rights developments relate to the development policy in Germany. It also presents the proposal for Global Environmental Goals, along with a description of the challenges of the international environmental regime and the efforts to improve environmental governance. The article also focuses on the International Tropical Timber Organization, an intergovernmental organization focused on the sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources. Also, it offers a review of the book "Weaving a Web of Environmental Law," by Barbara J. Lausche.

This paper provides an analysis of the German Packaging Ordinance of 1991 and its effects, focussing particularly on two cases concerning the legislation brought before the European Court of Justice. An historical overview of the development of the legislation is provided; the two European Court cases and the resulting judgments are introduced; and the governmental and academic reactions to these judgments are discussed to establish whether the rulings are either ambiguous or provide clear guidance for the German Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the mid-1970s well into the 1980s, the Federal Alliance of Citizens' Initiatives for Environmental Protection (BBU) was one of Germany's most visible and influential environmental organisations, an unusual achievement for a network of local organisations. Lacking strong competitors, it was able to become a central movement organisation for Germany's rapidly growing anti-nuclear power and environmental movements. However, after institutionalisation of environmental concerns robbed the movement of some of its impetus, competing social movement organisations appeared, and government subsidies ended, familiar problems of grass-roots networks, which had plagued the BBU from the beginning, intensified. The resulting downward spiral cost the BBU most of its members and its prominence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reviews the environmental law in Germany. Germany implemented the European Emissions Trading Scheme relating to a mechanism for the trade of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Community into national law. On July 15, 2004, the Draft of the Ordinance concerning solvent-based paints and varnish has been approved. The Renewable Energy Sources Act entered into force on August 1, 2004. On April 1, 2004, the Federal Administrative Court decided a crossing over the river Mosel between Belgium and Germany. The German government decided the Draft of an Amendment to the Packaging Ordinance on November 3, 2004. On July 1, 2004, the government agreed to the draft of an Act on Improving Preventive Flood Protection.

Eco-labelling is a means of conveying environmental information to the consumer with the eco-label being the carrier of information, telling the public through the label that the product is more environmentally friendly than comparable products. The Blue Angel, Germany's eco-label, fulfils the role of an instrument of environmental protection to a high degree by being limited to the relevant facts, carrying easily understandable information and by ensuring that the information originates from a neutral official source. Furthermore, the information contained in the Blue Angel is both easily recognized and easily obtained. On the negative side, however, the Blue Angel is sometimes not easily understood without the need for additional information and the relativity of the eco-label is not readily understood by the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety analyzes the role of the nation state in international environmental policy. With reference to the European Union, he argues that independent national environmental policy no longer exists inside the Union. Brussels now has greater influence on environmental legislation than any nation state in Europe--a development that the minister expressly welcomes. He argues that it has proven highly useful for Union members to speak with one voice at global environmental conferences and to present a united front just like one strong nation state. On the other hand, the communitarization within Europe does not prevent members from becoming front-runners in environmental policy. The minister further calls for changes at the global level to ensure that global environmental institutions and environmental law are given much greater weight. The historic task of nation states today is to introduce global environmental legislation that is more powerful than any nation state or any transnational corporation. The German government therefore strongly favors transforming UNEP into a world environment organization that can stand up to the WTO, the FAO and transactional corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses issues concerning the environmental policy in Germany, the U.S. and Japan. Factors considered in determining the ecological footprint in the U.S.; Information on the environmental problems in Germany, the U.S., and Japan; Estimated biologically productive acres per person worldwide; Description of the green social welfare approach of Germany to environmental protection; Background on the environmental policies of the three countries.

Information about the Second International Symposium for the laureates of the Elizabeth Haub Prizes for Environmental Law and Diplomacy that was held in September 20-22, 2006 in Murnau, Germany is presented. The Symposium was opened by Helga Haub, who welcomed all laureates present. Various presentations by laureates covered the areas: multilateralism, compliance, environmental justice, right to information, climate change,international responsibility and national and regional matters.

The article presents developments in environmental law in Europe, including the decision of the Court on March 10, 2005 in the case Commission of the European Communities v. Federal Republic of Germany relating to assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment and the ruling of the Court of Justice on March 10, 2005 in the case Commission of the European Communities French Republic in relation to the management of waste at a waste tip at Saint-Laurent du Maroni.

Focuses on Germany's government policies regarding science. Progress made by the Social Democrats and the Green party, including a ban on the reprocessing of nuclear waste; Issue of the FRM II research reactor, designed by the Technical University of Munich to burn weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium.