Maria Krautzberger is coming into office today
For the first time, a woman will head the Federal Environment Agency. On 5 May 2014 Maria Krautzberger is taking office as the President of Germany's biggest national environment authority. On 30 April the Federal Cabinet nominated her to succeed Jochen Flasbarth, who at the end of 2013 became State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry. Ms Krautzberger's last position was as Permanent Secretary in the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development. Among her key projects there was the introduction of the environmental zone in Berlin. Before that, she worked as Senator for the Environment of the Free Hanseatic City of Lübeck for six years and served as Deputy Mayor for a time during that period.
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks commented: "The Federal Environment Agency, with its comprehensive expertise in all areas of environmental protection, is an essential source of advice for policy-makers. I am glad that Maria Krautzberger, who has ample experience in environmental policy, has accepted our offer. Sound scientific policy advice requires knowledge of the technical requirements of environmental protection as well as the ability to inform policy-makers in a concise and timely manner. I am confident that the new president has what it takes to fulfill her tasks at the Agency."
In the course of her professional career Maria Krautzberger has launched numerous environmental and nature conservation projects, such as the "Stadtentwicklungsplan Klima Berlin", a climate-related urban development plan for Berlin, the first project of its kind to take the impacts of climate change on the state of Berlin into account, or the certification of forests in Lübeck and Berlin. One of her major fields of activity was ecological transport policy. As an expert in administration, she was a key player in the establishment of Germany's first environmental zone in the capital and developed a comprehensive cycling strategy for the city.
The new president of the Federal Environment Agency, Maria Krautzberger, said: "I am still very interested in linking environmental topics with sustainable urban development. Naturally, climate action in combination with the transformation of our energy system is very high on my agenda. One important element in this context is the reform of European emissions trading. The Federal Environment Agency has presented a number of good proposals on this, and I will continue to work along these lines. In addition, health-related environmental protection is a topic of utmost importance for me, including issues such as global impacts of chemicals on people and the environment. I would like to further strengthen the Federal Environment Agency's activities regarding protection of the seas and our natural resources. We must ensure that all major environmental issues are being addressed at the right time."
Maria Krautzberger studied sociology and administrative sciences in Munich and Constance. Prior to her positions in Berlin and Lübeck 59-year-old Krautzberger held various positions relating to the municipal and environmental administration of the city of Wuppertal.
The Federal Environment Agency was founded in 1974 and has since had three presidents: Heinrich von Lersner (1974-1995), Andreas Troge (1995-2009) and Jochen Flasbarth (2009-2013)